From OPSU
Danae Moore
GOODWELL — The Oklahoma Panhandle State University Rodeo team kicked the 2016-2017 school year off by hosting Lynn Smith. Smith, a three-time college national champion, has made a career out of passing on her knowledge and her love of goat tying through instructing clinics all across the country.
In 1998, Lynn claimed three titles at the College National Finals in the goat tying, breakaway roping, and the all-around. To date Lynn is the only woman to claim the triple-crown at the college national finals rodeo. On top of instructing clinics, Smith is also the head rodeo coach at Cochise College located near Douglas, Ariz.
This weekend the Panhandle of Oklahoma was blessed with several inches of rain which caused some last minute changes and the clinic was moved to just south of Goodwell at Panhandle State’s Head Rodeo Coach Robert Etbauer’s indoor arena. With dry ground and many excited faces, Smith went to work with four members of the OPSU rodeo team and eight other up and coming goat tiers.
Lynn spent two days sharpening the student’s skills and this is what she had to say about goat tying and the weekends clinic: “I think as a competitor, one of the most frustrating things is to make mistakes and not realize why or even recognize a bad habit as a mistake. Attending a rodeo clinic/school by someone specialized in your events, is so important in making forward progress. You can learn from their experience and mistakes, which can save you time on the learning curve. The problem can be something so obvious it’s hard to see, or it’s so familiar to the individual, their coaches or parents, that it goes on and is not seen as a problem. I’ve always admired the coaching staff at OPSU, as they seek quality outside professionals to benefit their teams in multiple events throughout the school year.”
The Panhandle State Rodeo team is grateful to have instructors such as Lynn make the trip to Goodwell each year.
“Lynn is such a great instructor and her attitude towards goat tying and rodeo in general is amazing. She has so much to offer to the upcoming rodeo athletes. I learned so much by just sitting on the fence and watching her interact with the students. I look forward to seeing Lynn each year,” said women’s rodeo coach Shelbie Weeder.
The OPSU rodeo team will kick off their weekly fall jackpots starting Sept. 6. The schedule is as follows:
- Monday- Barrel Racing, calf tying, steer wrestling
- Tuesday- Roughstock, goat tying, team roping
- Wednesday- Breakaway, tie-down roping
All jackpots are open to the public. Weather permitting all jackpots will be held at the Doc Gardner Memorial Arena located on the east side of Goodwell. For more information, you can contact Robert Etbauer at 620-655-3829 or Shelbie Weeder at 719-691-1796.