By: Justin Hargrove, Assistant Athletic Director
Northeast Texas Community College hosted the third National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Southern Region Rodeo October 18-19, 2024 at the Mount Pleasant Rodeo Association Arena.
NTCC Team Roper Teyton Barton (Hope, AR) was part of the winning team roping team as the heeler for his partner Garrett Freeman of Texas A&M University-Commerce. The duo had a long round time of 6.5 and then a 7.0 on the finals to finish in First place just ahead of Chase Sandstrom of Southwest Texas College and Rymond Haby of Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
On the Women’s side, Eagle Payton Barnes (Calumet, OK) placed third in the Ladies Breakaway Roping to bring home team points for the Women’s team. Makenzie Mayes (Winnsboro, TX) also qualified for the Breakaway finals and Barrel finals but had to draw out do to a conflict with the United Professional Rodeo Association (UPRA) finals at the State Fair.
On the Women’s side of the Rodeo, Texas A&M University won the Team Championship led by reigning Women’s All-Around College National Finals Champion, Madalyn Richards.
Richards (TAMU) brought home first place in the Ladies Breakaway roping to help lead her team to the Team Championship. Alyssa Gary (McNeese State University) won the Goat Tying event, while Madalyn finished in 5th place to help secure her All-Around Cowgirl title for the NTCC Rodeo.
Richards teammate, McKinlee Paschal (TAMU) won the Barrels with a pair of good runs, 15.73 and 15.68.
On the Men’s side of the events, Panola College came home with the Men’s Championship. Hayden James got things going for the Ponies winning the Bareback riding event with scores of 76 and 78. 2023 College National Finals qualifier Gavin French of Texas A&M came in second. Bradlee Miller of Sam Houston State University is also a 2023 College National Finals participant finished in 7th place. Miller will compete at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Finals in Las Vegas, NV in December.
In Saddle Bronc, Izaah Bartels of McNeese State University and Caysn Ballenger of Panola tied for first with scores of 67 in both the long round and finals.
Bull riding saw three athletes compete in the finals, Thomas Willard, Wharton Junior College brought home first place just ahead of Bryce Jensen of Hill College.
The Tie down event was won by Tyler Calhoun of Southwest Texas College and Trace Harris won the Steerwrestling competition for Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Wing Rodeo and Andrews Rodeo served as the Stock Contractor for the NTCC Rodeo. The Southern region will be right back at in action October 24-26 at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La and then will finish out the fall season at Sam Houston State University November 7-9, 2024.
NTCC Rodeo would like to thank the Mount Pleasant Rodeo Association for the use of the MPRA Arena along with all the sponsors who help put on this rodeo. For more information on how you can be a part of NTCC Rodeo, contact Coach Justin Hampton at jhampton@ntcc.edu.
