GOODWELL, Okla. – The key to winning in rodeo is consistency.
Tradition helps, too.
The men’s and women’s rodeo teams at Oklahoma Panhandle State University have both on their sides as they begin the spring portion of the 2011-12 season in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s Central Plains Region. The teams carry with them a bunch of talent and a rich legacy into any rodeo arena in which they compete.
The Panhandle State men sit No. 2 in the region standings, the women are fourth, heading into the first event of the spring portion this weekend at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. – four events took place in the fall, wrapping in Alva, Okla., the first weekend in November; the remaining rodeos are scheduled for this spring. The final event of the season will be the Doc Gardner Memorial Rodeo, which will take place April 26-28 at Hitch Arena in Guymon, Okla.
The Panhandle State men trail leader Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College by 615 points, but that point differential can be made up in a hurry. The women’s team has 655 points, but they trail leader Western Oklahoma State College by 160 points. That ground can be made up in just one rodeo.
As is typically the case, several Panhandle State saddle bronc riders are near the top of the region standings. In fact, eight cowboys are among the top 13. Vince Tsosie leads the way with 170 points, which has him in fifth place, but he’s followed closely by Justin Hegwer, who has 155. Others in the mix are Josh Griggs, Jake Watson, Whit Peterson, Dillon Barkshire, Allen Boone and Magin Montoya.
Joe Frost leads the Panhandle State contingent with 270 points in bull riding; he sits in second place in the standings and is joined in the top 15 by Jeff Bertus (5), Cody Hessman (7) and Wyatt Gregg (14). Bareback rider Ryan McIntyre is third in the standings with 225 points, followed directly by Griggs (4) and Jed Wilson (11).
Dusty Moore sits 15th in the tie-down roping standings, while Weston Taylor, Dixon \Winn and Loper McCune are in the top 10 in steer wrestling.
In the women’s standings, Kaylee Moyer ranks in the top five in both goat tying (2) and breakaway roping (4). Other ropers among the leaders are Jenna Jolly (7), Callie Schafer (10) and Lisa Christensen (13). Hannah Harrington is the third-ranked goat-tier, while Molly Small is 15th.