NMSU rodeo team competes in final rodeo of the semester

Margaret Kovar

The New Mexico State University men’s rodeo team ended the fall season on top during the NMSU National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) rodeo Oct. 31 in Las Cruces.

The men’s team won first and the women’s team won second during the last rodeo of the semester. Both teams are ranked first in the NIRA’s Grand Canyon region.

“This rodeo was a great end to the fall season. The teams really shined this weekend and pulled ahead of the competition to claim the top spot in the region,” said Jim Dewey Brown, NMSU rodeo coach.

Trevor Haught, of Payson, Ariz., won first in the bareback event.

Thorsen Dusenberry, of Desert Hills, Ariz., and Steve Hacker, of Battle Mountain, Nev., won first and second, respectively, in the saddle bronc riding.

Johnny Salvo, of Horse Springs, N.M., won first in the tie-down roping. Bo Simpson, of Las Cruces, N.M., received second.

In the team roping, Donny DeForest, header, of Yuma, Ariz., and Tyler Findley, heeler, of Silver City, N.M., placed first. Simpson and Garrison DeWitt, of Rio Rico, Ariz., finished second.

For the women’s team, Carleigh Marr, of Belen, N.M., received second in the breakaway roping. Teammate Staci Stanbrough, of Capitan, N.M., placed third.

Dewey, Ariz., native Jordan Bassett placed third in the barrel racing event.

Stanbrough was named the women’s all-around champion for the rodeo.