OPSU Rodeo Creeps Toward the Top

Weatherford, Okla.-Consistent performances are paving the road to the
College National Finals Rodeo for the Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Rodeo Team. The men’s team grabbed second place at the Southwestern Oklahoma
State University Rodeo held April 11-13 in Weatherford, Okla. With only two
rodeos remaining for the regular season, the Aggies have the regional
championship in their sights.

Leading the men’s team is senior Allen Boore. With a tough pen of horses,
only two cowboys made it to the eight-second whistle in the championship
round Saturday night in the saddle bronc riding. Boore paired a 72-point
short round ride with his 76 points in the first go to clinch the weekend
championship. Teammate Clay Elliott had the top ride of the long round with
78 points, however suffered a no score Saturday evening. Also qualifying for
the championship round was Joe Harper, Preston Kafka and Caleb Nichols.

Freshman Caleb Bullock has proven his skills with a rope against the older
competitors all season and this weekend was no exception. After a solid
10.5-second run in the long round of calf roping, Bullock stepped up the
speed for the Saturday night crowd. His blazing 9.5-second time was the
fastest seen all weekend. He placed second overall. Logan Litton slipped
into third place of the first round, qualifying him for the short go as
well.

Joe Frost stayed in the middle of his bovine for the eight seconds in first
round of the bull riding, scoring 72 points and earning third place.
Unfortunately, he could not duplicate the ride in the short round of
competition.

In the team roping, two pairs of OPSU cowboys spun their steers into the
championship round. Dusty Moore and Elliott made two consistent runs,
landing them in sixth place for the average race. Jeff Cover and Jake Watson
grabbed long round points, but received a no time in the short go.

Senior Jessie Suazo is making the most of her final spring semester. Coming
off a win in the breakaway roping at Fort Scott, Suazo duplicated her
performance in Weatherford in the barrel racing. The veteran cowgirl clocked
the fastest time of the long round with a 17.20-second run. Another solid
run Saturday night landed her in the top spot for the weekend. Suazo also
qualified in the breakaway roping where she placed sixth in the average.

The rodeo team is in their final stretch of the regular season before the
points are tallied to see who gets to cash a ticket for the CNFR. They will
be back on the road April 19-21 to Hays, Kan. before hosting the annual Doc
Gardner Memorial Rodeo in Guymon April 25-27. Fans can purchase tickets for
the Doc Gardner Rodeo beginning April 16 at the Ropeman in Guymon with a $20
donation to "T’s for Those in Need." See the Oklahoma Panhandle State
University Rodeo Team Facebook page for more information.