Kansas State University welcomed teams from across the Central Plains Region for the first collegiate rodeo held inside the new Bilbrey Event Center to continue the spring rodeo season.
As the spring college rodeo season continues across the country, competitors are traveling from campus to campus chasing points that could ultimately earn them a spot at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming.
One of those important stops in the Central Plains Region took place in Manhattan, Kansas, where the Kansas State University Rodeo Team hosted at their new venue.
This year marked the first collegiate rodeo ever held inside Kansas State’s new Bilbrey Event Center, a state of the art facility that officially opened with a ribbon cutting last October. After lots of anticipation, the arena welcomed its first rodeo competitors in February, bringing together teams from across Kansas and Oklahoma.
The Central Plains Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) includes colleges and universities throughout both states. Throughout the season, athletes compete at regional rodeos like this one, earning points toward qualification for the CNFR.
For Kansas State, the Bilbrey Event Center represents more than just their rodeo venue. The facility provides a new home for the university’s rodeo program while also supporting Kansas State University agricultural programs. Hosting the first collegiate rodeo inside the arena marked a milestone moment for both the rodeo team and the broader Kansas State future.
In The Arena
Gauge McBride, representing Southeastern Oklahoma State University, dominated the bareback riding. McBride swept the weekend with rides of 82 and 84 points, winning both rounds and securing the average championship.
Another cowboy from Southeastern Oklahoma State University found success in the tie-down roping. Blake Carter also swept his event, stopping the clock at 9.5 seconds in the long round before improving to 8.8 seconds in the short round to claim the average title.
The breakaway roping was one of the tightest events. Originally only 10 contestants are expected to advance to the short round, but the long round proved so tight that with the ties, 16 cowgirls returned to compete in the finals. In the end, Jacie Naprstek of Oklahoma State University came out on top. Naprstek split the long round win with a 2.2-second run and followed it up with a 2.4-second run in the short round, finishing with a 4.6-second average on two head.
In saddle bronc riding, Quirt Carroll of Oklahoma State University secured the rodeo championship. Carroll placed third in the long round with 77 points, then delivered an 82-point ride in the short round to win the round and finish with 159 points on two head for the average win.
Nathan Duvall of Northwestern Oklahoma State University came out on top in the steer wrestling. Duvall split the long round win with a 4.8-second run, then followed it with a 4.2-second run in the short round to claim the average title.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University also captured the goat tying title with Tyra Tsosie. She had a 7.3 second run in the long round before winning the short round with a 6.7, securing the average.
The team roping title went to a cross-school partnership.Dexton Hoelting of Western Oklahoma State College teamed up with Colter Snook of Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The pair returned to the short round after a 7.3-second run in the long round, then sealed the win with a 7.5-second run in the short round to take the average.
In the barrel racing, Emma Ricke of Southeastern Oklahoma State University had the fastest time of the weekend. Ricke won the long round with a 15.74 second run and followed it with a second-place finish in the short round, giving her the win.
No bull rider was able to cover both bulls over the weekend, leaving the long round score to determine the champion. Morgan Merrill of Oklahoma State University posted 84 points in the long round, which stood as the highest score of the rodeo.
In the team standings, Southeastern Oklahoma State University captured the men’s team championship. On the women’s side, Southwestern Oklahoma State University claimed the team title by just 10 points.
A Milestone Weekend for Kansas State Rodeo
While champions were crowned across the Central Plains Region, the weekend also represented an important milestone for Kansas State University.
Hosting the first collegiate rodeo inside the Bilbrey Event Center marked the beginning of a new era for the program and another example of the continued growth of college rodeo nationwide. The rodeo program, and the agriculture program are building and growing in the right direction. This new addition represents that growth and a bright future in Manhatten.
The Bilbrey Event Center will play a major role in shaping the future of rodeo at Kansas State for years to come.