Athletic Report
March 26, 2002

ZIAS PLACE 2ND AND GREYHOUNDS TAKE 5TH AT ODESSA COLLEGE RODEO
Sultemeier Wins Goat Tying, Dutton 1st in Calf Roping
ODESSA, TX – The Eastern New Mexico University women’s rodeo team took second place, and the men’s rodeo team finished fifth, at the Odessa College Rodeo, Mar. 21-23 in Odessa, Texas.

The Zias were led by Ashley Sultemeier (Fr., Melrose, NM/Melrose H.S.), who won goat tying with 15.1 seconds total time. Kyle Dutton (Sr., Los Lunas, NM/La Mesa H.S.) led the Greyhounds by earning first place in calf roping. His combined time was 17.9 seconds. Tarleton State University won the women’s title with 190 points.

Eastern finished with 155 points, 15 more than third place Texas Tech University, which earned 140 points. Western Texas College was fourth at 110, while Odessa College placed fifth with 75 points. New Mexico Junior College was sixth with 50 points, West Texas A&M University was seventh with 25 points, and Frank Phillips College finished eighth with 15 points.

In the men’s division, Texas Tech University took first place with 335 points. Howard College and Western Texas College tied for second with 210 points. Vernon College placed fourth with 140 points, followed by ENMU in fifth place with 100 points. Sixth place went to Tarleton State at 85 points, while Sul Ross State University took seventh place with 70 points. Odessa and West Texas A&M tied for eight with 40 points each, while South Plains College took 10th with 30 points. Fran Phillips and Mesalands Community College each finished with 15 points.

Sultemeier had the best time during the goat tying long go at 7.3 seconds. Her time in the short go of 7.8 seconds was second fastest among all finalists, and left her with a 0.3-second lead over Tibba Smith from Tarleton State. Smith registered a time of 7.5 in the short go for an overall time of 15.4 seconds in the event.

Eastern also received points for a ninth place finish by Kelly Torske (Sr., Aztec, NM/Aztec H.S.), who completed her two runs in 19.0 seconds. Eastern’s other points in the women’s competition came in break-away roping. Sultemeier placed fifth with a combined time of 6.3 seconds. Her 3.0 in the short go was bested only by Smith, who won the event with a 2.6 long go and a 2.7 short go (5.3 total).

Johnna Garcia (So., Tucumcari, NM/Clayton H.S.) tied for sixth with an overall time of 6.4 seconds. Dutton scored all of ENMU’s points in the men’s rodeo with his victory in calf roping. His long go time of 9.0 seconds placed him third heading into the long go, but Dutton recorded the fastest time of the short go at 8.9 seconds, while the cowboys ahead of him struggled.

J.W. Kirkham of Texas Tech, who led in the long go at 8.3 seconds, clocked in a 13.2 in the short go. Chance Lindsey of Frank Phillips, who held an 8.8 in the first round, failed to score in the finals. Cade Swor of Vernon College was timed at 9.6 in the short go, and took second place with a combined time of 18.8 seconds.

Eastern’s Chance Pettigrew (Fr., Clovis, NM/Melrose, H.S.) qualified for the short go in steer wrestling, but failed to score in the finals. His preliminary time was 8.0 seconds. Joining Dutton as winners in the men’s division were Shandon Stalls and Jed Middleton of Texas Tech in team roping (5.4-5.1--10.5), Chris Herring of Howard College in bull riding (76-79-155), Tyson Thompson of Western Texas College in bareback riding (81-73-154), Neal Daniel of Texas Tech in saddle bronc riding (76-76--152) and Bray Armes in steer wrestling (5.4-6.3--11.7).

In women’s competition, Sultemeier was joined by the following champions: Kassie Mowry of Western Texas College in barrel racing (15.62-15.64--31.26) and Smith of Tarleton State in break-away roping (2.6-2.7--5.3).

Overall, the ENMU men were represented by six cowboys. Dutton competed in both calf roping and team roping, as did J.D. Kibbe (Jr., Des Moines, NM/Des Moines H.S.), James Gilliland (Fr., Tularosa, NM/Tularosa H.S.) and Royce Lynch (Fr., Deming, NM/Deming H.S.). Dale Vickrey (Fr., Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) and Dan Baca (Jr. Albuquerque, NM/NW Oklahoma State Univ.) competed in bull riding. Pettigrew was Eastern’s only entrant in steer wrestling.

For the Zias, Sultemeier competed in goat tying, barrel racing and break-away roping. Garcia participated in barrel racing and break-away roping, as did Kristin Gendron (So., Templeton, CA). Torske was entered in goat tying and break-away roping. All-Around Cowboy honors went to Tate McMullen of Sul Ross State with 60 points.

The All-Around Cowgirl was Smith of TSU with 190 points. Eastern New Mexico’s rodeo teams return to action on April 4-6 at the West Texas A&M Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas. The Greyhounds and Zias will then compete at the Western Texas College Rodeo in Snyder, Texas.