Eudell Larsen is still trying to settle into his position as Dickinson State's rodeo coach.
So, when Larsen sees members of the team practicing on their own, he breathes a sigh of relief.
"I've had a lot of stuff to do and I haven't been able to be out here every minute," said Larsen, who was hired on Aug. 11. "But when I am here, I feel comfortable not having to be here every second."
Larsen is taking over coaching duties for Scott Kleeman, who was at the helm of the team for five years before resigning at the end of June to pursue other work.
"Scott left things in pretty good shape for me," Larsen said.
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DSU is coming off Great Plains Region championships on both the men's and women's side and begins its chase for more titles on Friday and Saturday with the Wisconsin-River Falls Rodeo.
The Blue Hawks return several champion cowboys and cowgirls to help them chase more titles, including both the GPR men's and women's all-around champions in Justin Miller and Halley Treeby, respectively.
Miller, a Canadian, also won the region steer wrestling title.
Along with Miller, the Blue Hawks bring back all three of its tie-down ropers who qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo last year. Region champion Turner Harris, a Killdeer native, John Pfaff and Isaiah Pemberton give DSU depth at an event it has dominated the past two seasons.
Also back is GPR saddle bronc riding runner-up Ty Thompson is back.
Senior Kobi Olineck, who was the 2008 goat tying national co-champion, leads the women alongside Treeby, who also won the region breakaway roping title.
"They're all back. Not just them, but there's other team members that have all been back," Larsen said. "They're looking to improve on past accomplishments."
Like winning another region title?
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"That's an unsaid," Larsen said with a smile. "Every year. That's what every team in the region is looking to do. That's just an unsaid goal. These kids have got individual championships on their minds too."
