From SWOSU Sports Info
Doug Self, Sports Information Director
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU senior Jake Stemo stole the show on Saturday night in the short round of the 44th Annual SWOSU NIRA Rodeo at the B.O.P Ram Rodeo Grounds in Weatherford. Stemo won the short go in both bareback and bull riding, leading his team to a runner-up finish at their home event.
For the second straight week, the SWOSU Men’s team recorded a top finish at the rodeo as they followed up their win at Garden City with a runner-up finish at home. SWOSU totaled 420 points on the men’s side, finishing behind only Southeastern Oklahoma State, and the women’s team took fourth with 120 points.
Stemo was the first Bulldog into the Don Mitchell Arena on Saturday night and he made the most of his bareback ride, scoring 81 points to win the round. Coupled with his 70-point ride on Thursday night, Stemo won the average of the event and earned himself a buckle at his final home rodeo. He would have to wait until the final event of the night to return to the arena, but results were similar in bull riding as he scored 82 points to win the short round and place second in the average of that event.
“It’s really exciting to come to the SWOSU Rodeo, we have great fans who support rodeo and I think this year was the best year we’ve had,” Stemo said on Saturday night following the championship round. “A guy doesn’t really want to overthink things, but I really wanted to have a good showing in front of the home crowd and with it being my last year at Southwestern, so I just stayed focused and the hard work’s been paying off.”
Other top performers for the men’s team included Levi Nicholson, who finished fourth in the average of bareback with rides of 69 and 72 points. His short round ride earned him fourth place on Saturday night. Kyle Hay (Tie Down) and Drew Spencer (Saddle Bronc) placed third and fourth, respectively, in the long round while Nathan Hatchel and Mickey Andrews both finished in the top five of the long round of bull riding.
SWOSU’s Women’s team was led by Kylee Cahoy, who placed third in the short round and average of breakaway roping. She had a time of 2.9 seconds to split third place in the long round before 4.2 seconds was good for third on Saturday night. Mikayla Harrison was 2.7 seconds in the long round, good for second place but had no time in the short go.
A trio of Bulldogs placed in goat tying, led by Skylar Ragan, who had times of 8.1 and 7.8 seconds to split fifth in the average. Paige Wiseman was third in the short round in 7.7 seconds and took seventh in the average while Central Plains Region leader Jacoby Hotsenpiller had times of 8.0 and 8.2 seconds, earning her a share of eighth place in the average.
“I was really proud of our team and how they hustled to work the rodeo,” SWOSU Head Coach Mike Visnieski said. “Things went really well because of their hard work. We had beautiful weather and great crowds all weekend and we’re very fortunate for that. I appreciate the hard work of everybody who helped put the rodeo on and I would like to thank all of our great sponsors who make the event possible.”
SWOSU’s busy schedule continues next weekend as they compete for the third straight weekend. The Dawgs will head to Hays, Kansas for the Fort Hays State Rodeo, held April 15-17.
44th Annual SWOSU Rodeo Results
April 7-9, 2016
Weatherford, Okla. (B.O.P. Ram Rodeo Grounds)
Women’s Team
Northwestern Oklahoma State – 405
Southeastern Oklahoma State – 205
Panhandle State – 155
SWOSU – 120
Conners State – 115
Men’s Team
Southeastern Oklahoma State – 590
SWOSU – 420
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M – 340
Northwestern Oklahoma State – 340
Panhandle State – 295