Suazo Takes All-Around Title

— By Jordan Muncy
 

Fort Scott, Kansas — The Central Plains Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association marked the halfway point of the spring season this past weekend in Fort Scott, Kansas. With the second half ahead of them, the rodeo teams continue to hold their own. Of the three rodeos completed so far this spring season, all three women's all around title's have came home to Goodwell. This past weekend freshman Jessie Suazo took the title.

Suazo, a native of Bayfield, Colorado, posted a blazing fast 2.8 second run in the breakaway, good enough for a fifth place finish in the long round. Suazo kept her cool and roped her short round calf in 3.4, which gave her a combined average time of 6.2, a fourth place overall finish. Suazo also came back to Sunday's championship performance in the barrel racing.

 

Suazo was not the only Aggie in the short round of barrel racing. A total of four OPSU cowgirls ran the cloverleaf pattern fast enough to qualify. Along with Suazo, Katie Jolly, Whitney Harding and Jordan Muncy made their short go run on Sunday. However, some bad luck in the short round put Suazo, Jolly and Harding out of the average. Muncy managed to finish in third place in the average, helping her to hold onto her lead in the regional standings.

 

The goat tying event belonged to senior Aggie Shancee Howell.

Howell made a solid run in the long round and came back with the fastest time in the short go of 7.1 seconds. The combined times put her nearly half of a second ahead of the second place finisher. Howell looks forward to the rest of the season, hoping to continue to gain points in her quest for a College National Finals Rodeo qualification.

 

The weekend proved quite tough for rough stock riders, with outstanding stock provided. Two Aggie men qualified for the short round in the saddle bronc riding. Teammates Troy Crowser and Tyrel Larsen have battled each other all year for the top position in the regional standings. This weekend, Crowser came out on top, with a total of 151 in the average. Larsen finished second, adding to the heated contest for the regional title, making coach Craig Latham proud.

 

Just eight qualified bull rides were made in all of the long round competition. One of those eight riders was Cody Hessman, who managed to ride a rank bull for the full eight seconds. With a tough short round draw, Hessman did not place in the average. Also qualifying for the short round was Tyler Jolly, who qualified in the steer wrestling competition. Jolly's 5.7 second run in the long round placed him in a tie for ninth and tenth.

 

With spring break ahead, the Aggies also have a small break in competition before the annual Doc Gardner Memorial Rodeo in Guymon. A fan favorite in the Central Plains Region, lots of rodeo action is promised. Keep up with the rodeo teams, and come out to the Doc Gardner Memorial Rodeo the first weekend in April. GO AGGIES!