OPSU Rodeo Sends 4 to CNFR

Panhandle State cowboys and cowgirls made their final rodeo of the season count as they will send 4 Aggies to the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming in June. The women's team placed fourth and the men's team placed fifth at the Doc Gardener Memorial rodeo.

In the Goat Tying, McKenna Brennan and Parker McIntyre were ready to have a solid weekend to secure their trip to CNFR. Brennan placed fifth in the long round with a 9.1-second run, while teammate Aby Black was hot on her heels with a 9.2-second run to split sixth and seventh. Kayla Johnson joined in on the fun placing eighth with a 9.5-second run and McIntyre ninth with a 9.6-second run. Brennan and McIntyre split fifth and sixth in the short go together while Brennan was a three-way split in the average for third through fifth. McIntyre finished sixth in the average. Brennan secured enough points to bump into the Reserve Champion for the region, and McIntyre claimed her trip finishing third in the region.

Senior, Aby Black, was an all-around cowgirl making it back in the Breakaway Roping after placing third in the long round with a 2.7-second run. Freshman Kelli Frazier couldn't let the upperclassmen have all the fun, so she split sixth through eighth in the long round with a 2.9-second run. Black came up empty handed in the short go while Frazier made sure to get a good shot placing second with a 5.1-second run. Her smart run landed her in the position to split second and third in the average. Senior, Tatum Hall will make her trip to the CNFR in the Breakaway Roping after serving as Student Director all year.

Junior, Harlee Voss, was the lone Aggie in the Team Roping with her partner Kylor Hogan from Colby Community College. Voss and Hogan split eleventh and twelfth in the long round with a 10.9-second run but ended their season with a no-time in the short go.

Kolhey Longmeyer, junior, was another lone Aggie in the Barrel Racing with a 19.03-second run to place her tenth in the long round in the mud. As the mud dried out for the short go, the ground got faster for the ladies. Longmeyer came back to run an 18.64-second run which placed her ninth in the go and average.

The men's team started strong in the Steer Wrestling with senior Ry Clack splitting the win in the long round with a 5.3-second run. Unfortunately, his final run in his college career ended with no time and an injured knee.

Staying at the roping chutes, Evan Meashaw and Ryler Allred were determined to finish the season strong in the Tie Down Roping. Meashaw split fourth and fifth in the long round with a 11.4-second run with Allred placing eighth with a 12-second run. Meashaw stayed consistent placing fifth in the short go and fourth in the average. Allred had some tough luck and ended his season with a no time.

In the Saddle Bronc Riding, the Aggies kept their sights set on CNFR. Brett Coffman needed a win but finished second in the long round with a 76-point ride. Caleb Newell marked 74 points to split third and fourth with teammate Bailey Small behind him with a 66-point ride finishing ninth in the round. Small was going got the regional year-end title in the short go when he marked 84 points to win the go, and Newell placed sixth behind him with 72 points. Coffman was a no-score in the short go taking him out of the average. Small finished third in the average but was able to end the season as Reserve Champion Saddle Bronc Rider and punch his ticket to the CNFR. Newell finished fourth in the average but didn't have quite enough points to make a trip to Casper with his teammates.

Panhandle State will be well represented in 4 events as well as by Evan Meashaw for his Walt Garrison Award nomination to represent the Central Plains region. Make sure to join us as we cheer our Aggies on in Casper June 11-17th, 2023 at the College National Finals Rodeo.