SDSU Collegian

Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: John Nelson Team roping contestants compete to wrangle in a steer during the Jackrabbit Stampede Rodeo April 15.

In the 53rd annual Jackrabbit Stampede Rodeo, the South Dakota State men and women's rodeo teams performed well, roping second and fourth respectively.

"We had some really good performances," said rodeo Head Coach Terry McCutcheon.

The rodeo teams had three event winners. Joe Gunderson took home the crown for bareback riding, while Tait Kvistad won the individual crown in steer wrestling and Jacque Murray captured the top spot in breakaway roping.

In addition to the winners, McCutcheon identified a few other athletes who had quality performances.

He said Ben Smith had a good weekend. He finished fifth in bareback and third in bull riding. Making his accomplishments even more impressive, Smith was knocked out during the bareback riding and had to go to the hospital before the bull riding competition.

In the women's competition, McCutcheon said Marcie Locken and Cami Bauer had good performances. Both took home second-place finishes, Locken in goat tying and Bauer in breakaway roping.

Chris Odden, Dillon Kjerstad and Casey Miller took fifth through seventh in tie-down roping.

In team roping, Mark Donnelly and Chase Lingemann finished in second place, Joe and Chris Odden finished in sixth and Rusty Toupal, alongside Dustin Schaefer, finished seventh.

Dalton Ling finished third, while Brent Sutton and Wade Taylor finished fifth and seventh respectively in steer wrestling.

Barrel-racing for the Jacks included Lindsey Loiseau coming in at seventh and Kayce McCutcheon finishing right behind in eighth place.

This upcoming weekend, the rodeo teams will travel to Lincoln, Neb., for an important dual meet. During the next three weekends, the rodeo teams will appear at five different rodeos.

"UNL will tell an awful lot," McCutcheon said.

Coming down the home stretch of the season, the Jacks concentrate on qualifying for the national tournament. The top three point-getters in the region qualify for the national tournament.

Presently, three SDSU riders lead the region. Gunderson leads in bareback riding, Kvistad in steer wrestling and Murray in breakaway roping.

McCutcheon said the team has another 12 riders in the top ten and all of them have a chance to move up and qualify.

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