Women's Rodeo: Hometown Heroes
Jordan Muncy

 

Goodwell, Okla. — Easter weekend in Guymon involved some exciting rodeo action as the Oklahoma Panhandle State University rodeo team hosted their rodeo at the Hitch Pioneer Arena. Kicking off with a performance Thursday night, there was non-stop rodeo competition until the championship round held Saturday night. With some of the warmest, rodeo weekend weather in the last several years, the Aggies once again saw many team members in the short go.

 

Two freshmen lady Aggies made the short round in the breakaway roping. Callie Schafer, who recently wrapped up basketball season for OPSU, qualified for the short round on her horse Frosty, who also helped her brother Seth Schafer qualify for Central Plains Region short rounds in the past several years. Schafer roped both her calves fast enough to finish in fourth place.

 

Also qualifying for the short round in the breakaway roping was Jessie Suazo. Suazo, who just came back from the Fort Scott rodeo with an All-Around title in hand, roped both of her calves with flashy style, earning a tie for second and third place.

 

Hitch Pioneer Arena is known throughout the region for its size. It is the largest arena in the Central Plains Region, and a great difference in the pattern for the barrel racing. While some competitors struggled to adjust to the larger pattern, the Aggies seemed as prepared as ever. Three lady Aggies raced around the three barrels fast enough to qualify for the short go. Whitney Knippling, a South Dakota native, and Katie Jolly, who hails from Deer Trail, Colorado, each had great runs in the long round, but with some tough luck in the short go, both hit barrels. Jordan Muncy, who finished third in the long round, came back in the short round to post the fastest time of the rodeo, giving her the average title.

 

In the goat tying event, senior Shancee Howell was the lone Aggie on the championship roster. After finishing third in the long round, Howell remained consistent in the short go, holding on to her third place finish in the average. The women's team walked away as champions of their own college rodeo with a total of 360 points, with second place earning a mere 215. The team win helps the women's team to move up in the regional standings, one step closer to qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo.

 

Though the women's team took first place, the men's team was by no means down and out. Earning a second place finish in the team standings, several Aggie men competed Saturday night. In the saddle bronc riding, the battle between Tyrel Larsen and Troy Crowser continued. This time, Tyrel Larsen came out on top with an average win, six points ahead of his teammate Crowser. Four of the nine saddle bronc riders in the championship round wore the prestigious red and blue vests. Steve Lassen rode each of his broncs in order to claim a solid fourth place finish. Vince Tsosie posted the second highest score of the entire weekend in the long round, but ran into some trouble with a rank horse in the short go.

 

Weston Taylor has consistently continued to qualify for short rounds in the steer wrestling event. Taylor slipped into the championship round where he then put together a blistering fast 3.9 second run, bumping him into a second and third place overall finish. In the team roping, just one Aggie duo managed to qualify for the short go. The team consisted of Brice Ingo and Ryan Hinton. After posting a smooth long round run, Ingo and Hinton faced some tough luck in the short go and were forced to receive a no time.

 

As always, the Oklahoma Panhandle State University rodeo went above and beyond, providing additional entertainment for fans of all ages. Three "extra" events were featured in the performances. These events are non-traditional and did not count towards anything except a fun filled addition to the rodeo performances. The first event was the ever-so-popular gigantic goat tying. Quite possibly the largest, smelliest billy goat was graciously provided, and after much quality entertainment, Hannah Harrington managed to tie him the fastest. The second event was the wild ride bronc riding. In this event, "The Man From Snowy River" and "The Easter Bunny" participated. In the end, it was Will Shaffer, the snowy river native, who won, after riding his bronc in an Austrailian saddle and cracking a bull whip over his head. The final event was the steeplechase barrel racing. This event was fast paced and filled with excitement, Jordan Muncy captured first.

 

After much competition and fun, the Aggies gear up for a trip to Weatherford, Oklahoma this weekend, followed by a final rodeo in Hays, Kansas. With just two rodeos to go, it is a fight to the finish for all competitors in the Central Plains Region. Go Aggies!