CASPER, Wyo. – The 2025-26 SWOSU Rodeo season came to a close over the weekend at the College National Finals Rodeo, where
Heston Harrison entered the final day of competition leading the nation in Team Roping before ultimately finishing eighth overall. The Bulldog women also tied for 29th in the national team standings.
Harrison, the Central Plains Region Reserve Champion in the Men's All-Around, qualified for the CNFR in both Saddle Bronc Riding and Team Roping. His strongest performance came in Team Roping alongside partner Nick Lovins of Garden City Community College, where the duo emerged as national title contenders throughout the week.
Harrison and Lovins opened the event with runs of 5.2, 6.6, and 5.9 seconds, advancing to the short round while building a one-second lead atop the leaderboard. Entering Saturday's final round, the pair controlled their own path to a national championship and sat in position to claim the second Team Roping national title in SWOSU history. A tough luck no time in the short round ended their championship bid and dropped the duo to an eighth-place finish nationally, but not before Harrison helped account for all 130 of SWOSU's men's team points at the CNFR.
Harrison also competed in Saddle Bronc Riding, narrowly missing qualification for the short round. He finished 13th nationally in the average after rides of 73.75, 64.5, and 69.5 points.
On the women's side,
Greeley Eastep represented SWOSU's lone short-round qualifier. Competing in Goat Tying, Eastep entered the short round tied for sixth after posting times of 6.3, 6.5, and 6.8 seconds through the opening three rounds. A 9.0-second run in the finals dropped her to a 13th-place national finish.
Braylee Ward finished 27th nationally in Barrel Racing, highlighted by a 14.14-second run in round two.
Cheyenne VandeStouwe, the two-time defending Central Plains Region Women's All-Around and Breakaway Roping champion, recovered from a no time in the opening round of Breakaway Roping to post times of 2.5 and 2.9 seconds in her final two runs and finish 29th nationally. She also competed in Goat Tying, where a 6.1-second run in round two tied for fourth in the round and helped her place 35th nationally.
Freshman
Reagan McIntyre, the Central Plains Region Goat Tying champion, battled through injury throughout the week and finished 55th nationally.
The SWOSU women totaled 40 points to tie for 29th in the final team standings. Under head coach
Mike Visnieski, who took over the program in 2011-12, the Lady Bulldogs have now qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo nine times.
2026 CNFR Final Results
Women's Team Scores
1. Texas A&M, 692.5
2. Wyoming, 405.0
3. Tarleton State, 360.0
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T-29th. SWOSU, 40.0
Men's Team Scores
1. Clarendon College, 1,100.0
2. Weatherford College, 980.0
3. Tarleton State, 608.3
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T-27th. SWOSU, 130.0
Go 1, Go 2, Go 3, Short, Avg
Team Roping
Heston Harrison (w/ Nick Lovins, GCCC) 5.2, 2nd. 6.6, T-7th. 5.9, T-5th. NS, 8th • 8th in the nation
Saddle Bronc
Heston Harrison 73.75, T-14th. 64.5, 28th. 69.5, 26th • 13th in the nation
Barrel Racing
Braylee Ward 14.62, T-34th. 14.14, T-23rd. 14.27, T-31st • 27th in the nation
Breakaway Roping
Cheyenne VandeStouwe NS, T-40th. 2.5, 16th. 2.9, T-19th • 29th in the nation
Goat Tying
Greeley Eastep 6.3, T-10th. 6.5, T-13th. 6.8, T-15th. 9.0, 13th • 13th in the nation
Cheyenne VandeStouwe 11.3, 54th. 6.1, T-4th. 7.6, T-28th • 35th in the nation
Reagan McIntyre 9.7, 52nd. NS, T-51st. 8.4, 39th • 55th in the nation
