Goodwell, OK - Solid rodeo tradition continued last weekend in Garden City, Kansas as several students, staff, and graduates from Oklahoma Panhandle State University competed last weekend in the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association’s finals.

Trell Etbauer, a member of the OPSU Rodeo team, led the way and was named All-Around Cowboy, winning first place in the combined scoring in two events. He tied for second in the second round of the saddle bronc riding and placed first in the aggregate scoring. Etbauer placed third in the second round of the steer wrestling and won first in the aggregate scoring. He also turned in a great performance in tie-down roping with a fourth place tie in the first round, first in the second round, and third in the short go, which put him in second place in the combined scoring.

Another rodeo team cowboy, Chance Hays, roped his way to money in the tie-down. He took second in the first go, second in the short round, and placed fourth in the aggregate scoring. Hays also won third in the Rookie race.

Dara Short, OPSU International Coordinator and Admissions Counselor and former OPSU rodeo team member, used her roping skills and placed second in the All-Around Cowgirl competition. With Dara at the head and her uncle Byron at the heels, they partnered in the 40/40 Mixed Team Roping, which pairs two men over 40 or a man over 40 plus a woman of any age. The duo placed third in the second round and won the short go of that event, earning Dara fifth in the 40/40 Header combined scoring and Byron fifth in the 40/40 Heeler competition. In addition, Short placed fourth in the first go of the Breakaway roping, tied for third in the second round, and third in the short round, which put her in the number one spot in the combined scoring.

A number of OPSU graduates also made the finals including Rusty Slavin, Jamie Bolen, Ray Fankhouser, Jim Boy Hash, Fletcher DeVaughan, Rod Pratt, Dawayne Short, Jerry Webb, Nanci Pratt, Cauy Hudson, Tammy Peterson, Tom Peterson, Chancy Etbauer, Shane Goad, Travis Goad, and Tanya Goad. Other currently enrolled students on the rodeo team who placed include Jace Bolen and Seth Schafer. For more information about KPRA, see their website at www.kansasprorodeo.com.
 

Laura Dahl
Campus Communications Director
Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Phone: 580-349-1354
FAX: 580-349-1350
email: lola@opsu.edu