Women top three

The Chadron State women’s rodeo team placed second in the Central Wyoming College Rodeo last weekend.

“It’s not the strongest that win the most, it’s the most consistent that win the most.”

This is Rodeo Coach Dustin Luper’s theory on winning. His women’s team, however, has been both most consistent and strongest.

In the first two rodeos of the season, CSC cowgirls have filled the top two positions in breakaway roping.

At the Central Wyoming College Rodeo last weekend, Kaycee Werdel, freshman of Chadron, exemplifies Luper’s consistency in breakaway roping. She roped her calf in 3.1 seconds each time in the long and short rounds, placing her first overall.

Kelsey Scott, junior of Douglas, Wyo., placed second in breakaway for the second week in a row. Her run in the long round of 4.2 seconds carried her through to the short round, where her time of 3.7 seconds landed her in second.

The women’s team placed second overall in the CWC Rodeo, but they still cling to first overall in the Central Rocky Mountain Region.

The men’s team lags behind the women in eighth place of ten teams in the region.

The men placed ninth in the CWC Rodeo, with 155 points just behind Eastern Wyoming College’s 160 points.

“We’re really strong in steer wrestling, we just lack depth in rough stock,” Luper said.

Whitten Hoover, junior of Ainsworth, carried the men’s team for the second week in a row, placing third in bareback broncs.

Hoover’s long round ride of 74 points carried him to the short round, but his ride of 68 points landed him in third, one point shy of tying with Laramie Community College’s Ty Taypotat, freshman of Regina, Saskatchewan, and Casper College’s Chance Madsen, sophomore, for first.

“I could have rode better. I could have drew better.

“I take what I can get. There were some colts that haven’t figured out their pattern yet,” Hoover said.

The livestock was provided by Powder River Rodeo Stock of Wright, Wyo.

Levi Gorsuch, junior of Bridgeport, landed fifth in steer wrestling. He had times of 7.1 seconds in the long round, and 10.8 seconds in the short round.

Tyrel Bonnet, junior of Newell, S.D., followed close behind his teammate in seventh place in steer wrestling. Bonnet dogged his steer in 6 seconds flat in the long round, placing him in fourth, but he missed his steer in the short round.

“The short round didn’t work out, but it’s all part of the game,” Bonnet said.

Russell Hipke, freshman of Stuart, also made it to the short round in steer wrestling, but didn’t place after getting there.

The next rodeo will be this weekend at Sheridan Community College in Wyoming.

“They have a good arena, great ground and a big outdoor [arena],” Luper said of Sheridan’s grounds. “It’s a great opportunity for barrel racers.”

The ones to watch for, Luper said, are Kaylee Gallino, junior of Wasta, S.D., Kaycee Werdel, freshman of Chadron, and Stormy Fink, sophomore of Billings, Mont. “

This is like Stormy’s home rodeo,” Luper said. “She always seems to do well at [the Sheridan] Rodeo.”