LARAMIE, Wyo. – Chadron State College's Olivia Lay won the breakaway roping at the Laramie County Community College rodeo in Cheyenne this past weekend, October 9-11. Lay's performance led seven Chadron State cowboys and cowgirls to qualify for the finals at the final fall rodeo of the 2026-27 college season.

 
A graduate student from DeLeon, Texas who is also helping coach the Chadron State rodeo team this season, Lay caught her first calf in 2.5 seconds and then had the fastest time of 2.3 seconds in the finals. That cumulative time was good enough to beat a field of 123 breakaway ropers at the LCCC rodeo.

Lay had previously competed at the University of Wyoming, where she earned a bachelor's degree in May 2026. She's a two-time qualifier at the College National Finals Rodeo in roping events. Lay's victory for Chadron State came one week after CSC freshman Ryan Eilers of Arthur, Neb., had earned third in breakaway roping at the Lamar College rodeo.

Another Chadron State tie down roper, Amanda Sellin, a senior from Norfolk, also caught her calf in 2.3 seconds in the first go-around at the LCCC rodeo, but she did not get a time in the finals on Sunday.        

Besides Lay and Sellin, five more Chadron State contestants qualified for the finals in Cheyenne.

Senior Morgan Rosander of Wolbach, Neb., finished the highest. She placed fourth in barrel racing with runs of 16.79 and 16.65 seconds. Her teammate, Shelby Derner of New Underwood, S.D., also was among the 10 finalists in the barrels and placed seventh among the 113 contestants. Derner's times were 16.81 and 16.75 seconds.   

After placing third in tie down roping at the Lamar rodeo the previous week, senior Layne Palmer of Kadoka, S.D., was fifth at Cheyenne, where he caught and tied his calves in 12.7 and 10.7 seconds. The latter time was the second fastest in the finals. 

Also placing at LCCC was freshman Shaylee Porch of Wamblee, S.D., who competed with Kaylee Bryne of Casper College in team roping. They finished sixth overall after posting a time of 7.9 seconds on their first run but did not get a time in the finals.  

In addition, CSC sophomore Leighton Sander of Custer, S.D., rode both of the barebacks that he drew at all five rodeos in the Central Rocky Mountain Region this fall. He scored 70 and 65.5 points on his two broncs last weekend and was seventh in the standings.

The fall season is now complete. Chadron State ranks fifth out of 11 teams in the men's standings with 1,160 points and also ranks fifth out of 12 teams in the women's standings with 450 points.

Chadron State's highest-ranked cowboy in the regional standings is Jess Harper, the second-ranked heeler in team roping with 305 points. He is part of a team with his brother, header Drew Harper of Gillette College. 

Mejrusa Rustemovic ranks fifth in barrel racing with 180 points while two more CSC competitors are sixth – Leighton Sander in bareback riding with 315 points and Layne Palmer in tie down roping with 170 points.