story by Merrill Ellis
In the late 60’s and early 70’s, Tarleton State University (TSU) in Stephenville, Texas rocked the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association world with three consecutive national women’s team championships. They claimed these three team titles in 1969, 1970, and 1971, No other school has ever accomplished winning three national championships back-to-back.
The names of these cowgirls were not only synonymous in the collegiate ranks but in the Girls Professional Rodeo Association (GRA) and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) as well. During this time, the GRA/WPRA had numerous sanctioned all girl rodeos and these women were fierce contenders in the timed events.
“Since we all had the competitive nature in the rodeo arena, we had it in the classroom as well. We knew that a college education was important and therefore we all sought out the opportunity when we had a chance,” stated Vicki Higgins Emerson.
Every collegiate competitor named in this article went on to obtain their college degrees and have become teachers, principals, and business ladies. The list includes: Karen Walls, Angie Watts Averhoff, Sally Preston, Vickie Higgins Emerson, Connie Wilkinson Wood, Sharon Harrison Youngblood, and Martha Wright Jordan.
Competing for the purple and white under the motto, “A Winning Tradition”, Tarleton’s Rodeo teams have won six national championship titles, 19 individual national championships, and numerous NIRA Southwest Region titles since the program was established in 1947. In 2011-12, Tarleton boasted one of the largest rodeo teams in the NIRA with 115 card-holding student members.
Angie Watts Averhoff; the 1970 NIRA All Around Champion, still competes in team roping. In January 2009, she was tired of only seeing her rodeo friends at funerals. So, she devised a plan for getting “the girls” back together.Yearly, prior to the Fort Worth PRCA Rodeo Calf Roping Slack, she and about 100 cowgirls get together in the Fort Worth Stockyards for what is now known as “The Old Broad’s Reunion”.
“Normally, we have fifteen or more that were NIRA, GRA, or WPRA Champions. It is always fun to see who shows up at the event,” stated Averhoff.
The TSU female Who’s Who list of cowgirls and national championships include:
1969 NIRA National Champion Women’s Team- Karen Walls, was Reserve Champion Barrel Racer, Angie Watts Averhoff was National Goat Tying Champion as well as the CNFR Goat Tying &All Around Champion. Sally Preston was the first ever Breakaway Roping National Champion and the Breakaway Champion at CNFR
1970 NIRA National Champion Women’s Team-Angie Watts Averhoff won All Around at the CNFR. Sally Preston won a go around of the breakaway. Vicki Higgins Emerson won the Goat Tying at the CNFR. Connie Wilkinson Wood was National Champion Barrel Racer and CNFR Barrel Race Champion.
1971 NIRA National Champion Women’s Team-Sharon Harrison Youngblood, Vicki Higgins Emerson won go around at CNFR, Martha Wright Jordan was National Champion Barrel Racer & CNFR Champion.
All of these women have been recognized at previous NIRA Alumni, Inc. Reunions and were inducted into the TSU Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2012. The 1969 championship team will be recognized at the 28th Annual NIRA Alumni. Inc. Reunion June 14-15 in Casper, Wyoming. This year’s reunion will recognize all “9” champions.
Martha Wright Jordan recently joined the NIRA Alumni, Inc. as a board member. Jordan still competes in barrel racing and through her clinics she continues to teach students barrel racing and horsemanship techniques.
“Through the NIRA Alumni. Inc. scholarship program, it is one way that I can help give back to the NIRA and show students the importance of a college degree,” stated Jordan.
At the 2018 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) , Vickie Higgins Emerson’s grandson, Kirby Blankenship was awarded the NIRA Alumni. Inc. Team Roping Rookie of the Year Scholarship.
Emerson was in attendance at the CNFR and stated, “It was so much fun to watch my grandson compete at the CNFR on the same level that I did when I was rodeoing in college.”
In 2019, the NIRA Alumni, Inc. will award $30,000 in scholarships at the CNFR. To contribute to the NIRA Alumni, Inc. scholarship program, go to
https://www.fundraise.com/niraascholarshipfund or mail a check to NIRA Alumni, Inc. 3211 Elys Path San Antonio, Texas 78230. The NIRA Alumni, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) organization.
