By: Justin Hargrove, Assistant Athletic Director
The Northeast Texas Community College Rodeo team headed to the second Spring Rodeo of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Southern Region season hosted by East Texas A&M University. The Rodeo was held at the new Spur Expo located in Commerce, Texas March 20th and 21st.
Payton Barnes led the Eagles with a great showing for the Women’s team. Payton earned the All-Around Cowgirl title after finishing second place in the Ladies Breakaway and Seventh in Team Roping with her partner from NTCC Laci Murray. Laci would finish in fifth place in Breakaway to win the Reserve All Around title for the Women as well.
Team Roping is one of the best events for the Eagles and the NTCC Men’s team had two teams make the finals. The team Henry Welch (Header) and Rhett Newsom of Trinity Valley (Heeler) were just out of the money in the finals, while retuning National Finals Rodeo Contestants, Kelon Andrews (Header) and Hayden Sanders (Heeler) finished in second place to earn points for the Eagles. Andrews is looking to make his third straight trip to the CNFR this year and Sanders is looking for back to back trips as well.
Both teams will head Athens, Texas next for the Trinity Valley Community College Rodeo. This will start a three-week run of back to back to back Rodeos trying to make the College Finals. Andrews is currently in second place in the region for Team Roping Header, Teyton Barton is in seventh in Heading. Hayden Sanders is sitting in third place in Team Roping Heeling. Barnes is currently in fourth spot in Ladies Breakaway with three Rodeo’s to go to try to earn a trip to Casper. The top three individuals in each event qualify for the CNFR each year.
NTCC competes in the Southern region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association with Hill College, Lamar University, Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Panola College, Sam Houston State University, Southwest Texas College, Texas A&M University, East Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Trinity Valley Community College, and Wharton County Junior College. The Eagles compete in ten total College Rodeo’s in hopes of qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo.
The College National Finals Rodeo is held in Casper, Wyoming each summer. The CNFR is the best of the best in college rodeo. It is where the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association crowns individual event champions in saddle bronc riding, bare back riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, and goat tying. National team championships are also awarded to both men’s and women’s teams.
