Mikena “JJ” Sterkel ties 7th in the Nation

A long, hot week at the National Junior High Rodeo has concluded in Perry, Ga. Not only was the weather steaming, but so were Mikena “JJ” Sterkel’s hands as she tied her way to 7th in the Nation in girls goat tying.

Both of Sterkel’s goat runs were Wednesday where she won Performance 6 and Go Round 1 with a smoking tie of 6.97. Later that evening she won Performance 7 with an 8.55 which would land her sixth in Go 2. Coming back to the short round she had a tough goat that pushed her time to a 12.62. Sterkel’s 28.14 on three goats landed her the seventh spot in the average.

Madi Waln represented South Dakota in two events, pole bending and girls breakaway. In the poles Waln placed 14th in Performance 3 with a 22.059 which landed her 69th in Go 1. During Performance 10 her time of 35.981 put her 26th in the perf and 145th in Go 2.

Gavin Fransua and his partner Dalton Grimes of Kadoka burned up Performance 4 in the team roping with a smooth 7.85 putting them second in the perf and third in Go 1. A tough no-time knocked them out in Performance 9. 

Tayce Tetrault and her ribbon roping partner Revyn Floyd, Buffalo, couldn’t quite shake the nerves their first performance but came back in perf 10 to place 14th with a 28.86, this put them 76th in Go 2.

Charlee Richardson and JP Jensen of Belle Fourche, took 11th in Performance 2 with a ribbon roping time of 17.88, this put them 56th in Go 1. They received a no time in their second performance.