CSC cowboys and cowgirls set to ride again

Less than three months after four CSC rodeo athletes competed at the 2019 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, the Eagles’ cowboys and cowgirls are gearing up for their season-opening rodeo here in Chadron at Dawes County Fairgrounds, Sept. 13 through 15. 

Head Coach Dustin Luper is optimistic, as always, about the season. 

“It’s not the deepest team I’ve ever had but I sure have some key players I’m looking forward to having step up and fill the void,” he said.

The Eagles graduated just one of their 2019 CNFR contestants, steer wrestler Kalane Anders who finished in eighth place, ending his CSC career in the short round of his final rodeo.  They also bid farewell to cowgirl Kaycee Monnens and cowboy Kaleb Fritz who finished ranked in the top-10 of the Central Rocky Mountain Region. 

Returning is cowgirl Quincey Segelke, of Douglas, Wyoming, who narrowly missed the breakaway finals at the CNFR. 

“She kind of had a rough spring and fall last year,” Luper said. “But at the College National Finals she won one of the rounds, so she knows she’s plum capable of competing on the big level.”

Luper said Segelke needs confidence to perform and that she’s shaken the “jitters” and is ready to compete this year. Immediately following her final go in Casper, she was already looking forward to this season, saying her near miss would add to her motivation to get back to the big stage. 

Rough stock contestants Kyle Bloomquist, of Raymond, Minnesota, and Miles Englebert, of Burdock, South Dakota, will also return. 

Englebert rode his first bull at the CNFR to a score of 72.5, but failed to ride his next two and missed the finals. At the end of the regular season, Englebert was ranked third among all Central Rocky Mountain Region bull riders. 

Bloomquist finished his regular season ranked first in the region among bareback riders and has plenty of motivation to return to the CNFR in 2020 after ending the finals in 26th place. In Casper, he scored 61.5 and 63 points in the first two rounds, but failed to ride his final bronc. 

Both cowboys were winners in their events at the 2018-2019 Central Rocky Mountain Region Championships. 

Besides his top finishers from last season, Luper said he has athletes who have matured and improved over the summer. 

Among them is senior Merisa Cominiello, of Burlington, Colorado, who won the breakaway in Laramie, during the Eagles’ final regular season rodeo of last season. 

Following that rodeo, Luper said her 2.8 second time in the short go was well ahead of her competition and that only 14 of 100 ropers managed to successfully rope their calves. 

Luper also mentions cowgirl Brook Jamison, of Hyannis, who played basketball for the Eagles last season, but decided to rodeo this year. 

“She’s always been a really good hand,” Luper said. “She comes from a ranch family in Hyannis, Nebraska, and she’s been roping phenomenal.”

Jamison will compete in team and breakaway roping this season and received a lot of praise from Luper who said she ropes on the “professional wavelength” and isn’t bothered by the pressure of competition. 

“She ropes on a level like Quincey (Segelke) – she’s that consistent,” he said. 

Luper also expects good things from Brianna Williams, of Buffalo, South Dakota, who recently won both rounds of barrel racing while facing competition from all Nebraska colleges at the Nebraska State Fair. 

He also said roper Rieley Maier, of Bowdle, South Dakota, has made changes this summer and has been practicing strong. 

According to Luper the Eagles aren’t as deep on the rough stock side as they’ve been in the past, but along with Bloomquist and Englebert he’s seen good things from Garrett Uptain, of Craig, Colorado, who last year finished ninth in the region in bull riding and 12th in saddle bronc. 

“His main event has always been bull riding,” Luper said. “But he’s shown me some videos and just practiced saddle bronc riding and he looks good. Really good.”

Luper expects Uptain could be a potential all-around candidate given how strong he is in two events. 

In steer wrestling, Luper said he’s looking to Tate Petrak, of Martin, South Dakota, to possibly fill the spot left with the graduation of Anders.