STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS—Tarleton State University’s rodeo team kicked off their spring rodeo schedule this past weekend (March 5-7) at Ranger College in Ranger, Texas.
With Ranger College in close driving distance, Tarleton had plenty of help and support. Head rodeo coach Mark Eakin and his family, assistant coaches Raymond Hollabaugh and Tibba Smith, Dr. Wanda Mercer, Tarleton President F. Dominic Dottavio, Mrs. Dottavio and many Tarleton alumni cheered as the Tarleton rodeo team earned several big wins. Helping in the teams’ successes were the 20 members who made it to the short round Saturday night.
The women’s team gathered 250 points, but ended up second behind Odessa College by only 10 points. The men collected 260 points and ended up third place, behind Western Texas College and Howard College.
Ryle Smith, a senior, had a rewarding weekend. Smith took home the prestigious all-around cowboy award by beating his team roping partner and fellow teammate Chad Williams by only 20 points.
Smith, a College National Finals Rodeo qualifier and strong three-event cowboy, made the short round in both tie-down roping and team roping. Smith made an outstanding run on a fast calf in the short round. His 10.4-second run put him fourth in the round and fourth in the average.
Smith collected the rest of his points in the team roping. Smith and Williams dominated the event. They posted times of 6.6 and 8.6 seconds to finish third in both rounds and win the average.
Also in the team roping, An Justin Briggs heeled for Chase Massengill to win fourth in the short round and fourth in the average.
Caleb Scott won the long round of the tie-down roping with a fast time of 9.1 seconds, but a broken barrier in the short round caused him to drop to sixth in the average. Also placing for Tarleton in the tie-down roping, Williams won fifth in short go and fifth in the average.
For the women’s team, Lindsey Ewing picked up points in barrel racing and breakaway roping. Ewing, currently leading the breakaway roping for the Southwest Region, increased her lead with her consistent roping. She split third and fourth in the short round and split second, third and fourth in the average. Unfortunately after placing second in the long round of the barrel racing, she took a five-second penalty that took her out of the average.
Lillian McMullan made two 16.9-second runs to win third in the short round and third in the average. Also placing in the barrel racing for Tarleton, Fran Surles won fourth in the short round and fourth in the average.
The only Tarleton team member to make the short round in the goat tying was Cyndia Norell. Norell collected 120 points in the goat tying, won second in the long go-round, fourth in the short round and third in the average.
Other Tarleton rodeo team members making the short round included the following: Josh Hudson in bareback, Lena Floyd in barrel racing, Jaytin McWright in team roping, Cody Bell in tie-down roping, Cheyenne Motley in breakaway roping, Brazos Peacock in saddle bronc, Shelby Irick in breakaway, Clay Norell in team roping and Cimarron Thompson in steer wrestling.
The team will next travel to West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, on March 12-14 for the second rodeo of the spring season.
