By SARAH OTTO
Staff Reporter
The Northwestern rodeo team has three rodeos remaining to finish the 2014-2015 season.
Once the season comes to a wrap and the placings are determined, the athletes will learn who gets the chance to compete at the College National Finals Rodeo this summer in Casper, Wyo. The top three in each event will advance to the college finals.
Northwestern’s women’s team is currently winning the region by 574 points and the men’s team is sitting fourth.There are 21 Northwestern athletes in the top 15 of their events in the Central Plains Region Standings.
In calf roping, Northwestern has three cowboys in the top 15; one of them is in the top 3. Hayden Pearce is currently sitting third, with 260 points. Wade Perry is splitting tenth, eleventh and twelfth overall, along with William Whayne, each having 130 points.
The Northwestern cowboys have taken control of the steer wrestling standings. Seven of the top 15 cowboys are from Northwestern. John McGinn is currently third overall with 315 points, Jon Laine Herl follows right behind in fourth with 275 points. Grayson Allred, Stephen Culling and Ty Batie claim sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. Allred has 245 points, Culling has 220 points and Batie currently has 200 points. J.D. Stuxness claims tenth overall with 183 points, with Brock White right behind him sitting eleventh with 180 points.
There are four Northwestern cowboys in the top 15 in the team roping. On the heading side, Dalton Richards is sitting second with 395 points. On the heeling side, Dustin Searcy is sitting eighth with 180 points, Whayne has 130 points claiming eleventh and Perry is in a four-way tie for fifteenth with 100 points.
Richards, a senior from Hawkinsville, Ga., has hopes of making the CNFR. “I have never made it. It would be a pretty neat experience, mainly because this is my last chance to make it,” Richards said. The game plan to say in the top three is the same as it has been at the last seven rodeos. Richards said, “We just have to keep going at them the way we have been. Now is not the time to back off and safety up.”
Richards ropes with Ben Whiddon from SEOKSU, but the two cowboys still get practice time. He said, “We make a point to get together and rope. We actually get to rope a fair amount together. We have roped together for three years, and know what each other is going to do.” Richards owes a thank you to many who have contributed to his success this year. “The support from my family is great, and being able to run plenty of practice steers thanks to Wade Perry. Also, thank you to Trisha Price for letting me use her head horse,” Richards said.
In barrel racing, Sara Bynum and Shea Ransome are in a three-way tie for 14th and 15th with 105 points. Four cowgirls represent Northwestern in the top 15 of breakaway roping. Taige Trent is sitting third with 200 points, Karley Kile has 156 points claiming seventh, Samantha McGuire is splitting 12th and 13th with 135 points and Elli Price is sitting 14th with 120 points.
In the women’s event of goat tying, Northwestern claims first and second. Shayna Miller is winning the region with 695 points, but Lauren Barnes is right behind her with 635 points. Kile has 170 points sitting eighth, Laremi Allred is splitting 10th and 11th with 140 points, and Price has 95 points splitting 14th and 15th.
Miller, a junior Faith, S.D., native has her goals set to make the CNFR this year. She made it her freshman year, but was too nervous to do any good. She said, “I have goals to actually do good at the finals. I would feel like I definitely didn’t give it my all if I don’t make the finals.” Her competition keeps her motivated, but so do her family, boyfriend and coaches. Miller said, “I am working out and tying goats every day, I have to stay mentally confident in myself, and remind myself that I have what it takes,” Miller said.
The Rangers will be back in action at the Southwestern rodeo tonight through Saturday in Weatherford, Okla.