Consistency Produces Pay Dirt in the Arena
-released by OPSU Campus Communications 06-19-05
The final round of the College National Finals Rodeo saw Oklahoma Panhandle State University student athletes finishing with extraordinary performances that garnered several wins.
Erica Brown won the short go of the
breakaway roping in 2 seconds flat, which also put
her first in the average to win the event. That final
round made all the difference since leading up to the
championship round, she was 12th in the round one,
24th in the second, and 18th in the third. The 2005
CNFR marks Erica’s final rodeo performance as an OPSU student athlete. The Pocatello, Idaho native was named Female Athlete of the Year in 2004, and her winning ways will be missed next year. After receiving her degree in business administration, she plans to continue to rodeo.
A local student athlete from Goodwell,
Trell Etbauer has quite a family rodeo reputation to
live up to. Only a freshman, he did just that with
his performance in the steer wrestling. Again proving
consistency is key, Trell split first in the average
of that event after taking 6th in the short round with
a 6.6 second time. He also qualified for CNFR in the
saddle bronc riding, and ended up 18th in the average
after a no-score in the second round. According to
Coach Craig Latham, Trell finishes the year in fifth
place in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s Rookie of the Year race.
Dusty Hausauer, a senior from Dickinson,
North Dakota, also competed in his final college rodeo
at CNFR. Even though Dusty didn’t qualify in the saddle bronc, he was chosen to round out the men’s team. He had a great rodeo, taking second place in the short go with a 78.5 point score, and won second in the average with a total of 296 points on 4 broncs. He will graduate in December with a degree in ag business.
In the goat tying, Stacey Watland won
6th in the short round, putting her seventh overall
in that event. From Poulsbo, Washington, this was Stacey’s first and last CNFR. She will graduate with a bachelor’s in biological science, and plans to go on to graduate school, perhaps in physical therapy.
Buster Holland, a junior from Sublette,
Kansas and first-time CNFR qualifier, turned in a great
performance in the steer wrestling. He placed 10th
in the championship round, and 10th in the average.
He has one year left to compete as a student athlete,
and Coach Latham will depend on him again next season.
While
Cal Peterson didn’t make the short round of the bull riding, he posted a 74 point ride in the first round, good enough for 10th place. This Parade, South Dakota senior will earn his degree in industrial technology, and plans to continue to rodeo and run his ranch.
In the bareback riding, Travis Sharp
turned in scores on all three of his horses, but the
competition was tough, and he didn’t make the short go. Travis graduated this past May with an agronomy degree, and has secured a position with the National Resource and Conservation Service in Guymon.
Another recent graduate and the 2005
OPSU Male Student Athlete of the Year, Matt Hebbert
qualified for CNFR in the saddle bronc riding. He won
second in the Men’s All-Around at CNFR last year, but had a tough time this year with three no-scores in three rounds. From Hyannis, Nebraska, Matt also does well professionally in the saddle bronc.
Although only two women represented
OPSU, their team points totaled 250, good enough for
7th place, and he men’s team won 422.50 points, putting them in 9th place.
“Consistency pays off, and I’m proud of the kids. They brought their A-game to the short round and it was a great to watch,” said Coach Craig Latham. In addition to bragging rights, the outstanding performance brings scholarship money to the program, which will help recruit quality student athletes to carry on OPSU’s Winning Rodeo Tradition!
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