Jun. 15—WATERTOWN, S.D. — The second and final week of South Dakota High School Rodeo Association regional qualifying continued June 13-14, including the East Region at Derby Downs Rodeo Grounds.
Paced by the top time from the second go, Alpena’s Londyn Mikkelson won the breakaway roping competition with 18.5 points, ahead of second-place Ella Fagerhaug, of Wessington Springs, at 14 points. Mikkelson also topped the leaderboards in pole bending, scoring 18 points with the second-best mark from both go-rounds. Notably, Wessington Springs’ Ella Fagerhaug was also fifth in goat tying.
Forestburg’s Ledoux Bracha notched the top score in both go-rounds of bull riding to win with 20 points, while Wagner’s Frank Krcil was second in both go-rounds.
Parkston’s Elle Goehring tied for the top position in goat tying with Anya Hemmer, of Dell Rapids. Both scored 17 points, with Goehring second in the first go and third in the second go.
Letcher’s Aubrey Moody tied for third in barrel racing at nine points behind the second-best time from the first go, while Wessington’s Charleigh Brewer was first in both go-rounds to earn 20 points. Moody narrowly missed out on two other top-three placements, finishing fourth in breakaway roping and sixth in goat tying.
For the second straight week in the East Region, the all-around winners were Wessington’s Charleigh Brewer as the top cowgirl and Huron’s August Steele as the top cowboy.
Athletes who scored at least three points in regional rodeos qualified for the South Dakota High School Rodeo Finals, set for June 16-20 in Fort Pierre.
Points from the state rodeo, plus points from their three best regional rodeos (go-rounds) will decide the national qualifiers. The top-four point-earners from the season will be eligible to qualify for the National High School Rodeo Finals on July 19-25 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
WINNER, S.D. — Competing at home during Week 2 of River Region competition, Winner’s Athena Willueit tied for first place in goat tying, scoring 14 points bolstered by the second-best time in the second go. Pierre’s Kiersten Spencer also had 14 points to share the top of the leaderboard.
Colome’s Seth Heath tied for the top spot in the boys cutting competition, posting the second-best time in both go-rounds to total 18 points. Kadoka’s Dalton Grimes also had 18 points behind the top mark in the second go.
Heath also shared the No. 1 spot for steer wrestling with Springfield’s Treyvan Talsma, each recording 14 points. Reliance’s Rope Reis, who had the top time in the first go, was third. Talsma nabbed second place in the tiedown roping event with 15 points and the second-best mark from the first go. Tel Gropper, of Long Valley, topped the standings with 18 points.
Kimball’s Synch Ness combined with Oakley Schenefeld, of Dallas, scored 16 points in team roping, led by the second-best time from the first go. They finished tied for first with the Winner duo of Coy Shelbourn and Teegan Shelbourn, who were third in both go-rounds.
Gregory’s Taos Weborg was second in bareback riding and bull riding, with Highmore’s Talon Ping atop both event standings. In bareback riding, Weborg earned 18 points to Ping’s 19 points, as each won one of the go-rounds.
Burke’s Savannah Lyon was second in barrel racing with 12 total points, as Merriman’s JJ Sterkel took first with 19 points.