DCC Rodeo completed their Fall 2016 travel season October 2nd in Dillon, MT with the University of Montana-Western Regional Rodeo. The team currently has 2 individuals sitting in the top-10 in the NIRA Big Sky Region: sophomore, Calder Peterson is 10th in the Bareback Riding and freshman, TJ Loeppky is 10th in the Steer Wrestling. The "home" rodeo that was postponed due to weather is now scheduled for April 20th and 21st in 2017.
Due to the postponed schedule, spring travel season will consist of 6 regional rodeos rather than the 5 they normally have in the region. Looking at what was in the best academic interests of our student athletes (the bulk of our spring travel occurs at the end of the Spring semester), the coaches decided that having the DCC & MCC Regional Rodeos on the same weekend would be best. As stated earlier, DCC will host their rodeo on April 20th and 21st and MCC's will be on April 22nd & 23rd. The following is NIRA Big Sky Region Spring Rodeo Schedule:
April 6-8: MSU Rodeo #1 - Bozeman, MT
April 9: MSU Rodeo #2 - Bozeman, MT
April 20 & 21: DCC Rodeo - Glendive, MT
April 22 & 23: MCC Rodeo - Miles City, MT
*April 27-29: UM Rodeo - Missoula, MT
*May 4-6: UGF Rodeo - Great Falls, MT
(* denotes tentative dates)
DCC RODEO TEAM MEMBER NEWS:
TJ Loeppky and Calder Peterson will be competing in the Canadian Cowboys Association Finals October 19-22, in Swift Current, SK. TJ is currently sitting 2nd in the All-Around, 4th in the Steer Wrestling and 5th in the Bull Riding. Calder is 3rd in the Novice Bareback Riding. Matt Leippi also qualified for the CCA Finals but will be unable to compete due to his broken arm.
Kortney Diegel was voted in for the 3rd consecutive year to time at the Northern Rodeo Finals in Butte, MT, October 6-8. In addition to timing, Kortney serves as an Advisory Member on the Northern Women's Rodeo Association Board and attended the NRA/NWRA Board Meeting. This was a great opportunity for Kortney and the DCC Rodeo program, in the areas of recruiting, networking and promoting.