Cowboys earn spot at national

Prairie Portrait Photo
These students earned a spot at the national high school rodeo finals in Lincoln, Neb., July 18-24. Pictured from left are Jesse Larson, 4th in high school trap shooting; Linkyn Petersek earned first in tie down roping, steer wrestling and boys all around; Riley Shippy was second in bull riding and Saydee Heath, first in breakaway roping.

Golfers place third at state

Submitted Photo
Winner Area girls golf team took third place at the state tournament in
Spearfish. Pictured from left are coach Jim Halverson, Gracie Root, Kelbi
Meiners, Brennan Bachmann, Devan Dougherty, Rylee Root and assistant coach Liz
Jankauskas.

Winner Area girls golf team took third place in the State A meet in Spearfish June 7-8.

This is only the third time in school history that a girls golf team has placed at state.

Rylee Root placed 11th with a 90-87—177; Gracie Root, 19th, 97-94—191; Brennan Bachmann, 23rd, 101-93—194; Kelbi Meiners, tied for 36th, 105-97; Devan Dougherty, tied for 46th with a 105-110-215.

Three of the girls placed in the top 25—Rylee Root,  Gracie Root and Brennan Bachmann.

“Our players gave their best effort,” said coach Jim Halverson.

Both days were warm with just enough wind to keep everyone somewhat comfortable.

Halverson said what makes him proud as a coach is the compliments from other coaches, parents and spectators. He said there were other golfers who wanted to have a Winner player in their group for a friendly face.

Halverson said the Lady Warriors knowledge of the rules made their decisions on the course better for everybody in their groups. “Their ability to play golf the way it is supposed to be played makes it even sweeter,” said the coach.

Halverson appreciates everyone in the community for their words of encouragement and support. “The Winner Area girls golf team will continue to get better with community support and their efforts,” explained Halverson.

Trap team wins first ever state title

Submitted Photo
The Winner /Colome varsity trap team won first place with a score of 477/50.
Pictured from left are Jack Anderson, Katie Welker, Jude Sargent, Hunter Shippy
and Tane Pravecek.

The Winner/Colome high school trap team competed at the South Dakota Clay Target league state tournament in Aberdeen on Saturday June 12.

  The Winner/Colome team had 4 junior varsity and 9 varsity shooters competing. There was a total of 340 shooters from 26 teams across the state at the tournament. The Winner/Colome shooters had a fantastic day with all of the kids shooting at or above their season averages.

The Junior varsity shooters were Breven Bolander, Derek Fenenga, Noah Manke, and Oren Sargent. Breven had an 82/100. He had a season average of 18.4 and shot an average of 20.5 at the state tournament. He tied for 22nd place overall in JV shooters.

  Derek shot 78/100, his season average was 17.5 and he improved to a 19.5 and tied for 44th, Noah shot 73/100 his season average was 18.4 and he shot 18.25 in Aberdeen and tied for 72nd place. Oren shot 68/100, his season average was 16.8 and he averaged 17 and tied for 98th place. There were 136 junior varsity shooter at the state tournament.

Varsity shooters were Jack Anderson, Faith Covey, Jesse Larson, Hunter Osborn, Tane Pravecek, Cole Rank, Jude Sargent, Hunter Shippy and Katie Welker. Jack shot 92/100, his season average was 21.7 and was 23 in Aberdeen and he tied for 21st place overall in varsity shooters. Faith had 91/100, season average 20.3 with 22.75 in Aberdeen and tied for 25th place. Jesse shot 88/100, season average 20.7 and improved to 22 and tied for 42nd place. Hunter O had 79/100, season average 20 with a 19.75 in Aberdeen and tied for 76th place. Tane shot 99/100, season average 21.8 and improved his to a 24.75 at the state tournament and tied for 2nd place. The tie was broke by reverse run of target hits which moved him to the 3rd place medal.

  Cole shot 80/100, season average 19.25 with a 20 at state and tied for 74th place. Jude shot 94/100, season average 23.2 with a 23.5 in Aberdeen and he tied for 16th place. Hunter Shippy shot a 94/100, season average 19.9 and had a 23.5 at state and tied for 16th place. Katie shot 98/100, season average 24.7 with a 24.5 in Aberdeen. She was the 1st place varsity female. There were 97 varsity shooters at the state tournament.

At the tournament you shoot your first 50 targets then you have to wait until all the other teams sharing you trap house have shot their 1st 50 and then you shoot your 2nd 50. So you have a wait time of anywhere for 2 to 2 1/2 hours between rounds. A lot can change in those 2 hours, temperature, wind and mental exhaustion to name a few things. A team consists of 5 shooters. We didn’t have enough junior varsity shooters to have a team. The team is comprised of your top 5 scores in each division. The top 5 varsity members for Winner/Colome were Jack Anderson, Tane Pravecek, Jude Sargent, Hunter Shippy and Katie Welker. These kids ended up being the top team in the state. They shot a combined score of 477/500. They had the top score overall between the 1A and the 2A schools, which shot trap on Sunday in Aberdeen. Shooting is a mental sport where you really have to keep you mind sharp and clear and concentrate on one target at a time. Our kids did a tremendous job of that coming from 3rd place after the first 50 targets to flipping to 1st place after 100.

Shooting 50 straight at the tournament were Tane Pravecek and Katie Welker. Shooting 25 straight were Jack Anderson and Hunter Shippy got his 1st ever which was very cool to see! If you are gonna do your best state is a great place to do it!

We as coaches cant say enough good things about these kids. They have worked hard and went to Aberdeen and brought their A game, ready to compete and ready to bring home our first ever state tournament team championship. Tane is our only senior on the team and it was great to see him close out his high school career as the first male from our team to bring home a state medal. We would also like to thank those who have donated to our team to help defray the costs for the kids. We appreciate your support of this great team!

Tripp Co Rodeo Athletes to Compete at State

Prairie Portrait Photo
The Tripp County high school rodeo team includes in front from left Garret
Phillips, Ashlyn Hoffine, Baylie Hoffine, Saydee Heath, Saylor Schuyler and
Rowdy Moore. In back from left are Dusty Sell, Stetson Shelbourn, Burner
Schenefeld, Linkyn Petersek, Jack Anderson, Jesse Larson and Riley Shippy.

By Shelley Heath

 The Tripp County Rodeo consist of 14 members with students that attend school in  Colome and Winner. This week beginning on Tuesday, nine of these members will be performing at state finals held in Ft. Pierre from the June 15-19.

Beginning on Tuesday evening, there will be a round of cutting and reined cow horse.  On Wednesday, there will be the second round of cutting and reined cow horse followed with afternoon performances of the short go of cutting and in the evening the short go of the reined cow horse.

Thursday is the start of the regular events with performances starting at 9 am and 5 pm, and the same will continue for Friday.  On Saturday, the contestants will compete in the short go beginning at  4 p.m.  The top four contestants from each event will then go on to represent the state of South Dakota at National High School Rodeo finals, to be held in Lincoln, NE in July.

Seniors team members are Saydee Heath, CHS, competing in cutting, reined cow horse, breakaway, team roping and goat tying; Baylie Hoffine, CHS, competing in  poles and barrels; Linkyn Petersek, CHS, competing in  reined cow horse, tie down roping, team roping and steer wrestling.  Junior team member competing is Riley Shippy, CHS, competing in bull riding.  Sophomore team members competing are Ashlyn Hoffine, CHS, competing in poles and goat tying; Rowdy Moore, WHS, competing in team roping and steer wrestling; Burner Schenefeld, CHS, competing in tie down roping. Freshmen team members are Garret Phillips, WHS, competing in cutting, reined cow horse, team roping and tie down roping; Saylor Schuyler, WHS, competing in  barrels and poles.

Results can be viewed on the sdhsra.com web site and click the tab results.

Regional high school rodeo comes to Winner

The regional high school rodeo will be held in Winner at the Tripp County Fairgrounds June 11, 12 and 13.

About 120 cowboys and cowgirls will be vying for a spot in the state rodeo finals which starts June 15 in Ft. Pierre.

The rodeo on Friday will start at 1 p.m. with cutting and reined cow horse.

The rodeo on Saturday starts at noon and on Sunday at 10 a.m.

The Tripp County contestants in the rodeo are: seniors, Saydee Heath, Colome High School; Baylie Hoffine, CHS; Linkyn Petersek, CHS; juniors, Riley Shippy, CHS; Dusty Sell, CHS; Jesse Larson, CHS; sophomores, Rowdy Moore, Winner High School; Ashlyn Hoffine, CHS; Burner Schenefeld, CHS; freshmen Garret  Phillips, WHS: Saylor Schuyler, WHS; Bailey Fairbanks, WHS; Stetson Shelbourn, WHS and Jack Anderson, CHS.

Justin and Shelley Heath are the Tripp County high school rodeo advisors.

The stock contractor for the timed events is Brent and Jennie Belkham of Blundt. Donnie Moore is the stock contractor for the rough stock.

The announcer in the large arena is Cody Kartak and in the small arena is the Rick Odenbach family.

Andrew Odden  will be one of the bull fighters.

There will be a concession stand all three days of the rodeo.

The local regional rodeo committee members are: Marty and Roni Phillips, Justin and Shelley Heath, Ben Kartak, Jentrie Maurer, Andrew Odden, Jerry Salonen, Kirby Kartak and Danielle Schubert.

Heath named all around

Saydee Heath, Colome,  was named the girls all around at the Martin rodeo on May 29.

Heath  won the breakaway roping in the first performance in 3.19 and she won the breakaway in the second performance in 3.26. She also won the average.

Heath took second in goat tying in 9.38 in the first performance and was fourth in the second performance in 9.27.

Rowdy Moore of Winner placed second in the steer wrestling in 10.16.

Bayley Hoffine, Colome, took fourth in the first performance of the barrel racing. Her time was 17.476.

In the second performance of barrel racing, Hoffine was third in 16.887 and her sister Ashlyn Hoffine was fourth in 17.097.

Team roping saw Heath and Rafe Wentjes, Onida, take fourth in 21.34.

Heath was second in pole bending in the first performance in 22.638 and third in the second performance in 21.509.

Saylor Schuyler, Hamill, was fourth in the second performance of the pole bending in 21.509. Heath won the average.

Winner girls bb team gets national good deed award

Dan Bechtold/Winner Advocate Photo
Winner girls basketball team was presented a national Good Deed Award at the
athletic awards night on May 18. The Winner American Legion Auxiliary submitted
the entry to state which sent it on to national. After every basketball game,
whether at home or away, the girls help clean the bleachers and pick up trash.
Judy Wilcox of the Winner Legion Auxiliary presented the award to coach Larry
Aaker. Girls in front from left are Emma Jorgensen, Karlee Brozik, Joselin
Kludt, Ellie Brozik, Bella Swedlund, Katherine Jankauskas and Melanie Brozik.
Team members in back from left are Ava Craven, Aryn Meiners, Maggie LaCompte,
Kalla Bertram, Kelsey Sachtjen, Shannon Calhoon and Jenna Hammerbeck.