MPCC has top men’s team at South Dakota rodeo

Mid-Plains Community College rode away with the men’s team championship Saturday at the Jackrabbit Stampede in Brookings, S.D. The women on the MPCC Rodeo Team took fourth in the overall standings.

“With all the traveling going on, the students have done a great job of making the short practice weeks count and using their time in the practice pen efficiently,” said Keeley Vaughan, MPCC Rodeo Team timed events coach. “Every week gets better, and I know their upcoming performances will keep proving that.”

The men were bolstered by several top point earners in South Dakota, including Koby Jacobson who claimed the Reserve All-Around title after winning the bull riding and placing third in the steer wrestling.

His teammate, Jackson Lunn, won the third round and the average in the bareback riding. Kahiwa Augustiro was right behind him – snagging the top position in round two and coming in second in the average in the same event.

Barrel racer Maggie Underhill delivered the fastest run of the rodeo, clocking in at 13.45 seconds, which was good enough for second in the average.

Claiming third place seats on the leaderboard were Jett Sjeklocha in the bull riding and Lainee Schonebaum in the breakaway.

Jace Richter threw his loop over a second-place spot in the tie down roping average while Layton Lindner came in eighth.

Team ropers Cinch Painter and Brady Renner secured the short round win in their event and finished second in the average. Augustiro and Eli Higa ended up eighth in the team roping while Ryan Shepherd and partner Jory Boote from Dickinson State University were 10th.

Painter was also sixth in the steer wrestling average followed by Rex Day who snagged a seventh-place finish.

“The student athletes did outstanding this weekend,” said Aukai Kaai, MPCC Rodeo Team roughstock coach. “They performed well and took care of business in the arena. It was an all-around team win, and we put ourselves in a great position to finish off the season on a high note. I sure was proud of every single one of them. We took some knocks over the weekend and are ready for a week off, but then we’ll be right back to it.”

The team will compete next at the Will Lantis Yellow Jacket Stampede hosted by Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D. April 26-27.