Writer: Jocelyn N. Apodaca, 575-646-7562, jocelyn_@nmsu.edu
The New Mexico State University men’s team reached the number
one spot in the Grand Canyon Region this weekend, making this
the 10th consecutive seasonal win.
“It is a great accomplishment by these rodeo athletes to dominate the region and win all 10 regular season rodeos. Almost unprecedented,” NMSU rodeo coach Jim Brown said. “I don’t know if it has been done in our region in quite some time. As coach, this is definitely a milestone for our team’s accomplishments.”
A three-day rodeo event, April 25-27, held at the Aggie tailgate lot at NMSU proved to be successful, with two men’s team first place titles and two women’s first and third place titles.
Rodeo athletes Bailey Bates, Shelby Montano, Nicole Sweazea, Tyke Kipp, Trenten Montero and Ty Anderson made the men and women’s all-around places for the weekend.
“It was an amazing feeling seeing our stands full despite the wind and blowing dust,” Brown said. “Our hats are off to all the fans, students, community, faculty and staff for coming out and supporting the team. Our rodeo was awesome.”
Tyke Kipp is currently nationally ranked in fourth place for the men’s all-around honor. He will be representing NMSU in saddle bronc riding and steer wresting at the College National Finals Rodeo.
“Your goal as a high school student is to take state, and now being at the collegiate level I’ve taken regional and now national,” Kipp said. “It feels great!”
As regional champions, the Aggies will head to Casper, Wyo. for the College National Finals Rodeo, June 15-21, sending nine rodeo athletes to compete in events.
Qualifiers include: Trenton Montero, Tyke Kipp, Cody Mirabal, Pacen Marez, Colt Capurro, Reno Eddy, Russell Van Soelen, NaLynn Cline and Meghan Johnson.
“My formula as coach is to keep it simple,” Brown said. “I do everything I can to provide the students with quality practice stock, so they stay sharp in their events; provide scholarships; and be there for them in their times of need, in and out of the arena and classroom.”
The men’s team currently holds the number one national spot, with four regions left to complete rodeos.
For a full list of rodeo events visit the NMSU Rodeo Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/nmsu.rodeo.
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