Tarleton rodeo opens 2012 season at Weatherford College

Media Relations

Tarleton State University’s rodeo teams opened their 2012 campaign last weekend at Weatherford College with a strong showing which led to a men’s team championship after their first competition.

Tarleton’s cowboys won the average titles in several events over the weekend, including saddle bronc riding, tiedown roping, team roping and steer wrestling, as well as a second place finish in the bareback riding competition. Their efforts in the arena also propelled Tarleton’s men to the top of the team standings among the 16-member National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s (NIRA) Southwest Region.

Coming off a stellar season in 2011, the Tarleton women claimed the reserve team champion title at Weatherford College and are currently in third place in the NIRA’s Southwest Region.

Shelby Smith, a senior from Stephenville, won the All-Around Cowgirl award after collecting 150 points and placing second in the long round (2.7 seconds), short round (4.0 seconds) and average of the breakaway roping competition. The win moved Smith to third place in the region’s breakaway standings. Smith also placed fourth in the long round of the goat-tying event.

Tarleton’s Tara Schroeder continued to earn points in the goat-tying event at Weatherford, winning the short round and second in the average. She is currently second in the standings. Cassie Vierstra placed second in the long round and currently sits at third in the Southwest Region standings.

Jake Self had a good showing in Weatherford, placing second in the average for bareback riding. He took second in the long round with an 80-point ride and third place in the short round with 69 points. Self’s efforts resulted in a total of 140 points to move into second place in the Southwest Region standings. Also earning points in the bareback competition for Tarleton were cowboys Richmond Champion, Craig Wisehart and Joel Schlegel.

Tarleton’s Tate Owens had an outstanding ride in the saddle bronc event and amassed 155 points toward the region standings by winning the long round with 76 points, splitting third and fourth place in the short round, and ultimately winning the average. Owens is currently in fourth place in the regional standings.

In the tiedown short round, six of the top 10 qualifers were from Tarleton, including College National Finals Rodeo multi-event qualifier Chase Williams being named the champion for the weekend. He placed sixth in the long round, and won both the short round and average to collect 130 points and move into fourth place in the Southwest Region standings.

Troy Hubbard made a great run in the short round to place second and win third in the average, while Chad Williams was consistent with his lasso to take fourth in the long round, sixth in the short round, and sixth in the average. Tarleton’s Kiel Rowan, Neil Dove and Cheyenne Harper also made the short round, while Rowan continues to lead the regional standings in tiedown roping.

Tarleton was also represented well in the steer wrestling event after Ryan Taylor returned home with the average title. He made two quick runs of 5.5 and 4.9 seconds—good enough for third in the long round, first place in the short round, and first in the average. Rowan also placed fourth in both rounds and second in the average, while Tim Sparing was fourth in the average and Cody Miles placed fifth.

Sparing is currently at second in the steer wrestling standings, with Rowan and Taylor in third and fourth, respectively.

Chace Thompson had an outstanding outing with roping partner Will Woodfin from Weatherford College to win both rounds and the average of the team roping competition. Thompson collected 180 points and moved into second place in the regional standings.

Cowboys and cowgirls competing in the NIRA-sanctioned rodeos strive for points in both the long and short rounds and average, at 10 rodeos that comprise the 2012 season. Point standings determine the year-end champions and those who will qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo, held each June in Casper, Wyo.

Tarleton’s rodeo teams will travel to their next competition at Odessa College, March 22-24.

For additional information regarding Tarleton’s rodeo teams, please visit www.tarleton.edu/rodeo or www.collegerodeo.com.