Current, Past Panhandle Rodeo Athletes Win at Higher Level
Goodwell, Okla. — Rodeo is a unique athletic program; athletes can participate on the collegiate and professional level simultaneously. Over the years, numerous Oklahoma Panhandle State University Rodeo Team members have experienced success on both platforms. The winning tradition continues as Panhandle State cowboys are competing at Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuit finals across the country.
The Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo recently took place in Heber City, Utah Nov. 3-5. Current Panhandle State team member, Josh Frost, travelled back to his home state to compete at the 3-day affair. Frost proved he has the magic by winning the opening round with an 89-point ride aboard Diamond G Rodeo’s Da Magic. The bovine athletes were too much for the cowboys of the Wilderness Circuit to handle with only one qualified ride in the second round and all 12 cowboys failed to make the 8-second whistle on Saturday. This left Frost the aggregate champion with the top mark of 89 points for the weekend. Frost also claimed the year-end championship in the bull riding as well as the all-around.
In the saddle bronc riding, Allen Boore and Spencer Wright snatched paychecks during the opening performance. Wright also placed fourth in the 3-head average with a combined score of 239.
In the Mountain States Circuit Finals, Orin Larsen added $1,348 to the pocket of his Wranglers after scoring 77 points to place second in the second round of bareback riding in Loveland, Colo. J.D. Yates partnered with his son, Trey, to place third in the second round and fourth in the average of the team roping.
Whit Peterson also accumulated earnings in the saddle bronc riding while Brice Ingo tied three calves in 20.0 seconds to earn fourth in the average of the tie-down roping.
In the Turquoise Circuit, Vince Tsosie and Magin Montoya qualified for the final showdown in the saddle bronc riding. Both former Aggies accumulated earnings throughout the finals. Magin won the third round and placed third in the average while Tsosie grabbed a check in the opening performance.
Up in the Badlands Circuit, Ardie Maier took North Dakota by storm in the bull riding. Maier was firing on all cylinders aboard Korkow Rodeo’s Little Turbo during the kickoff performance with an 82-point ride and first-place money. He repeated his performance in the second round by claiming top honors once again. Overall, he split second and third place in the average with a combined score of 163 points on two head.
Dusty Hausauer also tallied dollars for the 2017 PRCA standings with checks in the third and fourth rounds of rodeo action in the saddle bronc riding.
The presence of Panhandle State cowboys was felt to the highest degree close to home in Duncan, Okla. at the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals held Oct. 20-22. The Etbauer brothers continued the family winning tradition their dad and uncles started years ago. Trell and Shade Etbauer proved the name is synonymous with success in more than just the saddle bronc riding. Trell Etbauer flourished in the timed events by competing in both the tie-down roping and steer wrestling while younger brother, Shade, thrived at the bucking chutes in the classic event of rodeo.
In the first round of rodeo action, Shade Etbauer placed second with his score of 79 points with fellow Panhandle State alumni, Preston Kafka and Chad (Hardy) Braden, splitting third and fourth. For the remainder of the weekend, Braden was unstoppable with first place finishes in rounds two and three. Shade Etbauer finished much like he started with a 78.5-point ride in the final round. When the points were tallied, Braden was the top cowboy with a slew of Panhandle cowboys following. Shade Etbauer placed second overall with Kafka and Ryan Bestol in third and fourth, respectively. Current rodeo team member, Jake Finlay, qualified in the saddle bronc riding as well.
In similar fashion, consistency proved profitable for Trell Etbauer in the tie-down roping. After grabbing paychecks in rounds two and three, Trell Etbauer placed third on the average with a total time of 28.7 seconds on three head. LD Meier of Texhoma, Okla. also qualified in the tie-down roping.
After a heated race between the brothers for the year-end all-around title, it was younger brother Shade who was able to slip past his veteran older sibling to claim the championship. He also was named the year-end champion in the saddle bronc riding.
Other cowboys with Panhandle roots who found the pay window at the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals include Wesley Cole and Logan Glendy in the bareback riding. Cole pocketed $2,452 after winning the first round and placing fourth in the aggregate. Will Martin, current Panhandle State Rodeo Team member, qualified in the bareback riding as well.
Laramie Mosley showed Frontier Rodeo’s Levi The Boss who was in charge of the 8-second ride with a 84-point ride in the second round. Mosley finished the weekend third in the aggregate.
Rocky Patterson also continued his domination in the steer roping. He claimed the average championship by a 6-second margin with a total time of 37.2 seconds on three head.
The success of former Aggies is a true testament to the quality of rodeo program at Panhandle State.
Courtesy of OPSU