April 8, 2019
Roy Jackson of Tiller, OR hs a solid ride at the New Mexico State University Rodeo and won the Bull Riding Championship Title.
Photo courtesy of Avid Visual Imagery.
The Mesalands Community College Rodeo Team recently had two rodeo competitions at Cochise College in Ft. Huachuca, AZ and New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM. The Men’s Team won the Reserve Team Championship Title and brought home the Bull Riding Championship Title.
“We’ve changed the way we’re practicing these last few weeks,” said Matt Hughes, Intercollegiate Rodeo Coach and Faculty Member at Mesalands. “We’re practicing a lot harder and more intensely, than ever before.”
The Mesalands Rodeo Team will compete in the Grand Canyon Regional Rodeo in Socorro, NM, April 19-20, 2019. This rodeo will confirm the competitors for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, WY in June. The top two teams with the most points and the top three in each event, will secure their tickets to the CNFR.
“It’s pretty exciting! It’s a big battle between our own student athletes when it comes to bull riding,” said Coach Hughes.
In bull riding, the Mesalands Rodeo Team currently holds the top three spots in the region. Roy Jackson of Tiller, OR is first with 485 points. Levi Gray of Dairy, OR, is second with 385 points and Vinelle Mariano of Pinedale, NM, has 245 points. Dawson Stutting of Queen Creek, AZ is in fifth place with 166 points.
Bareback rider AJ Kee of Farmington, MO, is second in the region with 458 points.
In the timed events, team roper Hiyo Yazzie (heeler) of Brimhall, NM, is fourth in the region with 386 points.
Cochise College Rodeo (Individual Standings):
Men’s Team – 3rd Place
Men’s All-Around
Hiyo Yazzie (Brimhall, NM) – 5th Place
Bull Riding
Vinelle Mariano (Pinedale, NM) – 2nd Place
Roy Jackson (Tiller, OR) – 3rd Place
Dawson Stutting (Queen Creek, AZ) – 4th Places
Tie Down Roping
Hiyo Yazzie – 5th Place
Team Roping
Hiyo Yazzie – Finished in the top 10
Goat Tying
Rebecca Darrup (Mifflinburg, PA) – 7th Place
New Mexico State University Rodeo
Men’s Team – 2nd Place
Men’s All-Around
Hiyo Yazzie (Brimhall, NM) – 2nd Place
Bull Riding
Roy Jackson – 1st Place
Bareback Riding
AJ Kee (Farmington, MO) – 2nd Place
Tie Down Roping
Hiyo Yazzie – 4th Place
Steer Wrestling
Hiyo Yazzie – 3rd Place
Team Roping
Hiyo Yazzie – 5th Place
Breakaway Roping
Macy Smith (Klamath Falls, OR) – 8th Place
