Wednesday, March 21, 2012

NMSU rodeo teams first in region, nation after season opener

The spring 2012 season got off to an excellent start when New Mexico State University men’s and women’s rodeo teams racked up enough points to get them ranked first not only regionally but nationally as well, after the spring season opener held in Tucson, Ariz.

NMSU’s rodeo teams ended the fall season at the top of the regional standings and rodeo coach Jim Brown said the recent results bode well for the future.

“This was a great start to our spring season and I foresee our teams and individuals dominating in the rodeos to come,” Brown said.

NMSU rodeo team members Cooper DeWitt and Devyn Sisneros came in first and second respectively in saddle bronc riding. DeWitt also took the top spot in steer wrestling which helped him walk out of the rodeo with the second highest point accumulation among the men.

The women’s team sewed up the top four spots in goat-tying with Kendra Stinemean taking the lead, Dixie Richards taking second place, Brandi Pfiefer in third and Randi Simpson wrapping it up in fourth place. Three was Pfiefer’s lucky number as she also took the third spot in the women’s all around point battle.

Two other ladies who came in No. 1 were Meghan Johnson for barrel racing and Jessica Silva for breakaway roping. Two of the men who climbed to second place were Trenton Montero for bareback riding and Ty Anderson for tie-down roping.

Three out of four places wasn’t bad for Rusty VanSoelen, Rodee Walraven and Clancy Wilkerson who took the first, third and fourth spots in the team roping header category. Michael Manzanares took first place in team roping heeler and Sheldon Church took fourth.

The next competition for the NMSU rodeo teams will be on March 3 – 4 at Cochise Community College in Ft. Huachuca, Ariz.

Writer: Melisa P. Danho, 575-646-3082, melisapd@nmsu.edu

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