‘Only young once’: Excitement, hope drive SDSU rodeo athletes to college finals

By Gabby Fink for Tri-State Neighbor
Jun 10, 2025
Jun 10, 2025

Rodeo SDSU qualifiers 1.tif — Kaden Wooters takes down a steer at the Las Vegas permit challenge in 2023. Woosters was one of six SDSU athletes to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo, which takes place in Casper, Wyo., June 15-20.
Submitted photo by Rodney Wooters

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By Gabby Fink for Tri-State Neighbor

The six South Dakota State University rodeo athletes competing in the finals this weekend may be nearing the end of their college career, but they aren’t ready to hang up the reins.

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Rodeo SDSU qualifiers 4.jpg — Dalton Kunkee prepares to wrestle at steer to the ground at the Jackrabbit Stampede in Spearfish in April. He’ll be comping for the second time in the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo.
Submitted photo

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SDSU CNFR qualifiers at Great Plains Regions college rodeo pose with Coach Ron Skovly, left, Kaden Wooters, Arabella Cook, Rayha Richert, Lan Fuhrer, Trey Frank and Dalton Kunkee.
Submitted photo

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Trey Frank gets ahold of two back feet in the team roping competition at a PRCA rodeo in Sioux City in February. He said it’s always good to see where you’re at against the competition at the college finals.

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Rayha Richert ropes a calf in the breakaway competition in River Falls, Wis., in September 2024. She will compete in her first college finals rodeo this month.
Submitted photo by R Michael Aguirre

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Lan Fuhrer ropes a steer in Mandan, N.D., in October 2024.
Submitted photo

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Gabby Fink is an SDSU graduate with a degree in agricultural communications. She is an award winning journalist for the Volga Tribune and in 2022 served as a Tri-State Neighbor Youth Crop Watcher, sharing updates from her family’s farm in Plankinton, South Dakota.