Magie Downares-Nevius
Taking close to a $700 lead over her closest competitor, Jessica Koppitz was able to wrap up her second season with the KPRA as the 2014 breakaway roping champion. As the first-time qualifier did not have the crown in her pocket prior to the series, she remained active throughout the finals to take fourth place in the first and third go-rounds to earn a fifth place position in the average to push her to ultimately claim her bragging rights. “It was absolutely amazing,” she says of her 2014 win.
A blending of a ranching background from her mom and dad who rodeoed growing up, the only child of Mike and Deb Koppitz has received an enormous amount of backing to round out her dreams in the arena. Getting her inital groundwork on the family starter feedlot, where Jessica rode pens, she was then introduced to the timer when family friends talked her into entering at around 8 years old. From there, she found her niche in competition and has been going ever since. “Everything just fell into place for me and my parents have supported me through it all,” she says.
In the past, Jessica has pursed extended competition with the Nebraska State Rodeo Association (NSRA) and the Texas Cowboys Rodeo Association (TCRA), and while she will continue to include the NSRA into her scheduling, a change in venue with the TCRA will limit the Alva, Okla., cowgirl’s traveling to the neighbor in the south. Outside of the roping box, Jessica works in the oil field as the secretary on the construction end of things.
