Texan purple was the dominant color in the short round at the Odessa College rodeo held March 25-27 in Odessa, Texas, with 29 Tarleton State University men and women making it to the final round.

Both teams clinched the championship titles and all-around honors. The wins helped Tarleton’s rodeo teams increase their leads in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s Southwest Region.

Tarleton’s men now lead Vernon College by 620 points. It also helped the women pull away from South Plains College and increase their lead to 86 points.

On the rough stock end, Craig Wisehart (bareback riding) and Tate Owens (saddle bronc riding) both finished second overall in their events’ average.

In the timed events, calf ropers Lance Millican and Chase Williams racked up points in the average by placing first and third, respectively.

Rounding out the weekend, brothers Chase and Chad Williams placed first in the team roping average, allowing Chase to claim the all-around honors.

The ladies answered with an exceptional showing of their own.

Lillian McMullan won the average in barrel racing and placed third in the average in breakaway roping. Both helped her capture the all-around honors for the women.

Other points in the women’s events were earned by Cassie Vierstra, who placed third in the goat tying, Kylie Ward, who placed second in the barrels, and Kaylen Helton, who placed third in team roping.

“This is our biggest showing yet,” said Mark Eakin, Tarleton’s head rodeo coach. “It is good to see our momentum gaining as we finish out the year. I expect good things from both the men and the women.”

Other short-go qualifiers included: Cassie Ward, Mallory Brown, Tawny Talkington, Brazos Peacock, Lucas Butler, Kiel Rowan, Cheyenne Motley, Kayla Emmons, Nick Rowlings, KC Curtis, Clay Norell, Michelle Allison and Phylicia Stewart.

For complete results, visit www.tarleton.edu/rodeo.