Central Plains Region in Full Swing for Spring

With four rodeos left in the spring season, stakes are high for collegiate rodeo athletes in the Central Plains region. Who is in the running for a regional title and a qualification to the CNFR?

With the rodeo season quickly coming to a close, there are four remaining rodeos in the Central Plains Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA). The stakes are high and the pressure is on as contestants compete for titles and qualifying spots to the big show. Contestants have competed in six rodeos thus far; four in the fall and two this spring. Racking up points all season, these athletes now have only a few chances left to get their name on the leaderboard.

The Central Plains Region, consisting of Oklahoma and Kansas, hosts ten rodeos in total each year. Students traveled to Colby, Kansas; Durant, Oklahoma; Stillwater, Oklahoma; and Alva, Oklahoma in the fall. This spring, they have added Manhattan, Kansas and Ft Scott, Kansas to the list. After the Ft. Scott rodeo concluded, a few weeks of rest was given. Now however, contestants are gearing up for four straight weekends of competition. The most intense four weekends of traveling for these students starts this weekend.

Schedule

April 5 - 7           Garden City, Kansas - Garden City Community College

April 11 - 13         Weatherford, Oklahoma - Southwestern Oklahoma State University

April 18 - 20         Hays, Kansas - Ft. Hays State University

April 25 - 27 Guymon, Oklahoma - Panhandle State University

Looking at the standings and points now, there are clearly a lot of stories to watch as they continue to play out. Currently, in the team standings, Ft Scott Community College has a huge lead on the men's side of things with over 3,400 cumulative points. Oklahoma Panhandle State University Women's team is holding down the top position with over 1700 points but, the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Bulldogs are trailing closely behind, with nearly 1600 points. Helping lead their team to the top, are many standout individual athletes. With a demanding lead in the Mens All Around Race, Zane Kilgus from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M has 855 points. Cheyenne Vandestouwe from Southwestern Oklahoma State University is on top the women's all around with 640 points.

Current Standings

Here are your current top 5 cowgirls and cowboys in each event.  

Saddle Bronc Riding 

1. Blake Steuk Ft Scott Community College 645.00 pts 2. Caleb Meeks Southeastern Oklahoma State University 625.00 pts 3. Brett Coffman Panhandle State University 480.00 pts 4. Cable Wareham Ft Scott Community College 345.00 pts 5. Brady Irvine Garden City Community College 330.00 pts

Bareback Riding

1. Quintonn Lunsford   Ft Scott Community College 790.00 pts 2. Bryce Eck   Ft Scott Community College 765.00 pts 3. Dylan George   Ft Scott Community College  635.00 pts 4. Rhett Robbins   Ft Hays State University 430.00 pts 5/6. Braden Tyrer Southeastern Oklahoma State University 265.00 pts 5/6. William Brouillette       Southeastern Oklahoma State University 265.00 pts 

Bull Riding

1. Jackson Ward Pratt Community College 440.00 pts 2. Jesse Hopper Western Oklahoma State College 300.00 pts 3.Dustin Sanchez Southwestern Oklahoma State University 220.00 pts 4. Damien Wood Dodge City Community College 180.00 pts 5. Kyle Cheney Dodge City Community College 140.00 pts 

Tie-Down Roping

1. Joby Bush Oklahoma State University 390.00 pts 2. Zane Kilgus Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 370.00 pts 3. Marley Berger Southwestern Oklahoma State University 345.00 pts 4. Jarvis Demery Southeastern Oklahoma State University 305.00 pts 5.Weston Carter Murray State College 240.00 pts

Steer Wreslting

1. Tryisan Kalawaia Northwestern Oklahoma State University 610.00 pts 2. Cameron Fox Northwestern Oklahoma State University 465.00 pts 3. Quade Potter Northwestern Oklahoma State University 225.00 pts 4.Jacob Haren Northwestern Oklahoma State University 215.00 pts 5.Ryler Allred Panhandle State University 210.00 pts

Team Roping Header

1. Camden Hoelting Western Oklahoma State College 610.00 pts 2. Zane Kilgus Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 485.00 pts 3. Levi James Southeastern Oklahoma State University 315.00 pts 4. Levi Parker Western Oklahoma State College 265.00 pts 5. Rowdy Jones Western Oklahoma State College 230.00 pts 

Team Roping Heeler

1. Stran Morris Western Oklahoma State College 610.00 pts 2. Garrett Hughes Murray State College 315.00 pts 3. LJ Yeahquo Western Oklahoma State College 295.00 pts 4. Justin England Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 265.00 pts 5. Shane Jenkinds Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 250.00 pts

Barrel Racing

1. Casey Mathis Southeastern Oklahoma State University 490.00 pts 2. Libby Berger Southwestern Oklahoma State University 390.00 pts 3. Hadley Tate Southwestern Oklahoma State University 275.00 pts 4. Emma Ricke Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 250.00 pts 5. Braylee Ward Southwestern Oklahoma State University 240.00 pts

Breakaway Roping

1.Lauren Hopkins Northwestern Oklahoma State University 332.00 pts 2. Kenna McLemore Oklahoma State University 280.00 pts 3. Jayden Jensen Northwestern Oklahoma State University 260.00 pts 4. Kyliegh Jo Winn Kansas State University 255.00 pts 5. Catherine Clayton Southwestern Oklahoma State University 226.00 pts

Goat Tying

1. Parker McIntyre Panhandle State University 860.00 pts 2. Cheyenne Vandesouwe Southwestern Oklahoma State University 435.00 pts 3. McKenna Brennan Panhandle State University 355.00 pts 4. Lakin Cunningham Cleveland University Kansas 285.00 pts 5. Kayla Earnhardt Southeastern Oklahoma State University 255.00 pts 

Only the top three contestants in each of these events qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo, meaning these last handful of rodeos are detrimental to many. When it comes down to the final performance in Guymon, Oklahoma, much anticipation will fill the air as cowgirls and cowboys await the final results and standings. With little to no room for error, everyone knows that every tenth of a second and every point counts for those in hopes of a qualification. These next four weekends consecutively, will determine which contestants get their opportunity to represent the Central Plains Region in Casper Wyoming on the largest collegiate rodeo stage. 

Stay tuned for more results and updates, as the next four weeks are jam packed with college rodeo action.