Schedules & Scores News Clippings Prospective Player Form Rodeo Club Athletics Home Page

Dickinson State University has a strong tradition of excellence in the rodeo arena. Both the men’s and women’s rodeo teams have rode well in the National Finals Rodeo in recent years.

Several individual champions have led the way for Dickinson State University including Matt Otto, the 1999 National Champion in calf roping.

Dickinson State University rodeo team members enjoy top notch facilities, including an indoor arena that allows the teams to practice year round. Additionally, the program provides practice stock to ensure that the Dickinson State University team is always sharp and ready to ride. This formula for success has worked well, as Dickinson State University has produced three PRCA World Champions; Brad Gjermundson, Wayne Herman, and Troy Pruitt.

Dickinson State University competes in the Great Plains Region, a six state region that includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa. Each year the team competes in ten rodeos throughout the region and many qualify for the College National finals rodeo.

The DSU men’s rodeo team and Brittany Brown competed in the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo., June 10-16. The women’s team placed 26th and the men’s team placed 36th in the final standings. The results of the finals rodeo include: Brittany Brown-12th place in breakaway roping; Lee Dunford - 22nd in bareback riding; Zane Forster - 27th in bareback riding; Ian Pennington - 24th in bull riding; Seth Murphy - 40th in tie-down roping, 26th in steer wrestling and 17th place in tem roping; and Rowdy Benson - 26th in team roping.

The Dickinson State University rodeo team is looking forward to another phenomenal year after coming off of a great rodeo season last year.

This year’s rodeo team includes 63 participants, 27 women and 36 men. The students participating represent four states plus the nation of Canada. Seven College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) qualifiers returned to the rodeo team along with 20 new recruits.

“The rodeo team had their first pre-season rodeo on Sept. 8 with much success,” stated Scott Kleeman, head rodeo coach at Dickinson State University. “If the pre-season rodeo was an indication of how our team is going to do for the season, it will be very successful.”

The DSU rodeo team will travel to five regional rodeos this fall. Their first rodeo will be at River Falls, Wis. on Sept. 16-17. Other rodeos include Ames, Iowa – Sept 29-30; Fort Dodge, Iowa – Oct.1-2; Fargo, N.D. – Oct. 14-15; and Norfolk, Neb. – Oct 28-29.

Stacy Gaston has been named the new assistant rodeo coach at Dickinson State University.

Gaston, a native of Hutchinson, Kan., has been involved in rodeo since the age of five. She has participated in breakaway roping, barrel racing and goat tying and has competed in various high school and college rodeos.

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in financial accounting from National American University (NAU) in Rapid City, S.D. in 2004. While in college, Gaston competed at the College National Finals Rodeo three times in breakaway roping, and once in goat tying. She also was the 2003 NAU reserve all-around champion. Gaston previously served as the president of the NAU Rodeo Club in 2002 and secretary in 2003. She also worked at the NAU Rodeo Office as an office assistant, organizing and coordinating team roping and calf roping events.

“I never dreamed that I could be a rodeo coach,” stated Gaston. “This was a dream job that I never expected to come true.”

As part of Gaston’s duties at Dickinson State University, she will be working with Scott Kleeman, head rodeo coach at Dickinson State University. Kleeman and Gaston both attended NAU and were active in the rodeo club.

“I learned of the job at Dickinson State University from Scott,” said Gaston. “I am very excited to be the new assistant rodeo coach at Dickinson State University. This job is a fairytale come true and I look forward to a career in coaching student athletes and helping them achieve their intercollegiate goals.”

“Dickinson State University is very fortunate to find someone of Stacy’s caliber,” stated Dr. Gary White, chair of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Studies. “She has had extensive experience at the College National Finals Rodeo.”

The Dickinson State University rodeo team competes in their first rodeo at River Falls, Wisc. on Sept. 16-17.

Click here for More Articles >>