Jessee Young runs the barrels for NTCC. (Action photos by Yanet Castro, The Eagle student Newspaper)
By: Justin Hargrove, Assistant Athletic Director
Northeast Texas Community College hosted the third National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Southern Region Rodeo October 15-16. The Rodeo was held at the Mount Pleasant Rodeo Association Priefert Arena in Mount Pleasant, Texas.
NTCC Athletes continue to improve with each Rodeo of the 2021-2022 season and brought home some team points in a few categories for the home Rodeo.
Kent Sheldon (Lemoore, California), brought home a third-place finish in the Saddle Bronc event for the Eagles. Garrett Fields (Quitman, Texas) placed fifth in the Tie Down Roping, and second in the Steer Wrestling to help out the Men’s team.
With Fields competing in multiple events, he placed third in the Men’s Overall Standings to bring home points for NTCC.
In the Bare back riding event, Kolt Dement from Panola would bring home the first-place belt buckle and points. Jarrod Hammons of Hill College won first in the Saddle Bronc event. Fletcher Jowers of Southwest Texas Junior College won the bull riding competition with an 84-point ride.
Tie down roping was won by Hill Colleges’ Cooper Matthews with a time of 8.3 seconds. Trace Harris (Texas A&M University) just edged out Fields for the win in Steer Wrestling. Southwest Texas Junior College was again on top in the Team Roping winning with the combination of Tristan Sullivan and Will Farris.
On the Women’s side of the events, Bryana Lehrmann of Texas A&M University- Commerce brought home the first-place win in Ladies Breakaway roping with a lightning fast 1.9 seconds. Her teammate and NTCC Alumni, Keely Henry would also bring home points with a 2.2 second run to tie for third.
McNeese State University got on the board when Kamryn Duncan won the Goat Tying event with a 6.4 second run. Victoria Procter of Texas A&M University would win in Barrels with a time of 15.1 seconds to edge out teammate Emma Smith who posted a 15.16 time for second place.
Gauge McBride from Panola College was the Men’s All-Around Champion bringing home points in Bull riding and Saddle Bronc, while Madalyn Richards of Texas A&M was the Women’s All-Around Champion with points in Breakaway and Goat Tying.
The NTCC Men’s Team would finish fifth overall in the Men’s Team Standings.
After a week off, NTCC and the rest of the NIRA Southern Region will head to Lake Charles, Louisiana for the McNeese State Rodeo.
Northeast Texas Community College competes in the Southern region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association with Hill College, McNeese State University, Panola Junior College, Sam Houston State University, Southwest Texas Junior College, Stephen F. Austin University, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Trinity Valley Community College, and Wharton County Junior College.
