Zapalac wins tie-down championship for third-place Tarleton

Tarleton third men — Tarleton State men's rodeo, third place at 2017 CNFR. || Twitter photo

Special to The Flash Today
Phil Riddle/Tarleton Marketing and Communications

(June 19, 2017) — Tarleton State University added another individual champion to its long list of them Saturday, the 50th anniversary of its first national championship as a team.

Reid Zapalac of Smithville, Texas is the tie-down roping champion at the 69th annual College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo. He roped and tied four head in 36.7 total seconds following a short go time of 8.8 at Casper Events Center.

Tarleton placed third in the final men’s standings, its 690 points trailing Oklahoma Panhandle State (827.5) and Sam Houston State (715). The Tarleton women scored 280 points, finishing fifth.

Tarleton State University’s men’s and women’s rodeo teams both finished in the top five at the 69^th annual College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR), which wrapped up Saturday in Casper, Wyo.

Reid Zapalac is presented as tie-down champion of the 2017 College NFR. || Twitter photo

Reid Zapalac, Tarleton, 2017 CNFR tie-down roping champion || Twitter photo

Tarleton also notched a pair of third-place finishes with saddle bronc rider Brody Cress and bareback rider Kody Lamb. Cress, from Cheyenne, Wyo., posted the top score in Saturday’s finals, scoring an 84 for a four-ride 237.5. Lamb, who’s 78 was fourth in the short-go, finished with a four-ride 293.5. Lamb is a five-time CNFR qualifier from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada.

Lauren Bane was the top TexAnn, finishing fourth in the women’s all-around. Bane, of Caldwell, Idaho, was ninth in goat-tying, completing the average in 28.4 seconds including 8.1 on Saturday.

About Tarleton State University Rodeo

Tarleton’s renowned rodeo program is known for having some of the toughest and most talented student competitors among National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) members. Competing for the Purple and White under the motto, “A Winning Tradition,” Tarleton’s rodeo teams have won seven national championship titles, 25 individual national championships and numerous NIRA Southwest Region titles since the program was established in 1947.

In 2016-17, Tarleton boasted one of the largest collegiate rodeo teams in the nation with 128 card-holding members. To learn more about Tarleton’s rodeo program, visit www.tarleton.edu/rodeo.