Valley wins Viking Stampede

Valley junior Adam Gilchrist won saddle bronc riding and was third in steer wrestling (above) to claim the all-around title at the Viking Stampede. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Junior Adam Gilchrist of Maple Creek, Sask., won the all-around title with 260 points, a major contributor to the Vikings' 750-point tally -- 31 points ahead of arch rival Tennessee-Martin.

Gilchrist was first in saddle bronc riding with 143 points and third in steer wrestling.

Valley piled up 270 points in saddle bronc, with sophomore Will Smith placing third. Another 250 points was accumulated in bareback riding, where junior James Earl Carter -- an all-American last year at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College -- won it with a 161 and junior Kyle Brennecke placed fourth at 141.

Steer wrestling also brought in 220 points, with junior Jake Shaw finishing just ahead of Gilchrist in second place. An eight-place finish by Carter in bull riding provided the remaining 10 points.

The Vikings had an impressive showing in calf roping, but the possible 270 points didn't count toward the team total since the top two cowboys -- sophomore Jared Kempker of Eugene, Ore., and junior Chance Weldon -- weren't on the official line-up. Coaches can only designate six entries, matching the number of events, to score points for a team.

The Valley women came in second to Southern Arkansas, 360 to 330 points.

Most of the Lady Vikings' tally came in barrel racing, where freshman Jessica Brown was second at 31.19 seconds -- only .54 seconds behind the leader -- freshman Dana Fricker tied for seventh and junior Katie Kimble was 10th.

Junior Krista Staley added 100 points by placing fourth in goat tying, but Valley's only winner -- sophomore breakaway roper Casey Taylor of Northfield, Minn. -- wasn't among the three cowgirls the team was allowed to count.

The Vikings are off to a solid start, with the second of the 10-rodeo schedule beginning Sept. 25 at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia.