College Rodeo Gets Serious in Central Plains

With back to back rodeos, college athletes in Kansas and Oklahoma set their sights on finishing the fall season strong.

Andrea Hanson | Oct 25, 2023

College Rodeo Gets Serious in Central Plains /

STILLWATER, Okla. - College rodeo athletes in the central plains region came back from a break swinging for the fences.

Oklahoma State University's Rodeo team hosted their 10th annual Cowboy Stampede, in Stillwater, Oklahoma Oct. 19 through 21. The third rodeo of the fall season is to be followed by Northwestern Oklahoma State University's rodeo Oct. 26 through 28.

The time to get right in the arena is now for the student athletes, getting a lead on the standings going into the spring semester could be the difference in qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo, or just hitting the summer run.

The Oklahoma Panhandle State University women's rodeo team once again took the win, still a mere 26 points behind Southwestern Oklahoma State University in the team standings.

Helping OPSU with the women's team win was Parker McIntyre, McKenna Brennan, and Kiley Slavin all placing in the goat tying.

Holding SWOSU to the standard for the all around win was Hadley Tuet, placing in three events for the weekend. The cowgirl made herself at home in Stillwater. The race is on between the colleges with consistent cowgirls representing both teams with incredible coaching staffs.

Fort Scott Community College's mens team already had a lead in the standings but are swiftly separating themselves from second place. Known for their bareback riding students, they are dominating all of the roughstock events.

Winning the bareback for FSCC was Quintonn Lunsford, with teammate Blake Steuck conquering the saddle bronc. The junior college team has sent many students to the CNFR in Casper, Wyoming, in the past with a rewarding reputation.

Athletes will arrive in Alva, Oklahoma, for the NWOSU Ranger Rodeo with the first performance on Thursday night. Finishing the fall season with the iconic foot race in the Alvadome, students will have time to complete their studies for the semester and start back in the spring with six rodeos on the roster.

Published Oct 25, 2023

ANDREA HANSON

Andrea Hanson strives to live the western lifestyle every day. Growing up in northern Minnesota, resources to the rodeo world were scarce. Though other hobbies persist, as her father is widely known in the snowmobile racing community. Knowing that season was short, she was always drawn to horses as her sister with Rett Syndrome was in hippotherapy since she was a young age. When the scholarship opportunity to Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kansas came, she jumped on it. Moving south just a barrel racer, she worked every day to tie goats and rope calves. Concluding her time in Kansas, she continued her education at Oklahoma State University, where she will graduate in May of 2024 with a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Communications. Hanson is passionate about college rodeo, and its impact on her life. After not having a traditional step into the rodeo world herself, she strives to share the stories of others in the industry so many call home.