NOT OUR FIRST RODEO

Championship titles return to Tarleton

BY CHANDRA ANDREW

Champions! A year’s worth of blood, sweat and effort paid off for Tarleton’s men’s rodeo team at the 67th annual College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo.

The men’s championship is Tarleton’s third, joining teams from 1967 and 2005. Tarleton also holds four women’s championship—1969, ’70, ’71 and 2005. “It was nerve-racking waiting for the final event to know if we had won it,” said seventh-year head coach Mark Eakin, (’97). “It’s a weight lifted off our shoulders and a credit to the kids. I couldn’t ask more of them.” Tarleton’s three-time CNFR qualifier Landon Williams capped off his senior year by winning the all-around title (third in Tarleton history) and the national title in tie-down roping. “It is certainly an awesome feeling when your team wins the national championship,” said Williams, an agricultural services and development major with a concentration in agri-industries and agencies. “I feel blessed to be part of the Tarleton Texans and for helping them get to the top of the nation.”

Not our First Rodeo

Williams amassed 445 points in tie-down and team roping to secure his titles. In the short go, he tied his calf in 9.9 seconds to finish third in the round. His time of 39 seconds on four head was 1.6 seconds faster than the second-place roper.

Aside from collecting 280 points in tie-down roping, Williams scored another 165 in team roping with partner Casey Tew, a header attending nearby Weatherford College. The duo finished sixth in the average.

“Landon has always heeled very well. This year he really worked hard at his calf roping and it paid off,” said Eakin. “We have a great team and any one of them is capable of being the leader. Landon was the one who stepped up and had an exceptional week at the finals, but it took all of us to get here and to win it.”

Freshman Jace Lane racked up 240 points to finish third in the all-around and second in saddle bronc riding.

“Jace had a really outstanding week. He’s just a freshman and he weighs a whopping 130 pounds, but he rides broncs very well,” said Eakin.

In bareback riding, Kody Lamb’s consistency earned third in the average and fifth in the short round. Senior Devan Reilly missed placing in the short round but placed third in the second round with a 76-point ride and split 11th and 12th in the average.

Other team members were Jace Melvin and Brody Cress. Melvin, a senior, placed eighth in the second and third rounds of steer wrestling and also competed in tie-down roping.

While the men took home the biggest prize, the women’s team held their own to finish fifth overall.

Tarleton’s team featured Lauren Bane (breakaway roping, goat tying), Shelby Herrmann (barrel racing) and Baili Collins (goat tying). Herrmann finished second in the third round and seventh in the short round to place fourth in the average. In goat tying, Bane finished fourth in the third round and Collins finished 11th in the average.

Tarleton notched a seventh-straight appearance in the CNFR—the “Rose Bowl” of college rodeo—with 10 students competing.

“It was just outstanding to see the looks on the kids’ faces and to know they had reached their goal,” Eakin said. “Two of them won’t be back, but what a great way to end their college careers. We’ve had four thirds and a second since I’ve been here, and to finally finish it is a feeling you can’t describe. Getting to share it with Bob and Darla (Doty) and President Dominic Dottavio made it extra special.”

First Rodeo

Three-time CNFR qualifier Landon Williams (left) ropes his way to the all-around and tie-down roping titles as well as leading the way for Tarleton to win the men’s championship title.

“It was just outstanding to see the looks on the kids’ faces and to know they had reached their goal.”

— Mark Eakin

Tarleton Rodeo Head Coach