Women First, Men Fourth at NWOSU Rodeo

October 13, 2006

ALVA –Southwestern Oklahoma State University had its best showing of the 2006 fall season as the women finished first at the Northwestern Oklahoma State Rodeo last week in Alva. The Bulldogs, under coach Chad Ramirez, collected 325 points to place ahead of Oklahoma Panhandle State University’s 270 points and Fort Hays’ 210 points.

The SWOSU men placed fourth with 302 points. OPSU won the men’s title with 830 points followed by Bacone in second place at 660 and Southeastern Oklahoma State with 345 points.

SWOSU’s Maddie Craig won the breakaway roping event at the Alva rodeo. The Okarche sophomore finished in a three-way tie for second in the long round and split first and second in the short round. Her combined times allowed her to finish first in the average.

SWOSU also got a first-place finish from Hebron, Neb. sophomore Brittany Wiedel who won the barrel racing competition. She finished third in the long round, second in the short round and her combined times placed her first in the average.

Wiedel also picked up points in the goat tying where she split fourth, fifth and sixth in the long round.

In the men’s competition, SWOSU finished first and second in the bareback riding event thanks to a pair of outstanding rides by Monty Goodwin and Dusty Gracia. Goodwin, a junior from Sunray, Texas, placed first in the average after a 72-point ride in the long round and first-place ride of 82 in the short round. Gracia was a close second splitting third and fourth in the short round after a first-place ride of 81 in the long.

SWOSU got points from bull riders Jesse Jackson and Daniel Gardner. Jackson and Gardner tied for sixth in the long round with a 71-point ride. Gardner was one of only five cowboys to ride in the short round, scoring 77 points on his bull to finish in fifth in the short round and fifth in the average.

The NWOSU rodeo concludes the fall season for the SWOSU rodeo team.