MPCC Rodeo Team benefits from Cowboy Kickball

The MPCC Cowboy Kickball team, back row, left to right: Carol Garrison, Lauri Rogers, Wendy Schramm, Carol Bodeen, Pam Burks, Josh York, Michael Driskell and Chris Turner. Front row, left to right: Nicole Kissinger, Ethan Elliott, Rachel York, Janelle Higgins, Emma Elliott and Dustin Elliott.

A new event at NEBRASKAland Days raised about $250 for the Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team on Wednesday night.

A total of 10 teams competed in Cowboy Kickball at the Wild West Arena in North Platte.

The MPCC Wrangler Booster Club had one of them. It lost 15-10 to a team from Great Plains Health, but the college came out a winner anyway at the end of the day.

Bill Troshynski, NLD board member and an organizer of the kickball event, said proceeds from the $25 entry fees would be donated to the MPCC Rodeo Team.

“It’s not a whole lot,” said Troshynski. “We wanted to do it more for the recognition than anything. What the college is building with the rodeo team is pretty impressive, and we wanted to help promote that.”

He said NLD’s mission of supporting the western heritage also played a part in deciding where the kickball proceeds would go.

“We’re a western-themed celebration, and rodeo is a big part of that,” said Troshynski. “We feel like we have been building a good relationship with MPCC, and a lot of that started with and has continued to grow because of the rodeo team.”

Dustin Elliott, MPCC rodeo coach, said he’s not exactly sure what the money will be used for. It will be put in the Wrangler Booster Club general fund, which is intended to be used for large future purchases.

“We’re very grateful for the money,” said Elliott. “NLD has supported us from the beginning, and this is just another way they’ve stepped up to the plate.”