Meanwhile, Heather Turner placed fourth in the goat tying event, and freshman Courtney Rankin placed third in the first go round and seventh in the average. Tech's women's rodeo team is currently is in the lead in the regional standings after nine of the ten regular season rodeos.

Team Roping. The men's team, which is currently fifth in the regional standings, had several members perform well at the event. Chance Butterfield placed second in the steer wrestling, while Jay Manning and Colter Hampton placed second in the team roping. Other team members placing in the team roping were Matt Pemelton and Andy Keyes. Also placing in the tie down roping was Stetson Vest of Childress.

The Texas Tech team will be competing in their final regular season intercollegiate rodeo on April 24-26 at Tarleton State University in Stephenville. The top two teams and the top three individuals in each of the nine events in the men's and women's divisions will advance on June 15-21 to the College National Finals Rodeo.

The Texas Tech team is coached by Chris Guay, a twice regional champion, reserve National Collegiate Bareback Champion and PRCA Texas Circuit Champion. He joined the university in 1997 as the first Texas Tech rodeo coach.

Sudden Death. According to officials, there will be a sudden death format at the National Finals in Casper, Wyoming with the aggregate winners after four go rounds of competition being crowned individual and team national champions.

College rodeo events are divided between men's and women's events. The men's events include bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, calf roping and steer wrestling. The women's events are barrel racing, goat tying, breakaway roping and team roping.

Written by Norman Martin

For more information see www.collegerodeo.com and www.ttu.edu/rodeo