Sears Seals the Deal, CASNR alum takes second world title at national rodeo
Lindsay Sears, a 2004 graduate of Texas Tech's Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, won her second barrel-racing world title in four years last Saturday (Dec. 10) at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center.
Sears, 30, posted a blazing 13.75-second run aboard Martha, an 11-year-old sorrel mare, to finish second in the tenth go-round and left Las Vegas with her second Montana Silversmiths gold buckle. The Canadian-born Sears finished with a cumulative time of 139.5 seconds through ten nights, earning her first NFR average title. In all, she won $133,558 at the rodeo, $45,865 coming from the aggregate payout.
"It couldn't have happened to a nicer person," said Texas Tech Rodeo Coach Chris Guay. "Lindsay has been an awesome ambassador for Texas Tech, starting the first of her four years in the College of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources."
The all-star barrel racer has come a long way from the little girl who used to go to the rodeo with her family in her hometown of Nanton, Alberta. In fact, Sears has been riding so long; she can't remember how old she was when she first rode a horse.
Separately, other Texas Tech graduates were rounding up other honors in Las Vegas.
"Ryan Gray, 30, Major - Agriculture Leadership (2006). The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association bareback riding champion (2004) finished sixth in the world standings in bareback riding with $137,257, earning
fifth-place with an 85-point ride. Gray and wife Lacy both competed in rodeo while
at Texas Tech.
"Adam Gray, 28, Major - Civil Engineering (2007). The Seymour native had a strong week in tie-down roping. A third-place finish in the
final round and a tie for second in the average, moved him to ninth in the world standings.
Gray tied his calf in 8.1 seconds Saturday.
"Wes Stevenson, 32, Major - Interdisciplinary Agriculture (2008). The Kaufman native qualified for the sixth time for the national finals. The National
Intercollegiate Rodeo Association's Southwest Region champion (1999-2000) and his wife Francie met at Texas Tech and both graduated from the university.
Written by Norman Martin
CONTACT: Chris Guay, rodeo coach, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2805 ext. 256 or www.ttu.edu/rodeo
1216NM11 / WPRA PHOTO: Mike Copeman (www.wpra.com)
Davis College NewsCenter
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