OPSU Communications
Fort Scott, Kan. — The Oklahoma Panhandle State University Rodeo team had a solid performance at the Fort Scott Community College rodeo this past weekend. The men’s team battled hard and captured the win and the women’s team finished the rodeo with a strong second. The Aggies had at least one student-athlete qualify for the short round in every event. Senior Randi Buchanan led the way earning the barrel racing and women’s all-around titles.
In the barrel racing, Buchanan laid down two fast runs to land herself in first place in the average. Buchanan was 12.33 seconds to finish the long round in third place. She came back on championship Sunday and clocked a 12.08 second run to win the short round and the average title. Buchanan was joined in the barrel racing by junior Melanie Roman. Roman was12.55 seconds to finish the long round in fifth place, but had some tough luck and knocked a barrel over in the short go.
In the breakaway roping, Randi Buchanan stopped the clock in 2.8 seconds to take second in the long round. Buchanan took a no time in the short round, but still managed to finish fifth in the average race. In the goat tying, Mary Frances Small was 6.9 seconds in the long round to finish sixth in the round. Small faced a little tough luck in the short go and her time was too long for her to finish in the average race.
As to be expected, there was a slew of red and blue vests at the bucking chutes. In the classic event of saddle bronc riding, two Panhandle State cowboys spurred their way into the short round. Junior Jake Finlay was 69 points in the long round to land third place points. He came back and was 77 points in the short round to finish second in the round and second in the average. Finlay was joined in the saddle bronc riding by sophomore Taylor Tupper. Tupper was 60 points in the long round to earn fifth place points, however he failed to make the whistle in the short round.
In the bareback riding, three cowboys in red and blue vests made their appearance on Sunday afternoon. Wesley Cole was 62 points in the long round to split sixth. Cole came back in the short round and was 76 points to win the round as well as third in the average. Teammate Will Martin was also 62 points in the long round and split sixth with Cole. Martin was 72 points in the short round to split third in the round and finish fourth in the average. Cole and Martin were joined by Dylan Riggins. Riggins was 130 points on two head to finish sixth in the average. In the bull riding, Josh Frost wowed the crowd on Friday night with a 85 point ride to win the round. Frost however came down early in the short round, but still managed to finish second in the average.
At the other end of the arena, senior Will Carpenter made two solid runs in the big man’s event of steer wrestling. Carpenter was 7.1 seconds in the long round and 4.6 seconds in the short go to split the win in the round. Luke Meier alongside his team roping partner Tucker McClain of Garden City Community College were 5.7 seconds to win the long round of the team roping. The duo faced some tough luck in short round and failed to stop the clock. Senior Josh Frost also made the short round in the tie-down roping by tying one in 9.5 seconds in the long round. Frost couldn’t quite make it work in the short round and took a no time.
The Aggies will have a few weeks off to regroup and prepare for the next rodeo at Garden City Community College on March 31- April 2.