ALVA, Okla. – Alyssa Gabrielson and Kayla Copenhaver have been putting in a lot of extra work preparing for the spring half of the Central Plains Region season, along with their teammates.

The preparation paid off this past weekend; Gabrielson and Copenhaver were the driving forces behind the Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team winning the women’s title at the Kansas State University. Both left Manhattan, Kansas, with titles: Copenhaver won barrel racing, while Gabrielson parlayed solid runs in barrel racing and breakaway roping to claim the all-around title.

“What makes me most...