Tarleton State Rodeo Team dominates at Odessa College

BY KILEY MORGAN / Multimedia Journalist

The Tarleton State University’s Rodeo Team competed Feb. 22-24 at the Odessa College rodeo in Odessa, Texas. The men’s team brought home the Champion title, as did many individual athletes.

Competing against 15 other colleges in the Southwest Region, Tarleton’s men’s team finished 200 points ahead of any other team at the Odessa College rodeo. This win allowed the men’s team to keep their spot in first place in the overall standings of the Southwest Region. 

The women’s team finished third behind Frank Phillips College and Cisco College, scoring 150 points. The women are still sitting first in the overall standings of the Southwest Region. 

Ira Dickinson was named Champion Saddle Bronc Rider after he scored 160 points on two broncs this past weekend. Dickinson is currently sitting first in the Southwest Region standings in the saddle bronc riding, ahead of his fellow teammates, Bailey Small and Gus Gaillard. 

Travis Handley was right behind his teammate, Ira Dickinson, in the saddle bronc riding. Handley was the Reserve Champion Saddle Bronc Rider of the Odessa College Rodeo, scoring 159.5 points on two broncs.

Cole Walker and his team roping partner, Roan Oldfield of Cisco College, were champions in the team roping.  Walker and Oldfield roped their steer in 5.4 seconds in the long-go and came back to the short-go Feb. 24, stopping the clock at 5.2 seconds. 

Roedy Farrell scored 158.5 points on two broncs, taking home the title of Reserve Champion Bareback Rider. He scored a 77 in the long-go, and an 81.5 in the Short Go. 

Brayden Roe roped and tied his calf in 9.5 seconds in the long-go but made an even faster run of 8.3 seconds in the short-go on Feb. 24. These two solid runs set Roe up to be the Reserve Champion Tie-Down Roper. 

Rayme Jones was named Reserve Champion Goat Tyer. Jones tied her goat in 6.4 seconds in the long-go, advancing her to the short-go where she tied in 7.8 seconds. These two runs put Jones at an average of 14.2 on two goats, just one second slower than the champion goat tyer.

Other Tarleton Rodeo athletes also placed in their respective events, earning points for the team. Those athletes are: Korbin Rice, seventh place team roping; Tyce Lacina, eighth place team roping; Gus Gaillard, third place saddle bronc riding; Lucca Alvarenga, sixth place tie-down roping; Tori Brower, third place goat tying; Keni Labrum/Hattie Haynes, sixth place goat tying; Rylee Abel, seventh place goat tying; Megan Smith, eighth place breakaway roping; Taber Garcia, fourth place barrel racing; and Acey Pinkston, seventh place barrel racing. 

The Texans will head to Sweetwater March 21-23 for the Ranger College Rodeo, where they will compete once again to try to earn their spot at the CNFR in Casper, Wyoming this June.