OPSU Communications
Erika Chartrand
COLBY, Kan. — The Oklahoma Panhandle State University rodeo team fulfilled their high hopes this weekend at the first college rodeo of the year in Colby, Kan. The men’s team won second place and the women’s team won the rodeo. Panhandle State had athletes come back in the short round in the barrel racing, goat tying, team roping, tie-down roping, bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding. It is safe to say that they have an all-around awesome team this year.
“I’m proud of our entire team,” assistant coach Shelbie Weeder said. “Colby has been good to the women’s team. We have won that rodeo the last three years. We had a really good weekend, but it’s just the beginning. We will keep working hard and taking it one rodeo at a time.”
Beau Peterson started off her college career with a dream weekend. Peterson won the long round in the goat tying with a time of 6.6 seconds. She then came back in the short round with a time of 6.5 seconds placing her second in the short round right behind teammate Kaylee Smith, who won the reserve goat tying title. Not only did Peterson win the goat tying title, but she also made it back in the barrel racing, making her the all-around women’s champion of the weekend.
Jade Taton also had a successful weekend. Taton won the first round of the bareback riding. Taton then split first place in the short round and earned the bareback riding champion title. Taton also made it back in the saddle bronc riding along with Cooper Thatcher, Rowdy Chesser, and Dawson Dahm, who won the reserve title. Thatcher and Chesser split the third place for the weekend.
Hadley McCormick had a spot in the short round in the tie-down roping. He unfortunately broke the barrier in the short round, which put him out of the average.
The steer wrestling was a brother’s event this weekend for Panhandle State. Both Trase and Quint Bell were present in the short round. Quint had a time of 4.0, winning the long round. Both brothers unfortunately got a no time in the short round.
There were nine Panhandle State team members in the team roping short round. Cousins Wyatt Murray and Whitt Crozier won the long round but had a no time in the short round. Brothers Matt and Sam Goings won the reserve champion title. Nate Johnsrud and his partner Sloan Smith from Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), won third in the average. Also in the short round was Luke Meier, Trey Hall, Quint Bell, and Ira Dickinson.
Freshman bull rider, T.J. Schmidt scored 80 points in the long round putting him second going into the short round. Everyone but one bucked off the short round. Schmidt won third in the average.
Kaylee Smith ended the weekend on a great note sending an inspirational message to all college rodeo athletes:
“As you all pull out of the first fall rodeo, some are headed home with their heads hung low from a weekend that didn’t go as planned, others are headed home a win under your belt and a new buckle on the dash.
“To those discouraged from this weekend, remember there are nine more rodeos to make your goals happen! The odds may not have been in your favor this weekend. That’s OK – it’s rodeo! Come back next weekend and improve on last week’s run!
“For some it was the little things, a barrier here, a leg there, a tipped barrel, all those things you can fix for the next weekend! For others, maybe the cards just weren’t in your favor… maybe you drew the runner, maybe your calf was the only one that strained…keep your chin up though! Don’t forget you got this! On to the next one!”