By: Justin Hargrove, Assistant Athletic Director
Northeast Texas Community College Rodeo will make a return trip to Casper, Wyoming June 15-21 for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR). The Men’s team had three people in contention for a finals qualification heading into the final National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Southern Region Rodeo at Hill College and the Men’s team members not only got it done and qualified for the CNFR but won the Hill College Rodeo to end the season.
Team Roping has been a strong event for the Eagles the past few years, and that event success at Hill College allowed the Men’s Team to bring home the hardware in addition to qualifying three members to make the trip to Casper.
Kelon Andrews will make a return trip after qualifying last year with a partner Jayden Cisneros from Wharton College. This season the header would pick up Eagle teammate Hayden Sanders as his heeler and the duo won second at Hill College to earn Sanders his first trip to the finals.
Bryson Berry is a header for his team with his heeler, Cooper Parsley from East Texas A&M University, they would pick up third place at Hill College. Berry finished the season in 7th place, just missing out of a final’s qualification.
Teyton Barton earned his CNFR bid heeling for his partner Garrett Freeman of East Texas A&M University by placing fifth place at Hill College.
The Team of Andrews and Sanders finished second in the Southern Region and Freeman and Berry finished third in the Region to earn their trip to Wyoming.
Eagle Rodeo Alumni Jill White of East Texas A&M University won the Southern Region Ladies Breakaway title to earn her bid to the CNFR as well.
The CNFR is held at the Ford Center in Casper, Wyoming with athletes from all over the United States competing over the 7 days to hopefully bring home a National Finals victory and scholarship money associated with winning the CNFR.
Barton and his partner will be up first on Monday, June 16th during the morning Slack time and will be the 37th team in the Team Roping, while Andrews and Sanders will finish out the morning slack as the 47th and final team of the team roping. On Tuesday, June 17th they reverse the order and Andrews and Sanders will be the first team out and Barton and partner Garrett Freeman will be the eleventh team to go in Team Roping Slack.
Barton will be up Wednesday night in the regular Rodeo Performance and Andrews and Sanders will be up on Friday night. The finals for all events will be Saturday, June 21st.
