Tarleton wins first place in four of seven events

STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS-Tarleton State University’s rodeo team attended their second rodeo of the season this past weekend, traveling to Sul Ross State University in Alpine.

The long trip was well worth the travel for both the men’s and women’s teams. There were a record 27 total short round qualifiers for Tarleton. Texas Tech University won the event with 375 total points. Weatherford College came in second with 335 points and third went to Tarleton with 320 points. The women also took third with 270 points, with Western Texas College winning the team championship with 435 total points.

The men are placing fourth in the team standings, while the women are third. Tarleton won four of the seven events and collected points in every men’s and women’s event. Kayelen Helton and Ryan Thibodeaux both ended up reserve in the all-around for the weekend.

In the rough stock events this weekend, the team brought back three saddle bronc riders – Tate Owen, Tol Cawley and Brazos Peacock. Owen won the first round with 80 points and won third place in the average. He collected 100 points and moved into first in the region with 240 total points. Cawley placed fourth in the first round and fifth in the average, giving him 50 points and moving him into the top eight in the region. Peacock picked up 30 points and sits at ninth place overall.

Bull rider Harve Stewart had another winning weekend. Stewart and fellow team member Justin Oliver split fourth in the first round with 84-point rides. Stewart went on to win the short round with another 84 points and won the average with a total of 168. He moved to first in the year-end standings. Oliver won sixth in the average and is in the top 10 overall.

Tiedown ropers Chase Williams, Jay Hollabaugh and Ryan Thibodeaux competed in the short round. Williams split second in the first round with a quick time of 8.5 seconds. Hollabaugh received 55 points for the weekend by placing fifth in the first round, sixth in the short round and by splitting fourth in the average. Thibodeaux’s 10.4-second run in the short round gave him a third-place finish and sixth in the average.

Tarleton dominated the team roping for the weekend. Header Nick Rawlings won the average, along with third in the first round and second in the short round. He collected 150 points and moved into first place in total points.

Clay Norell split the first round and placed fifth in the short round and sixth in the average. Kayelen Helton and Ryan Thibodeuax consistently roped their way to third in the short round and third in the average. They picked up 80 points each and moved into the top 10 in the region.

Helton also was the breakaway roping champion. She placed second in the first round and won the short round and the average. This big win moved her to first in the standing. Kody Engle also picked up 40 points in the breakaway. Engle had a good weekend making the short round in all three of her events and collecting 100 points.

All-around cowgirl Cassie Ward unfortunately knocked a barrel in the first round but made up for it in the goat tying. The Oklahoma cowgirl won second in the first round and then came back to win the short round and average. Ward is currently winning second in the goat tying standings and third in the barrels. Another all-around cowgirl, Ginger Hathcock, picked up points in the barrels. She is currently in the top eight of the barrels and breakaway roping. Cheyenne Motley and Kayla Emmons also received points.

The team will travel Perryton Oct. 1-3 for the Frank Phillips College Rodeo. For all points and results, visit www.tarleton.edu~rodeo or www.collegerodeo.com.