Rodeo Finishes Third Go-Rounds, Producing One Go-Round Champion, Four Advancing to Short Go-Round
Casper, Wyo., (June 19, 2026)- The Missouri Valley College rodeo teams finished third go-round performances at the 2026 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo., Friday evening with two competitors. One Viking cowgirl earned a go-round title, and four Viking cowboys advanced to Saturday's short go-round.
Opening the night was Senior Kooper Heimburg (San Tan Valley, Ariz.) who finished with an 81.75 in his third go-round ride of bareback riding. Heimburg placed third in the go-round, finishing with scores in all three rounds.
Sophomore Codie Vaughan (Searcy, Ark.) competed in the third go-round of breakaway roping, and finished with a no-score on the night.
At the end of the third go-round, the Vikings were led by Heimburg, who is first in the bareback riding average with a 243.5, and has earned 140 points so far at the CNFR. Sophomore Jason Wilson (Bennington, Vt.) is fifth in the average with a 238.25, earning 60 points, and Junior Collin Roland (Childersburg, Ala.) is ninth with a 234.5 in the average, earning 85 points. Sophomore Judd Pope (Garnett, Kan.) finished No. 14 in the standings with a 229.75 in the average, and earned 20 points.
In bull riding, Freshman Jace Hensley (Paola, Kan.) won the second go-round with an 84.5 as his only qualifying score, and sits sixth in the average. He has earned 80 points.
In saddle bronc riding, Pope finished at No. 27 in the standings, with a 138.5 on two scores. Sophomore Treg Huver (Nashville, Mich.) was No. 31 with a 129.5 on two rides and Freshman Creek Caldwell (Bainbridge, Ind.) was No. 32 with a 128.5 on two rides.
On the women's side, Freshman Addyson Derr (Paoloa, Kan.) was the third go-round champion in goat tying, finishing with a 6.0 to win the round. Derr finished at No. 20 in the standings with a 21.2 in the average, and earned 80 points. Also, Freshman Victoria Whitehead (Jones, Okla.) was No. 28 with a 22.9 and Freshman Josie Waldenberger (Holmen, Wisc.) was No. 29 with a 23.1.
In breakaway roping, Sophomore Ruby Espey (Lone Jack, Mo.) won the first go-round with a 2.1 as her only qualifying score, and earned 65 points. Sophomore Codie Vaughan (Searcy, Ark.) did not have a score in the three go-rounds.
A total of four Viking cowboys will compete in the short go-round, Saturday, at the CNFR. Heimburg, Wilson and Roland all advanced in bareback riding, and Hensley will advanve in bull riding.
After the third go-round the Viking men's rodeo team is fourth in the standings with 385 points and the women's team is sixth with 145 points.
The 2026 CNFR continues with the short go-round to finish championship competition, Saturday. The Missouri Valley College men's rodeo team was the reserve National champions at the 2025 CNFR.
Full Competition Schedule-Short Go-Round:
Kooper Heimburg-Bareback Riding
Jason Wilson-Bareback Riding
Collin Roland-Bareback Riding
Jace Hensley-Bull Riding
Results-Click Here