MOBRIDGE – Holden Eisemann is not your typical rodeo athlete. The Mobridge multi-sport athlete has been participating in several athletic events over the course of the last few years, but his rodeo journey is very recent. He is definitely making the most of his new-found opportunity.

Eisemann will be among those competing in the South Dakota High School Rodeo through Saturday in Fort Pierre.

“It’s gotta be two or three years now. I think two,” Eisemann said when asked when he began his rodeo career.

Eisemann got started in the sport through a friend that talked him into trying it out.

“He kind of talked me into doing it with him because he was just starting out, too,” Eisemann said. “We were pretty good friends and he talked me into doing it, too. It’s been fun since then.”

Since being introduced to the sport, Eisemann has enjoyed the competition that it brings. He participates in the saddle bronc and team roping events, and says the saddle bronc event is his favorite.

“That’s what I started out doing right away and I feel like I’m better at saddle bronc,” Eisemann said. “It’s addicting. It’s like an adrenaline-type of thing.”

This season, Eisemann has performed well. He competed in Highmore and Winner during regionals, winning the saddle bronc event in Highmore, while placing second in Winner.

Eisemann now has his sights set on the state high school rodeo, which he is participating in for the second consecutive year. He has a few goals in mind, with one obvious goal in particular.

“Obviously one of them is going to nationals. That’s probably the one thing I would want to really do,” Eisemann said. “Another one is you can potentially get on three horses, try to make it to the short go, and if you do make it to the short go, you get three horses. So, the biggest goal is to ride three horses and do it well.”

Another aspect Eisemann wants to do well in is representing his hometown of Mobridge.

Eisemann relishes the opportunity to make his community proud.

“It’s fun. There are so many people that are in my corner,” Eisemann said. “It’s just a good town. Everybody here has always been very nice to me and my family, so it’s fun to represent them.”

This fall, Eisemann plans on attending Mitchell Technical College and pursue a degree in Power Line Construction and Maintenance. However, he will also be taking his rodeo talents with him as he will be participating in rodeo at Mitchell Tech.

A recent graduate of Mobridge-Pollock High School, Eisemann also participated in football, basketball, track and field, and baseball during his prep career. Although he has enjoyed each sport, Eisemann says he enjoys the sport of rodeo the most due to the family aspect of it.

“The rodeo family is probably the best thing about it because everyone knows everyone, and everyone is willing to help you and that always means you’re willing to help anyone else,” Eisemann said.

It’s that feeling of family that makes the sport of rodeo so special to Eisemann.

“It is an individual sport and you want to try to do your best, but also when your buddies are going, you’re helping them out and you’re cheering them on as loud as possible,” Eisemann said. “It’s just a fun deal.”