The Missouri Valley College rodeo teams finished competition at the 2023 College National Finals Rodeo Saturday evening with the short go-rounds. Four Vikings competed in the round, producing three All-Americans and a fourth place team finish for the men’s team.

All four Vikings that advanced into the short go-round competed in bareback riding. Senior Nick Pelke and Junior Ty Pope both finished third in the go-round with a 79.0. Freshman Kooper Heimburg and Junior Colton Eck both finished seventh with a 73.5.

In the bareback riding overall standings, Pope, the defending National champion in the event, finished third with an average of 313.0 on four rides, 12 in the average out of first place. He collected 200 team points. Heimburg finished fifth with a 310.0 in the average and earned 155 team points. Pelke was eighth with a 305.0 in the average and earned 70 points. Eck was ninth with a 301.5 in the average to earn 95 team points.

Pope and Pelke both became two-time All-Americans, and Heimburg earned the first All-American placing of his career. Pope won the third go-round of bareback riding with an 84.0.

In saddle bronc riding, Pope finished No. 14 in the standings with a 212.5 in the average. Junior Samuel Freeman finished at No. 30, scoring a 74.0 in his only qualifying ride in the third go-round, and Eck was No. 32 with a 70.5 in his only qualifying ride in the third go-round with a 70.5.

On the women’s side, Sophomore Kenlie Raby won the third go-round in breakaway roping with a 2.0. She placed No. 25 in the event standings with a 13.7 in the average and earned 75 team points. Also, Junior Sadie Biggs finished at No. 26 in the barrel racing standings with a 43.95 in the average.

In goat tying, Senior Lakin Cunningham finished at No. 15 in the event standings with a 20.3 in the average. Senior Taylor Mason was No. 22 with a 21.2 in the average and Junior Betsy Roemer was No. 34 with a 25.6 in the average.

In the team standings, the Viking men’s rodeo team placed fourth with a total score of 520. Clarendon (Texas) won the team title with 855 points. The women’s team finished at No. 21 overall with 75 total points. West Alabama won with 698.3 points.

Photo courtesy of Missouri Valley College Rodeo.