By Rich Winter

605 Sports

Des Moines, Iowa — When Wall’s Cooper Sampson was eight-years old he told his family that he wanted to move up in age group to compete against kids as old as 14-years old. 

With no rules restricting the move up to junior high his mom, Lainee Shearer, voiced some concerns. 

“I reminded him that he would be competing against boys that were older and more 

experienced,” Shearer said. “I told him that he should plan on getting beaten a lot.” 

Undeterred, Sampson moved up although his mom’s cautionary warnings were spot on. 

“I didn’t win anything for several years,” Sampson said. “People that know me know that I don’t like losing at anything. I didn’t get mad that I wasn’t winning and just hoped the experience would pay off.” 

From birth Sampson seemed to be born for roping. His dad was a bareback rider and a roper and his mom rodeoed at Wall High School and participated in college rodeo. 

“He was pretty much born on the back of the horse,” Shearer said. “He grew up around cattle and horses and started roping from the time he was little.”

At the 2024 South Dakota Junior High Finals Rodeo, Sampson and his team roping partner, Cooper Conry, won a state title. Sampson also won the breakaway roping title at the South Dakota state finals. 

At the 2023 Junior High National Finals Rodeo, Sampson teamed with Christoper Lurz to finish second in the world in team roping. A season ago, Sampson was the header but this year he transitioned into the heeler position without blinking an eye.

“With Cooper Conry we couldn’t figure out who was better at heading,” Sampson said. “Heading taught me how to rope and understand the cattle better.” 

Sampson rides a family horse “Spiderman” whom he calls one of the best ranch horses he’s ever seen. The Wall cowboy was given “Spiderman” when he was seven-years old. 

Picking a partner to rope with seems to have its own unique story for each set of ropers. 

“Cooper and I have known each other for a while,” Sampson said. “We were just playing pig on a dummy and we kinda looked at each other and said we’re both pretty good at roping, we should rope together” 

Sampson describes his keys for team roping and breakaway roping. 

“When I’m in the box for team roping I say ‘C’mon Spiderman’ and somehow I don’t feel as much pressure,” Sampson said. “In the breakaway I just stand up, follow through and watch it go on.” 

Not lacking in confidence when asked what his expectations were for the Junior High National Finals Rodeo, Sampson simply said, “To win it.”