STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Barrel racers and saddle bronc riders led the charge as Tarleton State University’s rodeo teams continued their run this weekend through the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southwest Region fall season.
Tarleton State’s women took first place at the Frank Phillips College Rodeo in Canadian as three barrel racers finished in the top four.
Hadley Tidwell’s event-best 35.18 time featured a finals-best 17.42 combined with her long-go 17.76. Teammate Jordan Driver took third with runs of 17.64 and 17.73 for a 35.37 total. Kaycee Thomas flashed a 17.60-17.84–35.44 for fourth.
Tori Brower paced the goat tying field with a 13.8 two-head total on runs of 6.8 and 7.0, and Emily McDeavitt turned in runs of 7.4 and 12.8 for a sixth-place 20.2. Breakaway roper Gina Cope was fifth with her 2.5-12.8–15.3.
Bailey Small and Ira Dickinson took the two top saddle bronc spots to pace Tarleton’s men to second place.
Small turned in a first-round 77, then added an 80 in the finals for a two-ride 157. Teammate Dickinson earned a combined 154, including a finals-best 81. Travis Handley posted a 69-80–149 for fifth in the event, and Montgomery Parsons scored a 137 on rides of 64 and 73.
Steer wrestler Clay Johnson was third with his 4.9-5.6–138, and bareback rider Roedy Farrell scored a long-go 69 for 10thplace.
Both teams wind up the first half of the 2023-24 season Oct. 26-28 at the Texas Tech Rodeo in Lubbock.
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.