Braced by a strong showing in barrel racing, Texas Tech's Rodeo Team launched their fall season on a high note, with the women's team winning first place overall this weekend (Sept. 22-23) at the Eastern New Mexico University Rodeo in Portales. The women overpowered several teams from the National Collegiate Rodeo Association's Southwest Region to take the top spot.

"I'm pleased with how well we performed in Portales," Tech Coach Chris Guay said.

Riding her mare "Frenchy," Taylor Langdon, a senior exercise sports major from Aubrey, started where she left off last season by dominating the barrel racing competition. She placed first in go-round one; second in the finals and won the overall title.

Other prominent women's performances included:

• Barrel Racing: Carley Richardson, a senior animal science major from Pampa. Third in go-round one; third in the finals; reserve championship overall
• Barrel Racing: Kirsten Stubbs, a senior agriculture and applied economics major from Eldorado. Seventh in go-round one; fourth in the finals; fifth overall
• Goat Tying: Traci Bailey, a junior agriculture education major from Payson, Utah. Third in go-round one; second in the finals, second overall
• Breakaway Calf Roping: Chelsea Brown, a senior mathematics major from Big Sandy, Montana. Eighth in go-round one; first in the finals; first overall (tie)

Separately, the Tech men's rodeo team performed well in go-round one with saddle bronc riders Treyson Antonick, a sophomore pre-vet major from Henderson, placing third (tie); and Zach Peterson, an agribusiness major from Afton, Iowa, taking eighth. Both the men's and women's teams compete next at the Sul Ross University Rodeo in Alpine, Sept. 29-30.

Written by Norman Martin

CONTACT: Chris Guay, rodeo coach, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2805 ex. 256 or www.ttu.edu/rodeo

0925NM12 / PHOTO: Richard "Whitty" Whittenburg "" Two Dog Enterprises