Panola's Hooper claims bareback national title
 Longview News Journal
 FROM STAFF REPORTS
 Sunday, June 17, 2007

CASPER, Wyo. — Tilden Hooper made Panola College rodeo history on Saturday, thriving in rodeo's equivalent of overtime.

Hooper captured the bareback riding title at the College National Finals Rodeo at the Casper Events Center.

A freshman from Carthage, Hooper edged out Bud Munns, a senior at Utah Valley State. Hooper is the first national champion in the three-year history of the Panola rodeo program.

The competition had been cut to 12 competitors on Saturday. After three go-rounds, Hooper and Munns had identical scores of 238 each.

This forced an extra ride called the short round. Both Hooper and Munns performed well, but Hooper won the national title with a score of 82 to 81 for Munns.

"I used to get pretty nervous. I just tried to block all of that out," Hooper said. "I don't know if it's sunk in yet. I'm just trying to play it cool right now."

Hooper said a key was that he got a good draw on the horses he rode. In the first three rounds, Hooper had scores of 82, 77 and 79. Munns had scores of 80, 79 and 79 in his first three rides.

"The short round, it was very dramatic," Panola coach Travis Adams said. "Tilden did everything he was asked to do all week."

The CNFR competition started last Sunday and concluded on Saturday. The rodeo includes junior colleges and four-year schools.

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