By SAMI MCGUIRE
Sports Editor
Experience and preparation are on Maverick Harper’s side every time he steps into the arena.
Harper, a senior at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, doesn’t get nervous. He goes to the rodeos well practiced, and it showed last weekend at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Harper won the all-around and the team roping-heading. On top of that, he placed second in tie-down roping and sixth in steer wrestling. But this wasn’t new for him; Harper has made the short round every year at the SWOSU rodeo.
“It felt really good to get back in the saddle and not in just one event,” Harper said. “To come out stronger in these outdoor (rodeo) and really get going and moving forward.”
Harper is from Iowa, La., but grew up in Stephenville, Texas. He said southern rodeos are mainly in big outdoor arenas, and that is what he prefers.
“There’s just a lot more room to set things up,” he said. “Toward the end of the season, it kind of shows you the real winners, who can step up to the plate and win.”
Harper not only has his experience to rely on, but also his family’s experience also. Many of his family members have qualified for the National Finals Rodeo at least once. His grandfather had one of the largest rodeo companies in ProRodeo.
Harper’s brother is also a calf roper who has qualified for the Southeastern Circuit Finals of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He moved to Alva to help Harper tune up his calf roping for his senior year. Harper’s support system ranges from friends to the school to his family.
“School has been really helpful,” he said. “If it wasn’t for my scholarship, I probably wouldn’t have gone to college, and now I’m on the verge of graduating, which is a great opportunity for me. My brother moving up here and my parents have been the biggest help of my life. They’ve supplied me with what I need. I always have a horse to rope on. So, I think it’s really important to have people behind you to help you to win.”
The people behind Harper have also taught him some important things about preparation. He may not get nerves, but he feels the pressure to do well for himself and for the team.
Harper’s team roping partner is Tanner Nall, and that teamwork is what helped leda the men’s team to a second-place finish. Sage Lamunyon also made the short round in the team roping but didn’t place.
Placing ahead of Harper in the steer wrestling was Talon Roseland, who finished second in the average. Bridger Anderson placed third, and Cody Devers was fourth. Wacey Dorenkamp and Joby Allen also made the short round but didn’t place.
In tie-down roping, Harper placed second. Colton Brown placed fourth, and Cole Patterson finished fifth. Grayson Allred made the short round but didn’t place.
The women’s team did not have as much success, but several individuals placed.
Sara Bynum placed fourth in the barrel racing. Jenny Massing made the short round in the breakaway but didn’t place.
In goat tying, Aundrea Dufrane placed fourth in the average, and Melissa Couture finished sixth.
Although Harper won the team roping, he doesn’t consider that his main event. His main focus is on tie-down roping and steer wrestling. He has one more year of college before graduating, and afterward, he hopes to win rookie of the year in the PRCA in those events.
“Team roping just requires a lot more sacrifice, to carry on another partner around all the time and keeping somebody with you,” Harper said. “The other two you basically don’t have to rely on anyone. I don’t feel like my team roping is at a level it needs to be yet to compete at a pro level.”
Team roping may not be where he sees himself in the future, but his goal is to finish the Central Plains Region season as one of the top three cowboys in each event.
“I think if I have another rodeo like SWOSU, I should be just fine,” Harper said. “I just try to stay positive. I just need to keep my horses sound and keeping scoring good and just keep doing what I’m doing. I don’t need to try and go out there and just blast everything. I just need to keep making good, solid runs and win.”