CSC rodeo team rides into its new season

After riding out the season of regulations, CSC’s rodeo team is ready to rope in big goals returning for their fall season. 

“It’s tough to get students, especially freshman, acclimated in their classes and it’s kind of a culture shock for them,” Head Rodeo Coach Dustin Luper said. “It’s better to hit it right out of the gate and let them get acclimated as we go.” 

Rodeo practice starts with focusing on figuring out how in shape horses and athletes are. This focus is to avoiding predisposing injuries, but the intensity will increase as time progresses. 

Last year, student-athletes were still able to participate in rodeos, COVID-19 regulations affecting crowd regulations more than anything else. With things getting back to normal, parents and grandparents are able to watch their student-athletes compete which will strengthen the moral and rodeo culture this year. 

Last year didn’t end with a national title which prompts Luper to want his athletes to improve in many areas. The focus across both men’s and women’s events is personal achievement in their basics. 

“I’m constantly preaching to them the only difference between a professional athlete and a collegiate athlete is that the professional athlete has mastered the basics,” Luper said. “Just get more familiar with the basics of every event and let those basics become a second nature to them.” 

Luper said he’s been impressed for the most part with new student-athletes who seem to be working hard and seeing them with a strong work ethic. 

“There are actually some (new recruits) that exceeded my expectation,” Luper said. “Some have a little bit more work to do.” 

Along with new recruits, CSC will have returning athletes back in the arena. 

Brianna Williams, senior of Buffalo, South Dakota, will return to CSC’s rodeo team to compete in barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying. Williams represented Chadron State in Nationals Rodeo, Saturday, June 19, and finished fourth in breakaway roping. 

Phannette Gray, junior of Ridgeview, South Dakota, also competes in breakaway roping, as well as goat tying and barrel racing. 

Sierra Lee, junior of Rhame, North Dakota, and Shailey McAbee, junior of Hyannis, are returning to participate in both breakaway roping and barrel racing. 

Brooklyn Williams, sophomore of Buffalo, South Dakota, will be competing in goat tying this season. Kadra Clark, sophomore of Yoder, Wyoming, also competes in goat tying. Clark also team ropes and barrel races.  

“Like most athletes, I am hoping to improve all the way around, inside and out of the arena and find some more confidence this year,” Brooklyn Williams said. “I am excited to get my young horse seasoned to continue to grow in my abilities and make lots of memories along the way.” 

Taryn Underwood, sophomore of Crawford, will barrel race for her return to the 2021-22 season. 

On the men’s side of the rodeo team, Blaine Flack, senior of Crawford; Stran Holben, senior of Spearfish, South Dakota; Tanner McInerney, senior of Alzada, Montana; Seth Shorb, senior of Hermosa, South Dakota; Colten Storer, junior of Arthur; and Tanner Whetham, sophomore of Henry, will all be participating in team roping. 

Flack also competes in tie-down roping and saddle bronc riding, while Shorb will be wrestling steers. 

Outside of their team roping competition, both McInerney and Storer both compete in tie-down roping and steer wrestling. 

Other steer wrestlers for Chadron State include Parker Johnston, sophomore of Maywood, and Teigen Marchant, senior of Newcastle, Wyoming. Marchant will also be competing in tie-down roping. 

Clancy Clifford, senior of Rocky Ford, South Dakota, will be the only cowboy representing the Eagles in bareback riding. 

Nate Bausch, senior of Allen, will be the sole bull rider for CSC while Caleb Smith, senior of Broken Bow, is listed to be a bull fighter this season. 

“Everyone has different things that they bring to practice working on and we all stay dedicated to getting better every day,” Brooklyn Williams said. “The new members of the team show a lot of promise and I’m excited to see what they will bring to our season.” 

Rowdy Moon, of Sargent, returns to the Eagles roster as a coaching assistant after bareback riding during the 2020-21 rodeo season. 

The Eagles are currently scheduled to participate in five fall rodeos. The first rodeo is the Shawn Dubie Memorial Rodeo, starting Friday, Sept. 10 at Frontier Park in Cheyenne, Wyoming. 

Chadron State will host its rodeo, Sept. 17-19 at Dawes County Fairground. Country music singer-songwriter Chancey Williams will perform at the fairgrounds, at 8:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 18, following the rodeo.