LEVELLAND — A week after placing 10 contestants in the finals of the Sul Ross State University Rodeo, the South Plains College men's and women's rodeo teams return to the arena this weekend at the Vernon College Rodeo Oct. 4-6.to
Competing in arguably the toughest region in the country, the Texans and Lady Texans both currently rank inside the top five in the Southwest Region after two weeks. The Lady Texans come into week three ranked third in the region with 190 points, trailing only Tarleton State and Weatherford College. The Texans currently rank fifth in the region as they have amassed 520 points to date.
In their previous outing in Alpine, South Plains freshman Kaytlyn Miller won the women's all-around title, placing second overall in goat tying with 110 points. Miller ran a 7.0 in the long round before turning in a final time of 6.5 in the short round to finish with a 13.5 average. Miller would then go on to take 10th overall in barrel racing as she clocked a 16.88 in the long round which she followed up with a 22.17 in the finals, tacking on 25 more points for the Lady Texans who finished third overall with 175 points.
A week after winning the bareback riding event title in Portales, freshman Cooper Bennett placed fourth in Alpine, adding 90 points to his season total. Bennett turned in a score of 74 in the long round which he followed up with a 67 in the finals to end the weekend with a 141 average, leading the Texans to a fifth-place finish on the weekend.
The Lady Texans placed a pair of cowgirls in the finals of the breakaway roping event as Delaney Kunau took home a second place finish and 130 points. Kunau posted a 2.7 in the long round and a 2.8 in the finals to cap the weekend with a 5.50 average. South Plains' Carly Christian earned a sixth place overall finish as the freshman from Amarillo used a 3.0 in the long round and a 13.0 in the finals to end the event with a 16.0 average and 20 points.
The Texans' Britton Bedke and Jesse Kindt finished sixth and seventh in steer wrestling for South Plains as Bedke used a 5.7 in the long round and a 14.1 in the finals to capture 20 points for the orange and blue. Kindt would run a 4.7 in the long round but was unable to score in the finals, finishing with 30 points.
Freshman Elle Eagles joined Miller in the goat tying finals, running a 6.7 in the long round and a 9.8 in the finals, finishing with a 16.5 average and 40 points. Sophomore Shaylynne Raymore also earned a spot in the goat tying finals, turning in a time of 7.1 in the long round, but was unable to score in the finals Saturday night.
The Texans' duo of Hadley and Hayden Cloward impressed once again in team roping as the pair finished second on the weekend with 150 points, clocking a 5.2 in the long round which they followed up with a 6.9 in the finals, capping the event with a 12.1 average.
Region Standings: http://www.collegerodeo.com/standings2014-2015-southwest-region-standings
Vernon College Rodeo Draw: http://nebula.wsimg.com/cd9bacb136973a180977e30237065790?AccessKeyId=74F232E83CADD3B9071D&disposition=0&alloworigin=1