By SARAH OTTO
Staff Reporter
The Northwestern cowgirls braved the cold weather and took control of things Feb. 27-March 1 at the Garden City college rodeo.
The women’s team came in first overall, while the men’s team claimed seventh place.
In the women’s all-around race, Lauren Barnes brought home the title. Northwestern had six cowboys and nine cowgirls make it back to the championship round.
The Northwestern cowgirls dominated the goat tying. Laremi Allred brought home the championship title, ending the weekend first overall. Barnes followed close behind Allred, coming in second for the weekend. Shayna Miller claimed third overall and Karley Kile finished eighth.
Allred, a sophomore from Kanarraville, Utah, was pleased with her weekend after being faced with a setback. She said, “Considering the fact that my good goat-tying horse is hurt, I had to tie off my brother’s bulldogging horse. I was really happy with the overall turn out of the weekend.” Allred has set the goal of being in the top three in the region and making the College National Finals Rodeo. She said, “I have to make every rodeo count. I came in behind as a transfer and have no room to back off. I want to be focused at every rodeo.”
Allred believes firmly in going to the gym, to keep her mentally and physically where she wants to be. She said, “I ground-tie goats every day and get off my horses two to three times a week.” Allred made it apparent that it is going to come down to how bad she wants it and what she will give to achieve her goals.
In breakaway roping, three cowgirls represented Northwestern in the short round: Samantha McGuire, Jana Sampson and Ashley Neville. McGuire finished second overall, Sampson split seventh and eighth and Neville wrapped up the weekend ninth.
In barrel racing, Barnes made another appearance in the short round, as did Paige Winnett and Cassy Woodward. Barnes finished fourth overall, with Winnett right behind her claiming fifth for the weekend. Woodward finished the weekend eighth overall.
In steer wrestling, Jon Laine Herl and Stephen Culling made it back to the short round. Herl wrapped up his weekend third overall, while Culling finished fifth.
Two Northwestern cowboys, Wade Perry and Chase Lako, made it back to the short round in calf roping. Perry finished his weekend second overall and Lako came in sixth.
Perry, a junior from Lamont, Okla., won the long round, but fell to fourth place in the championship round. He said, “I should have took a better start in the short round, and been more aggressive on my flank.” Perry, who ended the weekend second overall, was very pleased with his draws. “I felt like I drew about as good as a person could draw. I definitely had the best calf in the long round,” he said.
In team roping, Northwestern’s Dustin Searcy and Dalton Richards made an appearance in the short round. Searcy and his team roping partner, Hunter Munsell from WOKSC, finished the weekend seventh overall. Richards and Ben Whiddon from SEOKSU wrapped up the weekend third overall.