Rodeo in Review
The college rodeo season kicked off with a bang as our dedicated team, under the guidance of Head Coach Justin Jenkins and new Assistant Coach Sharli Macdonald, showcased their tenacity and skills at Eastern New Mexico University (ENM) in Portales, NM, on September 14. Despite some challenges, the team's resilience and individual achievements stood out, leaving us eagerly awaiting their future performances.
This year's Hawk rodeo team boasts a diverse and passionate group of athletes, with a total of 9 talented women and 17 determined men. This dynamic mix of competitors demonstrates the inclusive spirit of rodeo, bringing together individuals with a shared love for the sport along with that West Texas grit and pride.
In the ENMU rodeo, the men's team faced tough competition, and while they did not accumulate team points as a whole, one standout performance was delivered by Cort McFadden. Cort's incredible performance in bull riding earned him an impressive 25 points, showcasing his exceptional courage and skill in the face of the toughest events.
The women's team, too, faced formidable competition in Portales and were unsuccessful in amassing points. However, knocking off the rust comes with the territory in week one of any sport, and it's best to get the hiccups out of the way early.
Tarleton State University's rodeo team shone brightly at ENMU, accumulating a total of 610 points. This highlights the level of competition that our team is up against and serves as a source of motivation for our athletes to strive for excellence in every event.
The college rodeo season began with a challenging start, and it is always difficult competing so far from the Lone Star State however, the opportunity to self-correct would come just a few days later at the Sul Ross State University Rodeo in Alpine, Texas. Being back in the home state proved to bear more fruit as they built off the slow start to head in the right direction.
The Hawks put on an impressive show, amassing a total of 140 points over the weekend. Standout performances included Jett Barrett's solid showing in Tie-down Roping, securing 35 crucial points and Cort McFadden's 105 points in Bull Riding demonstrated exceptional skill and grit. Additionally, Brogan Rankin with the help of his partner, Bridger Ketcham from Ranger College, amassed 130 points in Team Roping. Lastly, adding to his individual total, James Cole also scored in Bull Riding collecting 60 points in the event. While the men's team did better than they did the previous week, the women's team faced challenges and couldn't secure points in their respective events. Nonetheless, their dedication and spirit remained undeterred.
Tarleton was yet again the team to beat with their men's team amassing a remarkable 735 points, setting a high standard for the competition, and the women's team also performed admirably, accumulating 380 points. For the second week in a row, The Texans stole the weekend.