Aubrey Moody Dominates East Region Rodeo, Leads in Multiple Events

HURON, S.D. — At the inaugural East Region weekend of the South Dakota High School Rodeo Association, Letcher's Aubrey Moody showcased her exceptional skills, excelling in both barrel racing and goat tying while also securing a strong position in breakaway roping. The event took place over the weekend at the Heartland Rodeo Arena.

Moody emerged as a frontrunner in barrel racing, amassing 19 out of 20 possible points. Her fastest time in the first go-round was an impressive 17.013 seconds, although she surpassed herself in the second round with a time of 16.367 seconds. Despite her speed, Wessington's Charleigh Brewer outpaced her in the second round with a stellar time of 16.112 seconds.

In goat tying, Moody leads the regional standings with 19 points, having clocked a winning time of 7.16 seconds in the first round and finishing second in the second round at 8.08 seconds. Alpena's Londyn Mikkelson trails her in the standings with 12 points and a personal best of 8.88 seconds. Parkston's Elle Goehring also performed well, securing nine points with a time of 7.62 seconds in the first round.

Moody and Mikkelson are neck and neck in breakaway roping, each amassing 10 points after two performances. Mikkelson's fastest time was 3.12 seconds, while Moody claimed victory in the second performance with an impressive 2.40 seconds. Mikkelson also earned 12 points in pole bending, ranking third in that category.

For competitors to qualify for the South Dakota High School Rodeo Finals scheduled for June 16-20 in Fort Pierre, they must accumulate at least three points in regional events. The overall points from these rodeos, combined with their top three regional performances, will determine who advances to the National High School Rodeo Finals on July 19-25 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

In addition to Moody's achievements, Ethan's Hunter Hohn led the bareback riding with a top score of 73 points on Saturday, and the weekend's standout cowboys and cowgirls were recognized, with Brewer earning the top cowgirl title and Huron's August Steele being named the top all-around cowboy.

The East Region will continue its rodeo action with the final weekend of events taking place in Watertown from June 12-14.