By 605 Sports Staff

FORT PIERRE — A busy Thursday at the South Dakota high school finals rodeo finals with most events seeing their first go-founds at the finals. Three events, the boys cutting, girls cutting and reined cow horse had their second go-rounds and short go-rounds as four athletes from each of those events punched their tickets to the National High School Rodeo Finals in July. 

In the boys cutting competition Belle Fourche’s Rance Bowden had the stop scores in the second and short go-rounds to claim the boys cutting state title with a total score of 86 points. Faith’s Trey Fuller finished second (81.5), Blunt’s Paden Belkham (72.5) and Hermosa’s Cody Dirkes (67) round out the national qualifiers. 

In the girls cutting competition St. Lawrence senior Layni Stevnes was the overall winner with 76 points, just holding off Whitewood’s Tava Sexton who accumulated 75.5 points. Meadow’s Macy Schiley was third with 71 points while Sturgis’ Landry Haugen finished fourth with 63 points. 

In the Reined Cow Horse competition Alzada, MT’s Dallie Lawrence had top scores in the first go-round and short go-round to claim the state title with 85.5 points. Pierre’s Ryan Sheppick was second (81) while Landry Haugen (79.5) and Pine Ridge’s Chase Brunch (70.5) rounded out the national qualifiers. 

Final Standings: 

Boys Cutting: 1. Rance Bowden, Belle Fourche, 86; 2. Trey Fuller, Faith, 81.5; 3. Paden Belkham, Blunt, 72.50; 4. Cody Dirkes, Hermosa, 67; 5. Rhone Schmidt, White River, 64.5; 6. Caden Stoddard, Norris, 62.5; 7. Jakob Long, Enning, 60.5; 8. Garret Phillips, Winner, 56 ; 9. Braden Routier, Buffalo, 51.5; 10. Hazin Schmidt, White River, 33.5; 11. Colter Meeks, Hay Springs, 29.5; 12. Gus Wilson, Kyle, 17. 

Girls Cutting: 1. Layni Stevens, St. Lawrence, 76; 2. Tava Sexton, Whitewood, 75.5; 3. Macy Schiley, Meadow, 71; 4. Landry Haugen, Sturgis, 63; 5. Chloe Fortune, Quinn, 61.5; 6. Chloe Crago, Belle Fourche, 58; 7. Sophia Meyer, Rapid City, 52.5; 8. Piper Hanson, Burke, 51.5; 9. Emily Schack, Tolstoy, 45; 10. Easton Boyd, Scenic, 36.5; 11. Shaine Weishaar, Belle Fourche, 36.5; 12. Victoriah Buffington, Huron, 36; 13. Kimberly Johnson, 35; 14. Kayleigh Bowden, Huron, 34.5; 15. Ryen Sheppick, Pierre, 31; 16. Sydney Stahl, Kimball, 27; 17. Dallie Lawrence, Alzada, MT, 26; 18. Sidney Peterson, Sturgis, 26; 19. Charly Etzkorn, Eagle Butte, 22.5; 20. Taylor Price, Whitewood, 22; 21. Griffin Grooms, Oglala, 19; 22. Mataya Ward, Belle Fourche, 18.5;