ALVA, Okla. – The first time Kyler Altmiller teamed with Porter Hall came just a few days ago during the intercollegiate rodeo in Colby, Kansas.
Altmiller, a senior Northwestern Oklahoma State University cowboy from Canadian, Texas, hadn't even thrown a practice loop with Hall, who competes for Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
"That was the first time he'd ever roped behind me," Altmiller said. "We talked a little bit before, but we'd never got a steer together, then we ran two in the same day, and it worked out."
Yes, it did. They stopped the clock in 6.9 seconds on their first run to finish second in the opening round, then were 8.5 seconds to finish as the runners-up in the championship. Their cumulative time of 15.4 seconds was the best overall and helped them snag the Colby Community College team roping title.
"We both needed a run this year," said Altmiller, the tandem's header. "I just reached out to him, and he just happened to need one, too, and we decided to try it out."
Each man now leads his respective discipline in the Central Plains Region standings, and it's the perfect way to kick off the 2025-26 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association campaign. Based on how they finished in the long round, Altmiller and Hall were the second-to-last team to rope Saturday night.
"That short round got a little soft, so we just talked over what our game plan was," Altmiller said. "We just decided to go catch (the steer).
"He's a phenomenal heeler. I think he could rope behind anybody."
The Texan led the way for the Rangers in northwest Kansas. Team roping heeler Colter Snook – a Dodge City, Kansas, cowboy who switched ends after qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo this past June as a header – snared points in the opening round after an 8.7-second run with his partner, Dexton Hoelting of Western Oklahoma State College.
Steer wrestler Grady Aasby of Highmore, South Dakota, utilized a strong finish to move from fifth in the opening round to second overall. He was joined in the points race by Nathan Duvall of Henryetta, Oklahoma, who placed third in both rounds and the aggregate, Riley Smith of Poteau, Oklahoma, who was second in the opening round; Tydon Tsosie of Crownpoint, New Mexico, also made the bulldogging short round.
Tie-down roper Carter Anderson of Merriman, Nebraska, utilized two solid runs to finish fifth overall, while breakaway roper Kendyll Miller of Hennessey, Oklahoma, placed third in the final go with a 2.5-second run to finish second.
Goat-tier Trinity Kruse of Pretty Prairie, Kansas, placed in both rounds and finished fifth in the aggregate, while Payton Dingman of Pryor, Oklahoma, was 7.6 to finish second in the first round. They were joined in the final round by Zoe Chambers of Baldwin City, Kansas. Barrel racer Waci Thomson of Lundbreck, Alberta, found success in the championship round, clocking a 16.64-second run to finish sixth in the final performance. That also propelled her to sixth in the average.
Each Ranger found his/her way to Northwestern for both education and the chance to compete. Altmiller, who is majoring in agriculture with an animal science minor, wanted a little familiarity when he made his college choice.
"Growing up in a small town, I just liked the small-town atmosphere," he said, comparing his hometown of 2,169 people to his college home of 4,962. "That's what drew me here."
Proximity also plays a part in that, and there are similarities between the two communities. Another key is being able to compete in rodeo, and he has the right equine partner to help with that. Cupcake is a 12-year-old bay mare he's had for four years.
"I bought her off some good family friends, and she's just been great," Altmiller said. "I've been taking her everywhere. She's been my No. 1 for probably the past three years. We've bade a lot of money together."
With her underneath, he has a great deal of confidence as he rolls toward the next event, which is Sept. 25-27 at Durant, Oklahoma.
"My goal this year is just to stay sharp, stay aggressive and just keep the ball rolling," he said. "That was a good way to start the year. With this being my last year, I really want to do good. I will just keep practicing hard and keep going strong."
