MONTICELLO, Ark. - After a string of top three finishes to open the 2024-25 rodeo season, the Northwest men's team finally broke through for a winning finish, earning first place at the Boll Weevil Stampede over the weekend.

Northwest collected 655 team points, narrowly ahead of runner-ups West Alabama (635) and third-place finisher Missouri Valley College (630). Meanwhile, the Lady Rangers placed fourth for the third straight weekend, collecting 160 points and topping East Mississippi, Pearl River and Murray State.

Bull riding and steer wrestling proved once again to be one of the top events for the Northwest men, as freshman Dakota Smith earned 160 points and a first-place finish for the weekend. Smith totaled 40 points in the first round and was the only one to score in the second round, earning an additional 60 points. His 161 average helped him collect an additional 60 points, separating him from second-place finisher Treg Huver (Missouri Valley College).

Christian Cagle showed out for the Rangers in steer wrestling, finishing the weekend in first place with 165 points. The Canton, Ga. native finished with a 5.3 score and 50 points in the opening round, before finishing with a 4.8 score and 55 points in the short-go, collecting a 10.1 average and 60 additional points.

Cagle also competed in saddle bronc riding, placing third with 80 total points. He totaled 40 points in the opening round, but failed to score in the short-go, placing behind event-winner Ross Price (Three Rivers College) and runner-up Huver (Missouri Valley College).

Calf roping also provided more success for Northwest, as Hank Burgess and Colbran Ingram finished first and second on the weekend. Burgess, a native of Dalton, Ga., finished with a 9.8 score in the opening round, good for 60 points. He followed that up with a 45-point effort in the short-go, finishing with an average of 20.8 and 60 more points, collecting 165 for the weekend.

Meanwhile, Ingram received no score in the opening round, but rebounded for 60 points and a 10.4 score in the short-go. The Winona native finished with an average of 25.1 and 50 additional points, earning 110 for the weekend.

Cagle also competed in calf roping, but only received a score in the opening round, finishing the event tied for fifth place.

Leading the Lady Rangers on the weekend was the duo of Delaney Naifeh and Darby Toole. Toole competed in the breakaway roping for Northwest, earning second overall and third in the short-go. The Eudora native finished with 40 points and a time of 2.9 seconds in the opening round, before tacking on 40 more points and a 3.0-second time in the short-go, earning an average of 5.9 and 50 points.

Naifeh competed among a crowded field in barrel racing, finishing with 30 points in the first round and no score in the short-go.

Next up for Northwest will be another trip to the Natural State this weekend, as Southern Arkansas University hosts its annual rodeo event from October 10-12.