Mid-Plains Community College resumed the 2018-19 rodeo season with two second place finishes over the weekend – despite running into some hard luck.
The MPCC Rodeo Team competed at the South Dakota State University Jackrabbit Stampede in Brookings, S.D. Friday and Saturday.
Bull rider Koby Jacobson, of Haiku, Hawaii, finished second as did his team roping teammates, Caden Kinderknecht, of Almena, Kan., and Trenton Solida, of Phillipsburg, Kan.
“Koby has been trying real hard on both ends of the arena,” said Garrett Nokes, MPCC Rodeo Team timed event coach. “He’s really been working at being a major part of the team, and that finish put him to where, he’s still third in the standings, but it’s a very strong third.”
Nokes said Jacobson hasn’t officially punched his ticket for the College National Finals Rodeo, however, he is in a position that will be difficult for his competitors to beat.
“I’m happy for him and real proud,” Nokes said. “Koby’s close to accomplishing a goal he set for himself, and he has a chance to qualify for nationals in the steer wrestling, too, if things go right these next few rodeos.”
Nokes is also impressed with Kinderknecht’s work ethic and how far he has come in the past six months.
“There’s no end to what Caden can accomplish,” Nokes said. “As for Trenton, he’s had a lot of success recently. He’s placed in the top six in the last three rodeos, and just keeps plugging along and doing great things for us.”
In the other events, Seth Pearson, of Valentine, placed fifth in the tie-down roping for MPCC. J.D. Draper, of Oakley, Kan., was sixth in the steer wrestling.
Overall, MPCC ended up fifth in the men’s team standings. It was sixth in the women’s team standings.
The team suffered a setback Saturday when a bronc flipped over on Landon Sivertson, of Ree Heights, S.D., causing him to sustain injuries that will temporarily take him out of competitions.
“Landon has contributed really well to the rodeo team as a freshman,” Nokes said. “We’re really going to miss having him compete with us this weekend, and depending on what the doctors say, possibly the rest of the season. He’s a good kid and about as hardworking of a kid as I’ve ever coached. I’m sure going to miss him, but there’s no way that he won’t be back in the fall. He’s too driven.”
The Jackrabbit Stampede was the first rodeo of spring for the Great Plains Region. MPCC will compete in three more rodeos through the first week of May. The next one will be Friday and Saturday at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D.