By DACODA MCDOWELL-WAHPEKECHE, Sports Editor
Northwestern hosted the first rodeo in the College National Finals Rodeo’s Central Plains Region on March 2. The men took fourth place while the women tied for seventh.
Northwestern was supposed to host the rodeo beginning on Feb. 18, but it was postponed to March 2 because of inclement weather.
Head coach Stockton Graves led the Rangers at the home event. The Rangers scored 361.50 points.
The team finished in front of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Connors State College, Oklahoma State University and Kansas State University.
Northwestern’s Ricky “Bo” Yaussi and Denton Oestmann scored nine points each after finishing and tying for fourth place in the tie-down roping event.
Jace Rutledge and Bridger Anderson added to the teams’ points after the steer-wrestling event concluded. Rutledge’s fastest time was 4.6 seconds, while Anderson’s fastest time was 4.7 seconds.
Colton Kropf and Zane Thompson scored as headers in team-roping. Kropf roped the front end of a steer in 5.4 seconds. Thompson roped the front end of a steer in 5.7 seconds.
Levi Walter scored for the Rangers in the team-roping event as well. He roped the back end of a steer in 5.7 seconds.
The Rangers finished behind Fort Scott Community College, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
Oklahoma Panhandle State University won the rodeo after its team raked in 759.83 points.
The Lady Rangers did not score in the top eight places of the barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat-tying events.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University won the women’s side of the rodeo. The team gathered 321.00 points. The Lady Rangers scored 6.50 points, tying with Connors State College for seventh place.
The College National Finals Rodeo organization puts out daily results from the rodeos across the country. To view the results, visit the College National Finals Rodeo’s website.
Northwestern will travel to Fort Scott, Kansas, to compete in the second rodeo of the College National Finals Rodeo’s Central Plains Region.
Northwestern’s rodeo teams will compete in the Central Plains Region rodeos in hopes of qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming beginning on June 14.