SAU rodeo heads to national contest

Eight members of the SAU Rodeo Team will travel to Casper, Wyo., in June to compete in the National Rodeo Finals. Shown are Ashton Glascock in front and, back row from left, Britt Driggers, Strand Barricklow and Coach Rusty Hayes.
Eight members of the SAU Rodeo Team will travel to Casper, Wyo., in June to compete in the National Rodeo Finals. Shown are Ashton Glascock in front and, back row from left, Britt Driggers, Strand Barricklow and Coach Rusty Hayes.

The Southern Arkansas University Rodeo Team will send eight students to the College National Rodeo Finals in Casper, Wyo., in June after a successful spring season.

Team members qualified for finals during an intercollegiate rodeo event held at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Miss., in April.

"I'm not surprised we are sending a team," coach Rusty Hayes said in a press release. "I would have expected these students to be there, for sure."

They are now preparing for the national event, to be held June 10-16.

Strand Barricklow and Britt Driggers won the Ozark Region Champion Team Roping Header and Heeler titles. Jacie Sullivan is the Ozark Region Champion in Goat Tying. Logan Graham, Cooper Lee, Ashton Glascock, Michaela Caudle and Shiloh Marchand all finished in the top three in their respective events, qualifying them for the national competition.

Glascock, an English major from Hartsburg, Miss., said she is "absolutely excited" to be going to the CNFR for goat tying.

"I've been out there twice before in breakaway roping, but not goat tying, so this will be a challenge," Glascock said. A roper since age 10, Glascock said she chose SAU for its state-of-the-art rodeo arena.

Barricklow, a junior agriculture business major from Lebanon, Ind., said this will be his first trip to the finals.

"It was a goal of mine," he said. "I came to qualify. To win region this year is just awesome."

He said he also decided to attend SAU for the quality of its rodeo program and facilities.

"Our coach is very supportive. He always makes sure we have good practice stock," Barricklow said. "I think the finals will be a challenge for everyone, but we'll be competing to the best of our
abilities."

Driggers, a senior agriculture business major from Pearcy, Ark., will be making his third trip to Casper.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "I think this is one of the best chances I'll have to do something. My first year was a good learning experience, but I think this year, with Strand as my partner, we'll be very successful."

Driggers will graduate May 4, but will remain at SAU to pursue a master's degree. He will still be eligible for one more year on the rodeo team. Last year, he qualified for finals as the No. 3 steer wrestler in the Ozark Region.

Glascock said the student athletes on the rodeo team hold themselves and each other to a high standard and make time for academics as well as practice.

Driggers agreed.

"We're (at Story Arena) every day throughout the year, even if we've got tests. We'll come in the afternoon and stay until (late) at night, then go home and study," he said.

The team recruits athletes from around the nation. Hayes said that with the addition of this year's recruiting class, he expects the team to be stronger next year.

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