By 605 Sports Staff

FORT PIERRE — After the dust had settled from five days of competition, slots had been filled for the National High School Finals Rodeo to be held in Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 14-20. 

Saturday’s short go-round was nothing short of spectacular as 10 state champions were crowned amidst a flurry of activity. 

Highmore’s Talon Ping won the bareback riding, Arina Haugen of Sturgis won the barrel racing, Pierre’s Ryen Sheppick won the breakaway roping, White River’s Hazin Schmidt won the bull riding, Woonsocket’s Tierney Breen won the goat tying, Hayes’ Tommie Martin the pole bending, Isabel’s Rope Roghair the saddle bronc, Smithwick’s Gabe Glines the steer wrestling, Belle Fourche’s Rance Bowden and Sern Weishaar the team roping and Blunt’s Paden Belkham the tie-down roping. 

Other state champions crowned earlier in the week include Isabel’s Rope Roghair in the boys cutting and Pierre’s Ryen Sheepick in the girls cutting and reined cow horse. 

2024 South Dakota High School Rodeo Queen: Tava Saxton, Whitewood.

All-Around Cowgirl: Ryen Sheppick, Pierre.

Reserve All-Around Champion and Rookie of the Year: Arina Haugen, Sturgis

All-Around Cowboy: Gabe Glines, Smithwick.

Reserve All-Around Cowboy: Rope Roghair, Isabel.

Rookie of the Year: Wynn Lawrence, White Horse.

National qualifiers coming from Saturday’s short go-round

Bareback Riding: 

The weekend belonged to Highmore’s Talon Ping. Just prior to Ping’s ride in the short go-round Friday Blunt’s Talon Yellow Hawk had a brilliant ride, scoring 72 and at least putting some slight pressure on Ping, who was the leader going into the finals. Ping responded with a ride of 76 to win the short go-round and the bareback state title with 84 points. Yellow Hawk (79), Mobridge’s Taylon Carmody (68) and Gregory’s Taos Weborg (64) rounded out the top-four. 

Barrel Racing:

All week long, Arina Haugen of Sturgis just kept getting faster. After rounds of 17.798 and 17.654 Haugen delivered a 17.582 to win the short go-round and win a state title with a score of 82. Right behind were Buffalo freshman Sattyn Wilson (81) and Pierre’s Makenzee Wheelhouse (80). Jayda Reinert of Wall also made the team with 65 points.

Breakaway Roping: 

Pierre’s Ryen Sheppick capped a magnificent week by winning a third state title, this time in the breakaway roping. Sheppick had runs of 3.940 seconds, 3.700 seconds and 3.480 seconds in Saturday’s short go-round. She won the competition with 64 points. Newell’s Kelsi Costello (58), Arina Haugen of Sturgis (50) and Hemingford, Nebraska’s Sophie Hruby (50) will represent South Dakota at the national finals. 

Bull Riding: 

The ride of the night belonged to White Horse resident Wynn Lawrence who threw down a score of 74 to win the short go-round. White River’s Hazin Schmidt had a no ride on Saturday but his great season was reflected by a state championship where he accumulated 77 points. Lawrence’s short-go round effort propelled him into second place (65), ahead of Huron’s Brady Meyer (51) and Kyle’s Laddimer Clifford (48). 

Goat Tying: 

South Dakota always seems to send a strong team to the national finals in goat tying and 2024 will be no exception. Woonsocket’s Tierney Breen was the model of speed and consistency with runs of 6.980 seconds, 7.050 seconds and 7.100 seconds. She won both the second and short go’s and won the state title with 86 points. Fruitdale’s Mataya Ward (76.5), Reva’s Bailey Verhulst (60.5) and Raylee Fagerhaug of Wessington Springs (55) round out the top-four participants that qualified for national finals. 

Pole Bending: 

As the week progressed Hayes cowgirl Tommie Martin just kept getting faster. The 2022 state pole bending champion put it all together in Saturday’s short go-round with a time of 20.318 seconds, winning the round and a state title with 69 points. Wall’s Piper Cordes (60.5), Buffalo’s Aspen Vining (59) and Arina Haugen of Sturgis (57) comprise the top four athletes that will be attending the national finals. 

Saddle Bronc: 

This event quite literally belonged to Isabel’s Rope Roghair all season. Roghair delivered a score of 67 points in the short go-round, third best of the night and easily won the state title with 88 points. Backus’ Garit Hockett finished with a 62, ahead of Hoven’s Ethan Johnson (56) and Belle Fourche’s Toarin Humble (55) as those four athletes made the national team. 

Elm Springs cowboy Rylan Elshere has the short go-round’s top ride of 69 points and finished sixth in the overall standings.

Steer Wrestling: 

The ride of the night Saturday belonged to Springfield’s Terran Talsma who won the short go-round with a time of 6.320 seconds. The performer of the year goes to Smithwick’s Gabe Glines who was fourth in the short-go and won the state title with 72 points. Creighton’s Quinn Moon climbed the leaderboards all weekend and finished second with 65 points, ahead of Springfield’s Trevyn Talsma (59) and Scotland’s Kade Odens (59). 

Team Roping:

Winning a state rodeo title is hard and repeating as a state champion is even harder. Despite a target on their backs all season the Belle Fourche tandem of Rance Bowden and Sern Weishaar had their fastest run of the weekend Saturday and repeated as team roping state champions with 79 points. Faith’s Drew Harper and Belle Fourche’s Jet Jensen also had a great weekend to finish with 77 points. Martin’s William Waln and Philip’s Christopher Lurz (53) and Sisseton’s Sidney Johnson and Aurora’s Keylee Zancanella (52) round out the four teams that will represent South Dakota at the National High School Finals Rodeo.

Tie-down Roping:

The ride of the night belonged to Orient’s Jimmy Lammers who won the short go-round with a time of 10.060 seconds. A number of the top ropers struggled Saturday and even with a time of 23.08 in the short go-round Blunt’s Paden Belkham is your 2024 state champion with 74 points. Belle Fourche’s Rance Bowden had a 10.26 in the short go-round, second best of the night to finish with 70 points. Kadoka’s Dalton Porch (63) and Wall’s Jace Blasius (54.5) round out the 2024 national team.