NMSU rodeo spring opener scheduled for March 9-10 in Arizona

NMSU rodeo spring opener scheduled for March 9-10 in Arizona
DATE: 02/27/2019
WRITER: Faith Schifani, 575-646-6233, schifani@nmsu.edu
CONTACT: Logan Corbett, 575-646-3659, lcorbett@nmsu.edu
The New Mexico State University rodeo season will be back in full swing in March.
The team will be competing in a doubleheader Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10, at Central Arizona College in Casa Grande, Arizona.

NMSU is a part of the Grand Canyon Collegiate Rodeo Conference, along with six other universities. The men’s team is currently ranked third, and the women’s team is in first place after the fall season. Both teams competed in four rodeos in the fall, and have six remaining for the spring. At the conclusion of the fall season in October, several students were ranked in the top five of their events.

For the men’s team, graduate student Dylan Riggins is leading the region in bareback riding. He is followed closely by junior Tyler Erickson. In bull riding, sophomore Justin Neill is in fourth in the region. In the tie-down calf roping, junior Derek Runyan and sophomore Trevor Scott are in first and second, respectively.

The women’s team also has been dominating in the region this season. Freshman Kasey Eaves is leading in the breakaway roping. In the barrel racing, freshmen Jayde Wamel, Amy Bowditch and Sienna Bruton are in first, second and third, respectively. Sophomore Baylee Johnston is leading goat tying, and freshman Lyndsey Orris follows in third.

“The most rewarding part of coaching the last few years is seeing the young men and women progress,” said Logan Corbett, rodeo head coach. “Some start on the team with very little knowledge of rodeo, and we work with them and by the time they graduate, they are at a competitive level. There’s nothing quite like seeing the fruits of your labor.”

After the spring opener, the team is scheduled to compete March 16 in Tucson, Arizona, March 23-24 in Huachuca, Arizona, March 31 in Las Cruces, and April 19-20 in Socorro, New Mexico.

For more information on the NMSU rodeo team, contact Corbett at 575-646-3659 or lcorbett@nmsu.edu.
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