Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Seth Hardwick was the first to do so for the Aggies on Saturday night. Known as the most physically demanding sport in rodeo, the bareback riding can be tough on a cowboy. After posting a qualified ride good enough for the top ten in the long round, Hardwick started a good championship ride, but experienced some of the wildness of the sport and failed to make the eight second mark. "I’ve seen more heart lately in him, and it’s good watching," stated Coach Craig Latham.

The breakaway roping soon got very wicked as the times were extremely fast. However, it did not stop two lady Aggies from making the short go. First to rope was Shelby Alfred, a native of Arizona. Alfred successfully roped both of her calves for a top ten finish. Next to compete was Whitney Knippling. After a blazing 2.5 in the long round, Knippling came back in the short go with a faster two second run, tying her for a third and fourth place finish in the average.

With a tough pen of saddle bronc riding horses, only seven qualified rides were made, three of which were made by OPSU cowboys. Seth Glause, Troy Crowser and Tyrel Larsen each made two qualified rides. Crowser placed the highest after winning the short round with an 80 point ride, ending up second in the average.

Two Aggies made the championship round list of steer wrestlers. Weston Taylor was the first wearing the colors of OPSU, and posted an amazing run in the short go, good enough for a fourth place in the average. Also making the championship round was Ryan Hinton.

Just one lady Aggie qualified for the short round in the goat tying event. A freshman from Bayfield, Colorado, Jessie Suazo posted a 7.4 second run in the long round, landing her a solid top ten slot for Saturday night to perform in front of the packed crowd. Suazo looks to continue her success into the spring season. Like the goat tying, the team roping only saw one pair of Aggies. Each formerly from Colorado, Ryan Hinton and Brice Ingo managed to slip into the short round after posting an 8.4 second long round time. The team was first to rope in the event on Saturday night and nabbed another qualified time, leaving them in the top ten in the average.

In the barrel racing, again just one OPSU cowgirl made the mark. Jordan Muncy, junior from Corona, New Mexico, along with her horse Smoke, posted the third fastest time of the rodeo in the short round with a 13.39, and managed to hold a fourth place finish in the average.

Though he has already made one trip to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada just last year, Seth Glause is in his first year at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Glause was one of eleven cowboys to ride in the short round of bull riding. Glause showed his talent by making two great rides and helping the men’s team gain their third place finish as a team.

As a side event just for fun, the NWOSU Rangers hosted a cowboy footrace. Competing for the Aggies were Carissa Cluck, Shancee Howell, L. D. Meier and Cody Hessman. Unfortunately, first place did not come home to Goodwell.

With the fall season in the books, the Central Plains region competitors have a break to continue their practice in hopes of qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming in June. Also during the break, the annual Top Hand Auction will be held along with other great events. Keep watch and stay tuned. Go Aggies!