Panhandle State Saddle Bronc Riders Have Their Eyes On The Prize
Will Martin earned the Men’s All-Around title, the Bareback Riding title, and split second and third in the average of the steer wrestling at the Southeastern Oklahoma State University College Rodeo this past weekend. —Photo by Dale Hirschman
Durant, Okla. — The Oklahoma Panhandle State University Rodeo Team traveled to Durant, Okla. to compete at the Southeastern Oklahoma State University College Rodeo this past weekend September 28-30. The Panhandle State men’s team took rodeo’s classic event by storm and in addition spurred their way to a win as red and blue vests swayed the bucking chutes during the saddle bronc riding. Seven Panhandle men made it back to the short round. On top of dominating the long go, they managed to win first through fourth in the aggregate race. Dawson Hay and Dawson Dahm, split first and second place both putting down two solid rides. Preston Ogle won the long round with a score of 75 points and rode his horse in the short round to earn him the third place in the aggregate. Jake Finlay also covered both his horses and managed to secure the fourth spot in the aggregate. Teammates Chance Barrass, Tanner Hays, and Cooper Thatcher were also a part of the Panhandle triumph.
Staying at the bucking chutes, Will Martin proved once again that he is after the national championship title in the Bareback Riding. Martin won both the long round with a score of 74 points and the short round with a score of 72 points. Martin therefore won his second Bareback Riding Champion Title of the season followed by his teammate Dylan Riggins who brought back the second place win to the Panhandle State men’s team.
Not only did Martin shine in the rough stock end of the arena, he also excelled in the Steer Wrestling proving that he is an all-around cowboy and earning the Men’s All-Around title. Martin had a time of 5.0 seconds in the long round and 6.6 seconds in the short round, which placed him in a tie for second and third place in the aggregate race.
At the other end of the arena was tie-down roper Zane Grigsby, who made it back to the short round with a time of 9.2 seconds giving him the third place win in a tough round of calf roping. Unfortunately, Grigsby didn’t get a time in the short round. Also in the timed events, team ropers Colt Humbard and Trey Hall came back to the short round with a time of 7.3 seconds but didn’t have any luck in the short round.
The women’s team didn’t have the rodeo they were hoping for but still managed to bring back some athletes to the short round. Shay Spitz was quick in the long round of the Breakaway Roping and caught her calf in a time of 2.7 seconds, which put her in second place coming into the short round. Junior Kaylee Smith made two solid runs in the Goat Tying. Smith’s time of 8.6 seconds won short round and gave her the Reserve Goat Tying Champion Title. Alongside Smith in the goat tying was Baylee Henderson, who qualified for the short round with a time of 8.7 seconds.
Panhandle State Assistant Coach Shelbie Weeder, had a few words for the girls as they head into a short week of preparation for the next college rodeo in Stillwater, Okla. on October 5-7. “I’m proud of all the girls. They have been working hard and I think they will keep working hard to better themselves!”
Stay tuned for more excited news about your Panhandle State Rodeo Team as they pave the road to the College National Finals Rodeo!
Courtesy of OPSU