By Susan Kanode
Special To Ropers Sports News
CASPER, Wyo.– When the dust settled in the Casper Events Center on June 21, a new set of National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Champions added their names to a history book that dates back to 1949.
Four of those champions did that for two consecutive years. Starting out the night’s competition was the bareback riding where Orin Larsen from Panhandle State University emerged victorious. Larsen transferred from the College of Southern Idaho last fall after winning the title for them in 2013. The Inglis, Manitoba, resident won the title here with 316 points on four rides to beat Tarleton State University’s Richmond Champion by just 1.5 points.
In the team roping, defending champions Billy Bob Brown and Logan Medlin earned their second title with a total time of 26.0 seconds on four runs. Brown, from Tarleton State University did the heading while Medlin from Eastern New Mexico University did the heeling.
Hayden Segelke earned back-to-back titles for Northeastern Junior College as the women’s all-around in 2012 and 2013. She qualified in the goat tying this year for Eastern New Mexico University and earned a title in that category. Segelke had a total time of 25.7 seconds on four runs to beat Macy Fuller from Central Arizona College by just two-tenths of a second.
Fuller earned the women’s all-around title with 555 points earned in goat tying, barrel racing and breakaway roping. She also had the fastest total time in breakaway roping at 10.6 seconds. The men’s all-around stayed in Wyoming with Sheridan College’s Taygen Schuelke who earned 415 points in saddle bronc and bull riding.
Two freshmen emerged through all four rounds of competition as champions in the tie-down roping and steer wrestling, Taylor Santos-Karney from Cal Poly State University roped and tied four calves in 37 seconds and left Casper sporting a new buckle as college rodeo’s best tie-down roper. In the steer wrestling, it was Cade Goodman from Wharton County Junior College who earned the title with a total time of 21.3 seconds.
Joe Frost was the lone bull rider to be successful on four rides so he earned the title by a lot of points. The Panhandle State University junior had 308.5 points. Frost is a cousin of the late Lane Frost and also related to tie-down roping champion Taylor Santos-Karney.
Other champions here were CoBurn Bradshaw in the saddle bronc riding for Western Texas College with 311 points on four rides, and barrel racer Taylor Engesser from Gillette College at 55.78 seconds on four runs. The men’s team title went to the University of Tennessee – Martin with 755 points. Central Arizona College won the women’s team with 635 points.
2014 COLLEGE
NATIONAL FINALS RODEO CHAMPIONS
Bareback: Orin Larsen, Panhandle State University, 316 points. Tie-Down Roping: Taylor Santos-Karney, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 37.0 seconds. Breakaway Roping: Macy Fuller, Central Arizona College, 10.6 seconds. Saddle Bronc Riding: CoBurn Bradshaw, Western Texas College, 311 points. Steer Wrestling: Cade Goodman, Wharton County Junior College, 21.3 seconds. Goat Tying: Hayden Segelke, Eastern New Mexico University, 25.7 seconds. Team Roping: Billy Bob Brown (header) Tarleton State University & Logan Medlin (heeler) Eastern New Mexico University, 26.0 seconds. Barrel Racing: Taylor Engesser, Gillette College, 55.78 seconds. Bull Riding: Joe Frost, Panhandle State University, 308.5 points. Men’s All-Around: Taygen Schuelke, Gillette College, 415 points. Women’s All-Around: Macy Fuller, Central Arizona College, 555 points. Men’s Team: University of Tennessee – Martin, 755 points. Women’s Team: Central Arizona College, 635 points. Men’s Rookie: CoBurn Bradshaw, Western Texas College, 285 points. Women’s Rookie: Taylor Engesser, Gillette College, 280 points
Complete results are available at www.cnfr.com.
