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Rodeo: Finals the last go-round
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FarkRAPID CITY — Vale native Nikki Steffes won the College National Finals Rodeo all-around title last June. But she is coming back for more.
The fact that is most scary to her competition: She is more confident about her chances this year.
“I feel really prepared,” said Steffes, who will compete in barrel racing and goat tying for the University of Wyoming. “It’s just myself and the horse I’m going to ride. If the opportunity arises, I will do really well.”
The most exciting time in college rodeo begins two weeks from today. The 60th CNFR on June 15 through June 21 is in its 10th year at the Casper Events Center in Casper, Wyo. The CNFR is where the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association crowns individual event champions in saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying. National team championships are also awarded to both men’s and women’s teams.
More than 400 cowboys and cowgirls from more than 100 universities and colleges compete in Casper each year. Contestants compete all year in one of the NIRA’s 11 regions for a chance to rope or ride at the CNFR.
Cowboys and cowgirls from 11 regions will be represented at the rodeo. The athletes will also go through three rounds, more than in a regular rodeo season.
Steffes comes into the rodeo as the Central Rocky Mountain Region all-around winner, and is practicing every day at her place 22 miles east of Sturgis. Three tough rounds of rodeo await her.
“It takes a lot of consistency,” she said. You have to concentrate on the rounds in front of you. You must also have a little bit of luck. There is some fierce competition.
Steffes said there will be more spectators — a different atmosphere — but it is one that she is accustomed to. The region finals were in the same arena, which Steffes said is an advantage.
“It’s nice because it is close to home,” she said. “And anyone that goes to the University of Wyoming is a crowd favorite.”
In the team competition, Steffes is confident about her two teammates — TaNaye Carroll and Sarah Mulholland, who transferred to Wyoming and will also compete in two events each.
“We have a tougher team,” Steffes said. “I think we’ll definitely be there.”
In the men’s team competition, no team may be tougher than National American University.
NAU, the Great Plains Region champions, are one of the nation’s top teams. But that ranking will not matter once the competition starts.
“It starts over when we get out there,” said head coach Glen Lammers.
The Mavericks have some extra motivation. It will be the final event for a Maverick athletic team. The rodeo, and volleyball programs, were cut by the school last winter.
“We’re going in with a really strong team,” Lammers said. “The kids are really motivated because its the last college competition for the Mavericks. We’re going to give it our best shot.”
The Mavericks will send seven cowboys, and one cowgirl, to the competition.
The men’s team will be led by region all-around champion Ty Manke, of Hermosa. Manke is one of a couple of Mavericks who will compete in two events at the rodeo — he won region titles in the saddle bronc and bull riding. Adam Mueller will compete in the tie-down and team roping competitions.
“Two team members in two events enhances our chances,” said Lammers, whose team will have a competitor in each of the men’s events. “We have a talented group, and we are excited about our chances.”
The other Maverick men, and their events, are Nick Guy, of Wisconsin, in steer wrestling; Chase Kukuchka, of Belle Fourche, in saddle bronc; E.J. Karp, of Owanka, in bareback riding; Dallas Cunningham, of Nebraska, in bull riding; and Weston Garrett, of Belle Fourche and the son of famous cowboy Marvin Garrett, in bareback riding.
The Mavericks’ sole cowgirl is a top talent. Jena Lien, of Hemingford, Neb., is the defending all-around champion in the region and she also won the goat-tying championship. She will also compete in barrel racing.
A couple of western South Dakota cowboys will compete for Gillette College at the rodeo — Brad Johnson, of Reva, and Chason Floyd, of Ludlow.
The cowboys’ coach, Will LaDuke, is optimistic of his athletes’ chances at the rodeo.
Johnson led the region standings all season in steer wrestling and heads into the rodeo as one of the top competitors. LaDuke believes Johnson has the skills to win the whole thing.
Johnson also believes he has a good chance.
“I feel as confident as anyone can feel,” Johnson said.
Johnson, who will also compete in team roping, said that he has worked all year to get to this point. But he said that his ranking does not mean as much during the event.
“Now at the college finals, it’s an even slate,” he said.
Floyd will compete at his first CNF, and LaDuke said he has plenty of talent. Floyd came on strong at the end of the rodeo season, placing in each of the final three rodeos to make the CNFR.
“That is pretty awesome to see someone come back like that,” LaDuke said.
LaDuke said that his cowboys will treat the rodeo just like any other and will prepare just as hard — even though the stakes will be higher. Jessi Cates, of Buffalo, Wyo., will also compete for Gillette College.
Also competing is Ryan Routier, of Buffalo, in the calf roping event.
Black Hills State will send one cowboy — Chuck Smith — to compete in the saddle bronc.
“Chuck has a real chance,” said his head coach Joe Painter. “Chuck has a very good chance to win the whole finals. An it is hard to believe because he is so young.”
Painter said that Smith, in his second year of competition, will do well if he draws a horse that bucks well for him.
Nick Guy is one of eight National American University athletes that will compete at the College National Finals Rodeo on June 15 through June 21 in Casper, Wyo. (Courtesy photo)
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