Tarleton State University men’s and women’s rodeo teams kicked off the spring rodeo season March 4-6 in Weatherford, Texas. The rodeo, hosted by Weatherford and Ranger colleges, was held at Parker County Sheriff Posse’s Arena.

Twenty-four men and women from qualified for short-go competition.

On the men’s side Craig Wiseheart, a transfer from South Plains College, made a 74-point ride in the long go in bareback riding. He followed that with a 79-point ride to win the short round and place second in the average.

Tate Owens and Isaac Diaz both picked up team points in the saddle bronc riding. Owens placed fourth in the first round, made an outstanding ride in the second round for 79 points, which helped him place fourth in the average. Diaz placed second in the long go and fourth in the short round to finish second in the average.

Also placing in the saddle bronc riding for Tarleton was Tol Cowley who won the average with 151 points on two head.

The additional 410 points for Tarleton’s men’s team dominated the weekend’s competition and maintained the team’s top spot in regional standings.

Not to be outdone, the women’s team gathered 250 more points toward the regional standings.

Cassie Ward, a two-event qualifier, placed first in both rounds and the average in barrel competition. Accumulating 240 points for the weekend in the barrels and the breakaway, she lead the women’s team to a third-place finish behind Western Texas College and South Plains College. She also picked up the all-around honors in the women’s division.

Kody Engle, also a two-event qualifier, finished strong in the breakaway by placing second in both the short go and the average after a three-way split for fourth in the long go. She placed third in the average in goat tying and split fourth in the short round with teammate Cassie Vierstra. Vierstra also placed eighth in the long round of goat tying.

Phylicia Stewart, a Stephenville native, had a solid weekend in the barrels. She placed second in the long go, fourth in the short and second in the average.

After the weekend, the women are ranked second in regional standings behind South Plains College.

“Despite our wet practice ground and the limited time we have had out there, we made a great showing,” said Mark Eakin, Tarleton’s rodeo coach. “Both teams are loaded with talent. I couldn’t ask for a better group of competitors.”

Other team members making the short go included the following:

Tie-down roping-Sean O’Neil, Dustin Dewinne, Dillon Lewis and Wesley Dove

Breakaway-Cheyenne Motley and Audra Williams

Steer Wrestling-Kiel Rowan and Luke Williams

Team roping-Nick Rawlings, Calvin Brevick and Cassie Vierstra

Barrel racing-Kylie Ward and Lillian McMullan

Next, the teams will travel to Odessa College on March 25-27. For more information on the Tarleton rodeo teams visit www.tarleton.edu~rodeo or team and individual standings at www.collegerodeo.com.