Men's rodeo team sets record

The Mesalands Community College men's rodeo team set a record over the weekend at the Cochise Community College in Fort Huachuca, Ariz., scoring 1,120 points in a first-place finish with three individual championships.

The point total is a Grand Canyon Region record for a rodeo.

The team is first in the nation, while the women's team is fourth in the nation. The women also took home first place at Cochise, with two individual titles.

"We are smashing some records that have been around for a long time. Last weekend we shattered the record by over 100 points," C.J. Aragon, Mesalands Intercollegiate Rodeo Coach said. "We are on pace to set the new national record for the most points scored in a single season."

Aragon said that the current national record is around 8,000 points and the men's team has scored 5,508 points this season with four more rodeos remaining.

In Arizona, Fran Marchand of Omak, Wash., won the men's all-around competition and took first in bull riding. He also took second place in saddle bronc riding and third place in bareback riding. Marchand is currently ranked second in the nation in the men's all-around, on the strength of bull riding (third in the nation), saddle bronc riding (12th) and bareback riding (25th).

Fellow teammate Christian Stremler of Winnemucca, Nev. also brought home a championship title in saddle bronc riding. Stremler is currently ranked fifth in the nation in saddle bronc riding.

Macy Fuller of Clarkston, Wash., took the women's all-around by winning the breakaway event and securing fourth place in barrel racing and fifth place in goat tying. Fuller also took second place in team roping (with fellow team member Daniel Baeza from Chihuahua, Mexico). She is fourth nationwide in women's all-around.

The teams return to action in Arizona this weekend at Central Arizona College.