From OPSU Sports Information
Pratt, Kan.—The main event in the community of Pratt, Kan. this past weekend happened to be none other than the Pratt Community College rodeo.
A blast of cold weather started off the three-day event, but the sun shone brightly for the championship round on Sunday afternoon. An event champion from Oklahoma Panhandle State University was named on Sunday as senior Allen Boore claimed the top spot in the saddle bronc riding. The Utah native and 2011 CNFR qualifier is looking to have another great season. “I was excited to have the horse that I drew in the short round. He really bucked, and I was just lucky to get by him,” he stated. Boore deserved the title with his display of all-out effort to capture the top spot.
Three OPSU cowboys, Jed Wilson, Ty Pellam, and Wesley Cole, covered their horses in both rounds of the bareback riding. Cole ended up fifth place overall, scoring a 70 on his first horse and a 67 on his second, while Wilson followed close behind securing sixth place. Pellam made a great attempt also, but didn’t manage to gather enough points to stay in the average.
In both the women’s breakaway roping and the classic event of the saddle bronc riding, five of the top ten contestants competing in the short go were OPSU rodeo athletes. Joe Harper finished right next to Boore in the saddle bronc riding competition, grabbing second place. Noah Blackwell, Whit Peterson, and Clay Elliot also made it to the championship round.
Shelbie Weeder, Lori Goodwin, Kashli Arfsten, Jessie Suazo, and Libbie Meier all qualified for the short round in the breakaway roping. No other women’s team had that many competitors back in a single event. A tough, hard-to-rope pen of calves proved difficult for all of the cowgirls, but Weeder was still able to take third overall, while Meier split second and third in the long go with a time of 3.1 seconds.
In the goat tying, Alexis Christen qualified for the short go, finishing third in the long go with a nice run of 8.4 seconds. Although her final run wasn’t fast enough to allow her to remain in the average, teammate Samantha Foos made two consistent runs of 8.7 and 8.8 for a fourth place finish overall.
Joe Frost had the highest marked ride of the weekend in the bull riding with a score of 81. A little tough luck found him in the short go, but he was still able to swipe a few points and stay in the average. Teammate Cody Hessman managed to cover both of his bulls to take second place overall.
The men’s team continues to climb towards the top with another second place finish this weekend in Pratt. As fall break draws near, the OPSU rodeo team is preparing for the next rodeo at Alva, Okla. scheduled for Nov. 1-3. Preparation, practice, and a little rest over break will keep the team energized and ready. The Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo in Alva will wrap up the fall rodeo season.
From OPSU Rodeo