By SARAH OTTO
Student Reporter
The Northwestern rodeo team has kicked off its season.
The first college rodeo was was Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Cherokee, Okla. It was held at the indoor arena in Cherokee. The rodeo team had competitors in each event.
The rough stock events are bull riding, saddle bronc riding and bareback riding.
Stockton Graves, the head NWOSU rodeo coach, said, “We are excited to have the rodeo this close to home. It is a great way to start off our rodeo season. The team and I would like to thank the sponsors for their support. I would also like to thank the students on my rodeo team for all of their hard work while putting the rodeo on.”
The Northwestern team had one or more competitors come back in the short go in five of the nine events. In the calf roping, Hayden Pearce and William Wayne made it back. Hayden Pearce won the short round, the long round and the average. William Wayne got fourth in the short go, second in the long go and third in the average. In the breakaway roping, Sage Allen, Kelsey Drigger and Kylee Cahoy all made it back to the short round.
Sage split ninth and 10th in the long round, third in the short round and fourth in the average. Kelsey split seventh and eighth in the long round, got fourth in the short round and ended up sixth in the average. Kylee split first and second in the long round. Mike Mcginn took control of the steer wrestling, winning the long round, splitting first and second in the short round and also winning the average. In goat tying, Shayna Miller, Lauren Barnes and Karley Kile all made it back. Lauren Barnes got second in the long round, won the short round and also won the average. Shayna Miller won second in the short round, won the long round and got second in the average. Karley Kile split 10th and 11th in the long round, won third in the short round and fourth in the average. In barrel racing, Elli Price made it to the short go representing Northwestern. She ended up seventh in the long round.
Hayden Pearce swept the calf roping and said, “I drew good calves and was able to use them. It felt great to get the season started off like I did. There is no better feeling than to get out and get my job done. I feel very blessed to have had the weekend that I did.”
The Ranger rodeo team’s next rodeo is Oct. 3-5 at Pratt Community College in Kansas.