September 18, 2017

Scotty Bevins, from Amsterdam, NY, was crowned the bareback riding champion at last weekend’s rodeo.

The Mesalands Community College Rodeo Team started the 2017-18 season on a high-note last weekend at Diné College in Tsaile, AZ. The Mesalands Rodeo Team clinched the bareback riding championship title at the first rodeo for the Grand Canyon Region.

Bareback rider Scotty Bevins from Amsterdam, NY had a solid performance at the Diné College rodeo. He brought home the bareback riding championship title.

Matt Hughes, Intercollegiate Rodeo Coach and Faculty Member at Mesalands, says Bevins electrified the bareback riding event at last weekend’s rodeo.

“Scotty did excellent! To jump out there and not just win the bareback riding, but to dominate the event, was amazing,” Coach Hughes said. “Scotty had a goal and a plan. He went out there and he won. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

At the Diné College rodeo, Bevins took first place in all three rounds of the bareback riding event. He earned a total of 180 points for the Men’s Team and is now leading the region.

Scotty Bevins finished in the top 25 at the 2017 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, WY.
Photo courtesy of Dan Hubbell Photography.

“I had a lot of fun at the last rodeo. I felt pretty confident; because I’ve worked hard and practices have been going well,” Bevins said. “For the rest of the season, I’m going to keep riding strong and taking care of business. That’s what it takes to win.”

Last summer, Bevins represented the Mesalands Rodeo Team in the biggest college rodeo competition of the year, the 2017 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, WY. He finished in the top 25.

For the 2017-2018 season, the Mesalands Rodeo Team once again has student athletes from all over the country, including: AZ, AR, NC, NM, NY, OR, PA, TX, and WY.

“We have a great team and the potential to be one of the top teams in the region,” said Coach Hughes. “This year we have three to four returners and the rest are freshmen. We should do better next week after the freshmen get their first-time jitters out the way.”

This weekend the Mesalands Rodeo Team will be travelling to Douglas, AZ to compete at the Cochise  College rodeo.