By SARAH OTTO
Student Reporter
The Northwesern men’s rodeo team claimed first place at the Colby college rodeo while the women’s team took second.
The Rangers had 12 men competing in the championship round, three of those being rough stock riders.
Austin Graham finished fourth in the bareback riding. Jacob Marcell claimed fifth with Weston Wilson right behind him in sixth in the event of bull riding.
The other nine men made their appearances in the timed events.
Bryson Sechrist claimed first overall for the weekend in the event of tie down roping.
Northwestern took control of the steer wrestling event. Laine Herl finished first with teammate Jacob Edler following in second. Joby Allen finished sixth, Brock White right behind him in seventh, and Maverick Harper taking eighth on the weekend.
Herl threw down his steer in the short round in 4.3 seconds to clinch the championship title. He said, “It felt really great to start the new year with a win. It was kinda nice to have it so close to where I’m from, so it made it that much better.”
Herl’s biggest rodeo inspiration comes from his father, and he was able to make it to the first rodeo of the season. “It was great to have all my family there throughout the weekend. My dad has always been my biggest supporter,” he said.
Hunter Munsell and team roping partner Sawyer Barham finished the weekend fifth in the team roping. Wade Perry roped with Peyton Holliday from Oklahoma Panhandle State University and claimed sixth.
The ladies brought 5 women back to the short round.
In goat tying, Laremi Allred finished fourth, Shayna Miller claimed fifth, Tearnee Nelson sixth, and Elli Price ninth. Miller made a second appearance in the ending the weekend in the lead, and Allred made her second short go appearance finishing ninth in the barrels.
Bynum, a sophomore, is pleased with her weekend. She said, “We, Loretta my horse and I, had a pretty awesome weekend. We had a rough summer on the road, so it was nice to take a first place back home.” She has made the goals to stay consistent the rest of the season, to ride smart, and to make the college national finals in the summer.
The Rangers will be back in action at the Woodward rodeo October 1 through 3.