Friday, March 6, 2026
The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
RodeoSports

First rodeo shines rays of light on program

Spike Jordan
Amy Deichert, sophomore of Spearfish, S.D., attempts to tie up a goat in a rodeo contest last year in Gillete, Wyo. –File photo by Kinley Q. Nichols
Amy Deichert, sophomore of Spearfish, S.D., attempts to tie up a goat in a rodeo contest last year in Gillete, Wyo. –File photo by Kinley Q. Nichols

Points are putting the Chadron State College cowboys and cowgirls closer to a College National Finals Rodeo spot after the CSC Rodeo Team marked the first Spring season rodeo off the calendar last weekend in Gillette, Wyo.

CSC Cowgirl Amy Deichert, sophomore of Spearfish, S.D., won the goat tying at the Gillette College Rodeo, taking 7.7 seconds in the long go-round and 9.0 seconds in the short go, posting a 16.7 second time to win the average. Deichert credited a positive mental attitude that led to her win, and Rodeo Coach Dustin Luper was impressed by the effort she put out.

“I think my mental game was on. I told myself that I didn’t have anything to lose and I just went for it,” Deichert said.

Deichert had the privilege of traveling to the Nationals Rodeo in June of 2012 for barrel racing. Going into the finals round, Deichert was in third place, but lost out due to a fallen barrel.

In team roping, the duo of Clinton Lambrecht, senior of Wood River, and Derek Powers, freshman of Arthur, finished second in an 11-team field with 16.7 seconds in the average. The pair posted a 9.6 second time in the first go-round, tying them for ninth place, but took runner-up honors after a 7.9 second run in the final go-round.

Sophomore Lane Day placed in two events. The cowboy from Bartlett finished fourth in the tie-down roping after two runs, posting 12.0 and 12.2 seconds respectively for a time of 24.2 seconds in the average, and placed sixth in steer wrestling posting a 9.1 second time in average; 4.2 seconds for the long-go round and 4.9 seconds in the final-go.

Jake Kasselder, a sophomore hailing from Ericson, also placed in steer wrestling after finishing fourth in the 11-man field. With two runs of 4.2 and 4.9 seconds respectively, Kasselder netted a 9.1 second time in the average.

The rough-stock competitors had a tough time breaking through at the Gillette rodeo, so Luper is focusing on getting them primed and ready for the Colorado State University Rodeo in Fort Collins, Colo., March 29-31. With four rodeos left in the season, they’ve got time to turn things around.

“Practicing obviously helps get ready for the next rodeo, but I also have to prepare my mental game because it makes you feel that much more prepared. Practice makes it become second nature for you so you feel confident,” Deichert said.