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National Intercollegiate Dairy Judging Contest
University of Wisconsin-River Falls Tops National Intercollegiate Dairy Judging Contest
MADISON, WIS. – The University of Wisconsin-River Falls took home top honors for the first time in more than two decades at World Dairy Expo in the National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest on October 1. Twenty-one schools competed in the contest, and leading the top team and placing third overall individually was Erica Helmer. Coached by Steve Kelm, the team from River Falls consists of Kaila Tauchen, ninth place individual overall, Matt Kramer and Clint Irrthum, in addition to Helmer. This group also topped the reasons portion of the competition. Virginia Tech followed as second team overall with team member Shelby Iager placing first overall individually and third overall in reasons. While David Pintens of University of Wisconsin-Madison won the oral reasons contest. Other teams placing in the top five overall were Cornell University, third; University of Wisconsin-Madison, fourth; and Oklahoma State University, fifth.
Teams and individuals receiving recognition include:
Top Ten Teams – Overall:
University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 2,487, team members: Erica Helmer, Matt Kramer, Kaila Tauchen and Clint Irrthum, coached by Steve Kelm
Virginia Tech, 2,484, team members: Katelyn Allen, Shelby Iager, Sarah Thomas and Leah Hall, coached by Katharine Knowlton and Kayla Umbel
Cornell University, 2,463, team members: Christopher Sweeny, Stephanie McBath, Kayla Windecker and Brittany Hardy, coached by Kevin Ziemba
University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2,456, team members: David Pintens, Nicole Pralle, Molly Hendrickson and Danielle Warmka, coached by Brian Kelroy and Trent Olson
Oklahoma State University, 2,438, Jax Bauer, Carly Olufs, Nicole Sanders and Hannah Young, coached by David Jones
University of Minnesota, 2,435, team members: Haely Leiding, Kayla Leiding, Krista Styer and Lauren Hendel, coached by Dr. Les Hansen, Alicia Thurk Hiebert, Eric Houdek and Gabriella Sorg
University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 2,423, team members: Paul Grulke, Ryan Smith, Abbey Williams and Ellie Lenkaitis, coached by Cory Weigel
Pennsylvania State University, 2,417, team members: Justin Ayers, Emily Supancik, Stephanie Takitch and Kelly MacRae, coached by Dale Olver
Delaware Valley University, 2,402, team members: Lindsay Smith, Amanda Wengryn, Mary Lawrence and Madison Jackson, coached by Ethan Arsenault and Mary Holle
The Ohio State University, 2,394, team members: Hannah Dye, Katia Hardman and Kate Sherman, coached by Bonnie Ayers and Paul Detwiler
Top Ten Individuals – Overall:
Shelby Iager, 859, Virginia Tech
David Pintens, 857, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Erica Helmer, 850, University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Kayla Leiding, 850, University of Minnesota
Kate Sherman, 833, The Ohio State University
Christopher Sweeney, 833, Cornell University
Nicole Sanders, 832, Oklahoma State University
Makayla Petter, 831, Michigan State University
Kaila Tauchen, 828, University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Kayla Windecker, 825, Cornell University
Top Ten Teams – Reasons:
University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 815, coached by Steve Kelm
Virginia Tech, 811, coached by Katharine Knowlton and Kayla Umbel
Cornell University, 811, coached by Kevin Ziemba
University of Wisconsin-Madison, 811, coached by Brian Kelroy and Trent Olson
University of Minnesota, 797, coached by Dr. Les Hansen, Alicia Thurk Hiebert, Eric Houdek and Gabriella Sorg
University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 780, coached by Cory Weigel
Oklahoma State University, 779, coached by David Jones
Pennsylvania State University, 777, coached by Dale Olver
Tarleton State University, 777, coached by Barry Cavitt and Morgan Cavitt
The Ohio State University, 771, coached by Bonnie Ayers and Paul Detwiler
Top Ten Individuals – Reasons:
David Pintens, 285, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Erica Helmer, 284, University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Shelby Iager, 282, Virginia Tech
Kayla Leiding, 277, University of Minnesota
Nicole Sanders, 275, Oklahoma State University
Ryan Smith, 275, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Stephanie McBath, 273, Cornell University
Ellen Schilderink, 273, The Ohio State University
Kate Sherman, 272, The Ohio State University
Kayla Windecker, 270, Cornell University
The National Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Contest is made possible in part through the generous support of Platinum Level Sponsor Channel Seed; Gold Sponsors, DeLaval, Inc., ST Genetics and Westway Feed Products; and additional supporters.