Mesalands rodeo teams bring home championship titles

The Mesalands Community College's Rodeo Team competed in their best rodeo of the spring season last weekend at the University of Arizona.

The Mesalands Rodeo Team brought home both the Men's and Women's championship titles and won five individual titles.

"We finally had a good rodeo," C.J. Aragon, Mesalands rodeo coach said.

Sophomore Shelby Rita from Sunset Beach, Hawaii, was crowned the breakaway roping champion. She won the event with a time of 2.6 seconds. She was also named the All-Around Reserve Champion and finished fifth in barrel racing.

"I was more confident at the last rodeo because I got my breakaway horse Bailey back. She got kicked the night before we left for the rodeo in Fort Huachuca. Now that she was feeling better, I knew I would win the rodeo and I did," Rita said. "I was really excited to win my All-Around belt buckle."

Teammate Macy Fuller of Wittman, Ariz., also performed well last weekend. She had the fastest time in the goat tying event with 7.9 seconds and took sixth place in barrel racing.

The Women's Team earned 409 points and are still sitting in first place in the Grand Canyon Region.

For the Men's Team, Sophomore Kit Pettigrew from Fort Sumner dominated the tie-down roping event. He finished his last round in 9.9 seconds and won the championship title.

Sophomore Cody Heffernan of Singleton, Australia, electrified the bull riding event and finished first, winning the championship title. David Gonzales of Chihuahua, Mexico, also had a strong rodeo taking third in the bull riding event.

Christian Stremler of Winnemuca, Nev., led the saddle bronc riding event and also brought home a championship title.

The Men's Team earned 429 points and are currently second in the region.

Other individual standings at the University of Arizona included:

Emily Woolbright

8. Breakaway Roping

Jordan Minor

2. Tie-Down Roping

Daniel Robertson

5.Team Roping

8.Tie-Down Roping

Chaz Kananen

5. Team Roping

Brooke McFarland

3. Steer Wrestling

Hayden Moore

4. Steer Wrestling

Hank Filippini

8. Steer Wrestling

The Mesalands Rodeo Team will compete at Navajo Tech in Crownpoint on April 19-20. There are only three regional rodeos remaining this year.