UNLV women win rodeo title
Friday, June 25, 1999 | 11:06 a.m.
For the past 14 years, Las Vegas has been home to the country's largest professional rodeo event. Now, the city can also boast the nation's top women's collegiate rodeo team -- the UNLV Ropin' Rebels.
Last Saturday, UNLV captured its first National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association title, winning the women's championship after a week-long event in Casper, Wyo.
"We thought this was the year the women had a good shot at it," said Fred Preston, one of the squad's two coaches. "We had a good feeling going in."
Nevertheless, the victory was far from easy for the Rebels, who squeaked past Texas' Tarleton State University by a slim 7.5 point margin.
"It really came down to the last round," said Rick Griffith, the club's other coach. "I've never seen the girls that happy before."
Graduated senior Stacey Sorenson put the finishing touches on the win, roping a calf in 2.3 seconds to win the final event. Sorenson's time -- the week's fastest overall -- also helped her finish third in the women's all-around championship.
Joining Sorenson on UNLV's four-woman team were: junior captain Nora Hunt, senior Cody Winchell and sophomore Katie Marvel. Winchell and Marvel are native Nevadans while Hunt and Sorenson hail from California and Utah, respectively.
"In rodeo, you practice for yourself and there's so much individual stuff to win," said Hunt, who transferred to UNLV last year from California's West Hills College. "But a team championship is the neatest thing you can win. To see your teammate do well is a good feeling. It was a super conclusion to the year."
Hunt said she was particularly proud that her club bested teams from traditional rodeo powers such as Texas and Oklahoma.
"It wasn't the Texans or the Okies that won. We're all from the West Coast," Hunt said. "We all had a goal and it all worked out really well."
The Rebels' previous top finish at nationals was seventh, last season. The men's squad placed second at last year's event.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Tiger Woods allegedly linked to LV nightclub exec
- 6 charged in Metro officer’s death appear in NLV court
- Reports: Mayweather Jr. has agreed to fight Pacquiao
- Home prices cut in half in 12 valley ZIP codes over year
- Report: Investors buying up Las Vegas foreclosure homes
- No. 24 UNLV gutsy in 74-72 victory at Arizona
- M Resort notes improved business in recent months
- CityCenter unveils Crystals retail district
- Vdara exec predicts strong sales
- Las Vegas Sands analysts see signs of improvement
Blogs
Elsewhere
UNLV in at No. 11 in SI's college hoops power rankings
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 13: A few good chefs
Gray Matter
Fight weekend in Las Vegas and Thanksgiving (1 Comment)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Consultant who knocked off Tom Daschle would love for Lowden to knock off Reid (9 Comments)
Gibbons: Timeline shows lawmakers (especially Marcus Conklin) at fault in unemployment insurance fiasco
The Kats Report
Noteworthy: More from the Trop, Cher changes, Newton on 'CBS Sunday Morning' (2 Comments)
TUF Heavyweights
Marathon season finale (1 Comment)
Calendar »
- 4 Fri
- 5 Sat
- 6 Sun
- 7 Mon
- 8 Tue
-
Ray Price at Boulder Station
Boulder Station Hotel and Casino | 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Clay Walker at The Golden Nugget
Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino
-
Gloriana at LAX
LAX Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Brooks & Dunn at the Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
-
Bill Engvall at the Treasure Island Theatre
Treasure Island Theatre
-
Ron White performs at the Mirage
Terry Fator Theatre
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati










