SWOSU Rodeo Signs Stacey Bailey

Head coach Mike Visnieski has announced the signing of Stacey Bailey to the Southwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team for the 2013-14 school year. Bailey, a native of Cherokee, Okla., is currently a senior at Timberlake High School.

Stacey has had a very successful prep career, qualifying for the National High School or Junior High Finals Rodeo 11 times and claiming five state championships split between Oklahoma and Kansas. This past year, Stacey claimed the barrel racing and goat tying championships from the Kansas High School Rodeo Association (KHSRA).

"I am very excited to join the SWOSU Rodeo Team," Bailey said. "The winning atmosphere created by Coach Visnieski's dedication to training well-rounded athletes as well as the strong leadership and competitive spirit provided by my future teammates greatly influenced my decision to attend SWOSU."

In addition to those state titles, Bailey is an 11-time All-Around Champion Cowgirl and she was named the Woman's Rookie of the Year by the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association in 2012 after finishing as the rodeo's runner-up in barrel racing. She also was the barrel racing champion at the American Royal Youth Invitational in 2012.

"We are very excited to have Stacey on board," Visnieski said. "She is a very skilled athlete who possesses strong character along with an incredible drive to succeed academically and competitively. Those traits will make her a valuable addition to the SWOSU Rodeo Team."

Accolades for Bailey also extend to the classroom where she is a three-time KHSRA Academic Team and NHSRA Cinch Team member. In addition, she is the Valedictorian for the Timberlake HS Class of 2013.

Bailey plans to major in Mass Communications at SWOSU when she starts school in the fall. She will join the rodeo team for next season and she is projected to compete in barrel racing, goat tying and breakaway roping.