Rodeo | 4/9/2020 2:03:00 PM

The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) has announced that the 2020 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 situation, making it the first time in 71 years that there will not be college rodeo champion crowned. Oklahoma Panhandle State University's Rodeo teams – which are both ranked No. 1 in the tough NIRA Central Plains Region – were both expected to make a strong run at national championships at the event, which was due to take place this June in Casper, Wyoming.
 
Panhandle State already has seven CNFR men's national team titles under its belt. Aggie cowgirls and cowboys have won at least one individual national championship in every CNFR event, with the exception of Barrel Racing.
 
OPSU President, Dr. Tim Faltyn commented, "It is certainly heartbreaking to learn that our rodeo teams will not have the opportunity to compete for the national championship at the CNFR. While disappointing, it certainly does not detract from what the OPSU rodeo teams already accomplished in 2019-20. We are so proud of the job Coach (Robert) Etbauer, Coach (Shelbie) Rose and Sue (Etbauer) – as well as all the young women and men on our teams – did in representing our University and community this season, and doing so at a high level of achievement."
 
A statement released from the NIRA read in part: It is with very heavy hearts that the NIRA and the CNFR Committee announce the cancellation of the 2020 College National Finals Rodeo, June 14th – 20th.  As everyone involved with this event can testify, this is not the outcome we were hoping for, but public safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic is our most important concern.
 
We know that every student athlete, coach, school administrator, parent, and fan, grieves the loss of this special event. This is devastating for all of us, but mostly for the NIRA athletes.  We share your grief.  This is unprecedented.  May we all heal, extend grace, and recover to a better world.
 
We are all in this together and are praying for our rodeo families.
 
NIRA Commissioner Roger Walters added, "We are devastated to be making this announcement.  We wanted to be competing in Casper this summer, but we have to do the right thing to combat this Pandemic and keep our contestants and the State of Wyoming safe."
 
For the OPSU coaching staff the news - while not entirely unexpected - was sobering none-the-less.
 
Assistant Coach/Women's Coach Shelbie Rose said, "I'm disappointed that our athletes won't have the chance to compete for a national title. But I'm grateful for the season that we had and that (the team members) are all safe and healthy. This situation is out of our control and all we can do is move forward and get ready for next season."
 
OPSU's Head Coach Robert Etbauer echoed those sentiments.
 
"It's unimaginable not having the College National Finals Rodeo," Etbauer said. "Never would I have imagined that something like this would ever happen. We had good men's and women's teams; we had lots of confidence going into the CNFR. But you have to play the cards you are dealt.
 
"We will look forward to coming back even stronger next year."