Last week, the College National Finals Rodeo took place in Casper, Wyoming and concluded on Saturday, June 18. SWOSU senior Sadie Wolaver took home the gold in barrel racing and is now a national champion. Wolaver is the second woman in SWOSU history to win a national championship at the CNFR in barrel racing and is the first to win since 1979.

Wolaver’s horse, Princess was also recognized as the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Women’s Horse of the Year.

Wolaver and the rest of the women’s rodeo team finished national runner-up for the second year in a row. They gained a total of 530.0 points and lost by 8.3 points to Weatherford College. This year marks the fifth top-10 finish for the SWOSU women’s rodeo team while under head coach Mike Visnieski.

Abby Heper finished eighth overall in barrels, Ali Masters finished eighth overall in the breakaway, and Marley Berger finished sixth overall in tie down roping.