By SAMI MCGUIRE, Sports Editor
Northwestern Oklahoma State rodeo team kicked off the spring season on Feb. 17-19 in Manhattan, Kansas.
The Ranger men’s team tied for third in the team standings, and the women’s team placed third as well. The Rangers had 18 athletes make the short go in various events.
The strongest event was the steer wrestling. Five of the men made the short go: Grayson Allred, Colton Madison, Maverick Harper, Talon Roseland and Riley Westhaver. Harper said his expectations were to come in and start strong in the second semester, and Harper did just that winning second in the average.
Allred placed third in the average, moving him up in the Central Plains standings. He said he hopes to make the College Finals Rodeo in all three of his events and is well on his way there. He not only placed in the steer wrestling this weekend, but also placed fourth in the calf roping.
Three other Ranger that made the calf roping short go were Taylor Donaldson, Berk Long and Mason Bowen. Donaldson placed fifth in the average.
Three other Ranger men made the short go in the team roping. Kass Bittle and Edgar Fierro placed in the long round, but they missed in the short go. Wylee Nelson was another Ranger man who made the short go teamed up with his sister, Tearnee Nelson. They placed first in the long go and second in the short go.
In the women’s breakaway roping Sage Allen was our only short go qualifier. She had a 3.1 in the long go, but got a no time in the short go.
Katy Miller had a solid weekend in the goat tying, making two consistent six second runs to get her some points in the standings. Another goat tier who made the short go was Melissa Couture.
Two Ranger women made the short go in the barrel racing. Sara Bynum made a good long go run, but knocked a barrel in the short go, resulting in a no time. Ashlyn Moeder made two solid runs and placed third in the average.
Moeder said despite her rough fall season she still hopes to make college finals.
“I just continue to work hard and keep my horses working good,” Moeder said, “and go into every rodeo reminding myself I have some catching up to do.”
On Sunday the Northwestern rodeo coach and a Ranger rodeo team member competed at the American, which in the world’s richest rodeo.
Stockton Graves and JD Struxness were invited to steer wrestle. They competed against other professional and amateur steer wrestlers. Struxness started off the first round with a 4.1 second run that placed him first. Behind him in the first round was Graves with a 4.2 second run to take second.
Going in to the final round Graves placed second with a 3.8 second run. Struxness made a 4.5 second run that placed him fourth. Both placed in the average and are coming home with a check.