Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Mesalands Community College's women were named reserve champions and the men's team won four championship titles during their fifth annual rodeo.
Mesalands held their annual Grand Canyon Region rodeo last weekend at the Quay County Rodeo Arena.
The women scored 385 points and the men's team earned titles in bull riding, bareback riding, and in team roping.
QCS photo: Jerrene Bradley
A Mesalands barrel racer makes the approach on the first barrel during the Mesalands Community College Rodeo over the weekend.
David Gonzalez of Chihuahua, Mexico, was not only excited about clinching his first championship title in bull riding last weekend, but excited because his parents were there to share in his excitement.
"I think it was a good rodeo. I have no words to explain how it felt to have my family from Mexico there at the rodeo. I'm just so happy." Gonzalez said.
Gonzales finished with an average of 147 points. Teammates Kody Decker from Viola, Kan., and Cody Heffernan from Singleton, Australia, took sixth place in bull riding with 72 points.
Fellow Mesalands competitor Edmiles Harvey of Tsaile, Ariz., won another Bareback Riding Championship title. Harvey led in the first go-round with 67 points and finished the average with 67 points.
Teammates Chaz Kananen from Roy, Mont., and Daniel Robertson from Huntland, Tenn., brought home the Team Roping Championship title finishing the average in 18.3 seconds. The men had one of their best rodeos in team roping last weekend. Luis Delgado from Chihuahua, Mexico, and Preston McCullar from New Mexico Highlands University finished the average in second place at 20.4 seconds.
QCS photo: Jerrene Bradley
Led by kindergartners from Tucumcari Elementary School, rodeo fans say the Pledge of Allegiance before the Mesalands Community College Rodeo.
The Womens Team took second place at the rodeo. Macy Fuller of Clarkston, Wash., took second in the average, finishing at 16.6 seconds in goat tying, close behind the title winner with 16.3 seconds. Betty Pack of Aztec, finished the average in 5.1 seconds taking second in breakaway roping and Shelby Rita of Sunset Beach, Hawaii, came in fifth place with 3.1 seconds.
"We had four girls place, which is the most we've had all year. Our Womens Team is truly coming together," said C.J. Aragon, Mesalands coach. "We had a good turnout at the rodeo, good community support."
On Saturday, Aragon and Mildred Lovato, president of Mesalands, presented Roger Walters, National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Commissioner with a gift to show their appreciation for him attending Mesalands' Rodeo.
Walters oversees 142 colleges nationwide with intercollegiate rodeo programs and 50 independent colleges.
"Coach Aragon's attitude, work ethic, his ability to communicate with others, and his concern for his student athletes says a lot about the integrity of this program. You don't get a coach better than that," Walters said.
Kindergartners from Tucumcari Elementary School led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance on Friday and Saturday. They also participated in a dance with the college's new mascot "Stampede."
"How amazing it was to see so many athletes and supporters at the Mesalands Rodeo last weekend," Lovato said. "Thanks to the Tucumcari Rotary Club for the wonderful job they did at the concession and thanks to the Tucumcari kindergartners for their help at the rodeo. They made this event very special."
Other individual standings at the Mesalands Rodeo :
Danny Chandler: Third, Bareback Riding
Omar Ramirez/Jacob Rounds: Fifth, Team Roping
Morgan McVay/Victor Ugalde (NSMU): Sixth, Team Roping