RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The Dickinson State University rodeo teams opened the 2025–26 campaign with a strong showing at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls Rodeo, held Sept. 5–6. The Blue Hawks placed third in both the men's and women's team standings, earning 510 points on the men's side and 225 on the women's.
The weekend was highlighted by a commanding effort in saddle bronc riding, where DSU took two of the top three spots. Senior Tayson Jones (Howes, S.D.) captured the event title with 143 points, while freshman Brody Froelich (Selfridge, N.D.) rode to third with 132 points. Junior Eli Higa (Honokae, Hawaii) also competed in the event, adding valuable points to the team total.
Higa's versatility proved key throughout the rodeo. He teamed with senior Colton Zubach (Shepherd, Mont.) to place third in team roping with a time of 8.7. His efforts across multiple events earned him third place in the Men's All-Around standings with 120 points, underscoring his role as one of the region's top all-around cowboys.
On the women's side, goat tying produced Dickinson State's strongest results. Graduate student Molly Rotenberger (Ludlow, S.D.) tied for second with a 14.4, while junior Jaysee Jones (Howes, S.D.) finished fourth at 14.9. Their back-to-back performances anchored the Blue Hawks' women's scoring and kept DSU in contention for a team podium finish.
In the team race, Mid-Plains Community College (900 points) and Bismarck State (795) set the early pace in the men's division, while South Dakota State (300) and Black Hills State (250) topped the women's field. Dickinson State's third-place finishes on both sides firmly established the Blue Hawks as contenders in the Great Plains Region this fall.
