ODESSA, Texas — The Tarleton State University men’s rodeo team padded its lead in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southwest Region standings with a 505-point first-place finish at the spring season debut at Odessa College last weekend.

Saddle bronc riders Ira Dickinson and Travis Handley tied for first place in the opening round with identical 81s. Dickinson, who finished the fall season in first place in the Southwest, eked out top honors with a 79 in the finals, a half-point ahead of Handley. Teammate Lance Gaillard took fourth with his two-head 153.5.

Bareback rider Roedy Farrell added a second-place 77-81.5–158.5, and tie-down roper Brayden Roe contributed a two-run 17.8, including an 8.3 clocking in the finals.

The Tarleton State women, who were also at the top of the regional leader board to begin the spring half of the 2023-24 season, scored 150 points for third-place honors in Odessa.

Five goat-tying specialists, led by second-place Rayme Jones’ 6.4-7.8–14.2, led the effort. Tori Brower flashed an opening-round 7.1, followed by a 7.2 in the finals for third. Keni Labrum’s 6.8-8.1–14.9 tied Hattie Haynes’ 7.2-7.7–14.9 to split sixth and seventh, and Rylee Abel took eighth with a two-head 15.1.

Barrel racer Taber Garcia finished fourth overall with her 14.34-14.4–27.74.

Both teams return to action March 21-23 at the Ranger College Rodeo in Sweetwater followed by the Western Texas College Rodeo in Snyder, April 4-6. The Howard College Rodeo in Big Spring, April 11-13 and the Tarleton Stampede, April 18-20 in Stephenville, conclude the season. 

A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.