Rodeo on the road to the CNFR




† † † The Northeast Texas Community College Eagles rodeo team gained serious momentum last week as the men won first place at the Hill College Rodeo. NTCC's Zack Bocco and Dustin Jackson took home first and second place, respectively, in the Men's All-around.†The NTCC women's team placed eighth place overall at the rodeo.



† † † Their performance at Hill College left the NTCC men in second place overall in the Southern Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA). The women are currently in fourth place overall in the region. With only one rodeo left in the season, this leaves NTCC in great position to send athletes to the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming this June.



† † † "Two of our guys have clinched their spots to the CNFR, and if we can stay in the top two we will take a full team of six guys up there as well. We also have two of our girls qualifying, so it is an exciting and stressful end of the season run heading into Wharton?s college rodeo," C.J. Mohl, NTCC Head Rodeo Coach, said.



† † † Dustin Jackson placed second in Bareback Riding at Hill College. Jackson Massey took second in Tie Down Roping. Two NTCC athletes placed in Steer Wrestling, with Bocco winning third and Jackson taking fifth. NTCC had the top two Team Roping Headers in Zachary Waldrop and Kyler Bramhall. Bocco took second in Team Roping Header and Kolby Kennedy followed in third place.†In women's action, Skye Wright placed eighth in Barrel Racing.



† † † "I am very proud of our teams as a whole. Where our teams are in the standings says a†lot about the talent we have here at NTCC," Mohl said.



† † † Before gearing up for their final rodeo at Wharton Junior County College April 26-27, the NTCC rodeo team had some fun this Wednesday as they entertained local school kids with an exhibition rodeo. The day started off with a morning event for special needs children and they later hosted about 500 elementary students from the area at the NTCC Priefert Rodeo Complex. Chapel Hill, Vivian Fowler, Annie Sims, E.C. Brice, and Corprew elementary schools were all in attendance.†




† † † "The kids rodeo is an annual tradition at NTCC. The team has a great time interacting with the students and it is a chance to expose a new generation to the sport of rodeo," Mohl said.†




† † † Rodeo fans can find detailed standings and schedules at www.collegerodeo.com. For more information about NTCC rodeo, visit www.ntcceagles.com.