OPSU RODEO KICKS OFF THE NEW SEASON

Panhandle State's cowboys and cowgirls started their season at Colby Community College in Kansas. Women's team placed third overall for the weekend with the men's team coming in seventh.

Sophomore, Parker McIntyre, started her year off with a full sweep in the Goat Tying winning both rounds and the average having the fastest run of the weekend of 6.8-seconds. She was followed by seniors, Kelsey Hallin and Aby Black. Black split fifth and sixth in the long go with a 7.5-second run, and Hallin just a tick behind her with 7.7-seconds split tenth and eleventh. Hallin came back to the short round with a little more speed to placed her second in the go, and split second and third in the average. Black stayed consistent placing fourth in the short go which secured her fourth in the average.

Women's Rodeo Coach, Shelbie Rose, commented, "I'm excited that our team started off with a full sweep in the Goat Tying, and we plan to continue that momentum the rest of the year. Our ladies can build on that confidence which will hopefully come through in their other events as we move forward."

Lalo Aguilar, a senior, led the way for the men's team in the Bull Riding placing second in the long round and the average with a 69-point ride.

The upperclassmen showed their experience with four Aggies in the Saddle Bronc Riding. Senior, Caleb Newell, marked 76 points in the long round placing third. He stayed focused in the short go making a 71-point ride placing fourth and ended third in the average. Brett Coffman, a junior, split sixth and seventh in the long round to come back Sunday for the short go where he marked 69-points placing sixth in the round and the average. Seniors, Jake Benham and Bailey Small, placed eighth and tenth respectively in the long round, but fell short of the whistle Sunday afternoon.

At the roping chutes, senior, Ryler Allred, showed his ability to be an All-Around cowboy in the Tie Down Roping and Steer Wrestling. Allred slid into the short go after placing twelfth with a 12.6-second run in the Tie Down Roping. He made a solid run in the short round to place seventh and ended up seventh in the average. Allred was accompanied with teammate, Cooper Slavin, a junior, who placed eighth with a 11.7-seocnd run. Slavin had a tough draw and came up with a no time in the short go.

Allred placed seventh in the Steer Wrestling with a 5.4-second run in the long round. He made the smart run of 6-seconds placing sixth in the short go and average. Senior, Ry Clark, joined Allred Sunday with a 6.6-second run splitting twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth in the long round. Clark came up emptied handed in the short go.

Brother duo, Wade, senior, and Clay, freshman, Pettijohn, made their first appearance in the Team Roping. They placed twelfth with a 10.3-second run. As the dust settled on Sunday, the duo came up with a no time for the short go and average.

The Aggies returned from the weekend and hit the practice pen again to prepare for the next one. They will have one weekend off and head to Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Oklahoma September 29th.