The Missouri Valley College Rodeo Team hosted the annual Viking Stampede Rodeo over the weekend, marking the opening rodeo of the 2023–24 season. The men’s rodeo team clinched the overall title, securing victory with two event average winners. Meanwhile, the women’s team finished in fourth place overall.

Waverly, Kansas senior Ty Pope emerged as a standout performer, claiming first place overall in the bareback riding category with an impressive score of 169 in the average. Pope’s remarkable performance included winning both rounds with scores of 84 and 85, solidifying his top spot in the regional standings. Jason Wilson, a freshman hailing from Pownal, Vermont, secured the second position with an average score of 152, which included an 80 in the first round. Senior Colt Eck, representing Redfield, Kansas, claimed the third spot with a score of 151 in the average, while sophomore Dawson Honeycutt, from Alamosa, Colorado, finished fourth with a score of 132. Hayden Leavell, a sophomore from Ozark, Arkansas, secured the fifth position overall with a score of 131. San Tan Valley, Arizona’s Kooper Heimburg rounded out the Viking cowboys with a sixth-place finish, earning 76 points with his ride. Notably, the Viking cowboys swept the top six slots in the bareback riding average, leaving no room for other teams to gain points.

Pope continued his impressive performance by also clinching first place in the average for saddle bronc riding with a total score of 150. He secured the second position in the first round with a score of 75 and claimed first place in the second round with an identical score. Senior Tyler Freeman from Cadiz, Kentucky, earned second place overall with a total score of 147. Freeman took the top spot in the first round with a score of 76 and secured the second position in the second round with a score of 71.

In the team roping category, senior Nate Pelke from Mondovi, Wisconsin, and freshman Kade Foster from Newark, Illinois, representing the Vikings, secured the second position in the average with a total time of 16.1. Their outstanding performance earned them 100 points for finishing second in the second round with a time of 7.3. Freshman Carson Ball from Bruce, Missouri, performed admirably, finishing fourth in the steer wrestling average with a time of 14.9. Ball’s performance in the opening round, where he clocked a time of 4.5, earned him 105 points. In the calf roping category, Ball’s 39.6 average placed him seventh overall. Foster also showcased his skills, earning 40 points and securing sixth place in the calf roping average with a score of 29.3.

Senior Betsy Roemer from Jonesboro, Arkansas, led the Viking cowgirls, claiming the top position in the goat tying average with a time of 15.5, earning her 123.33 points. Junior Kenlie Raby, hailing from Mt. Vernon, Arkansas, finished eighth in the average with a time of 19.0, earning 3.33 points. Senior Sadie Biggs from Harrison, Arkansas, performed well, securing fourth place in the barrel racing average with a time of 30.61, earning her 80 points.

The Missouri Valley men’s team emerged victorious in the event, earning more than double the points of the second-place team. Meanwhile, the women’s team finished in fourth place, with the University of West Alabama claiming the top spot in their event.

Next week, the rodeo teams will travel to Livingston, Alabama, to compete in the University of West Alabama Rodeo.