By Justin Hargrove
Assistant Athletic Director
Northeast Texas Community College hosted the third National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Southern Region Rodeo October 21-22 at the Mount Pleasant Rodeo Association Arena.
Bull rider Colton Burkard (Ivanhoe, Texas) placed second for the Eagles with a 76-point ride, all while competing at the United Professional Rodeo Association (UPRA) Finals in Dallas this week also.
NTCC Team Roper Brennen Wilson (Gilmer, TX) brought home points as well as Header with partner, Lantz Pyssen from Southwest Texas Junior College as heeler.
On the Ladies side of things, Rylee George of Texas A&M University-Commerce and Kera Lamb of Wharton Junior College tied for first in the Ladies Breakaway championship with a time of 2.1 seconds to split the win.
Goat Tying also saw a first place split with Josey Murphy from Panola College and Mayce Marek of Texas A&M University-Commerce both posting a time of 6.3 seconds to share first place.
In Barrels, Victoria Proctor of Texas A&M University won the event with a time of 15.31 to bring home the first place points for the Aggies.
For the Men’s teams Gavin French of Texas A&M University posted the best time in the Bareback event with a 79-point ride to win first place.
Saddle Bronc winner was Parker Fleet of Hill College with a 79-point ride to lead the field of contestants.
In Bull riding, Zeke Martinez of Wharton Junior College posted the top score of 82 points to best NTCC’s Burkard for first place.
Tiedown roping winner was Chance Little of Texas A&M University with a time of 8.8 seconds to win the first place points. Mount Pleasant’s own Kincade Henry of Texas A&M University-Commerce placed fifth in the event to bring points home for the Lions.
Steerwrestling was also a Texas A&M University-Commerce Lion with a first-place time of 4.1 seconds.
The Team Roping Duo of Slade Wood, Southwest Texas Junior College, and Logan Moore of Wharton Junior College had a lighting fast time of 5.9 seconds to take home the crown.
The Women’s All-Around Cowgirl went to Josey Murphy of Panola College and the Men’s All Around went to Slade Wood of Southwest Texas Junior College. Kincade Henry tied for second place in the All-Around Category.
Team titles went to Texas A&M University-Commerce on both the Women’s and Men’s side with the Women bringing home 311.5 points and the Men 516 points to lead all teams. Texas A&M University-College Station would be second place for both the Women’s and Men’s teams.
The Eagles and the rest of the NIRA Southern Region head to Lake Charles, Louisiana November 28-29 for the next Rodeo hosted by McNeese State University. The fifth and final fall rodeo will be hosted by Sam Houston State University November 10-12 in Conroe, Texas.
NTCC athletes look to keep compiling points in their respective events to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming in June of 2023.
For more information about the NTCC Rodeo program visit our athletics website at www.ntcceagles.com.
