March 25, 2013

The Mesalands Community College’s Rodeo Team had their best rodeo of the spring season last weekend at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. 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 Intercollegiate Rodeo Coach said.

Sophomore Shelby Rita from Sunset Beach, HI was crowned the breakaway roping champion at the University of Arizona rodeo. She won the breakaway 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 Ft. 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.”

Fellow teammate Macy Fuller of Wittman, AZ 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 during the rodeo and are still sitting in first place in the Grand Canyon Region.

For the Men’s Team Sophomore Kit Pettigrew from Ft. 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, NV led the saddle bronc riding event last weekend and also brought home a championship title.

The Men’s Team earned 429 points at the University of Arizona rodeo and are currently second in the region.

Other individual standings at the University of Arizona included:

Emily Woolbright
8^th Place Breakaway Roping

Jordan Minor
2^nd Place Tie-Down Roping

Daniel Robertson
8^th Place Tie-Down Roping
5^th Place Team Roping

Chaz Kananen
5^th Place Team Roping

Brooke McFarland
3^rd Place Steer Wrestling

Hayden Moore
4^th Place Steer Wrestling

Hank Filippini
8^th Place Steer Wrestling

The Mesalands Rodeo Team will compete at Navajo Tech in Crownpoint, NM April 19-20, 2013. There are only three regional rodeos remaining this year.