Last weekend, the Texas A&M-Kingsville Rodeo team hosted a Southern Region intercollegiate rodeo at the Richard M. Borchard Fairgrounds in Robstown. This event was the seventh of the year for the TAMUK Rodeo team and their first host event.
Rodeo coach and graduate student Ty Runge expressed his excitement about the rodeo’s ability to provide the community with a major attraction.
“It lets them know that we have a rodeo team at the university. The university team isn’t large, so it lets everyone know that we’re still present and participating,” Runge said. “This is a regional college rodeo. There are 10 college rodeos in our region, which is the southern region. We host one of them, so it puts us on the map. Plus, we normally host a very good rodeo,” he continued.
The rodeo consisted of a qualifying round Friday, a short-go (finals) on Saturday and slack rounds (for overflow participants) on both days.
Ninety athletes participated in Saturday’s final event. The 13 teams represented in the short-go included Texas A&M University, Panola College, McNeese State University, Sam Houston State University, Hill College, Texas A&M-Commerce, Wharton College, Southwest Texas Junior College, Northeast Texas Community College, Trinity College, Louisiana State University-Alexandria, Stephen F. Austin University and Louisiana Tech.
Of the 25 members on the TAMUK Rodeo team, only two, team roping duo Cameron Grady and Matthew Garcia, competed last weekend. The inactive team members worked diligently to ensure that the rodeo ran smoothly and efficiently.
“It shows how well we work together as a team, especially when we get the pressure of a NIRA rodeo,” said barrel racer and rodeo vice president Caroline Ashley.
Ashley also emphasized the importance of collegiate competition for rodeo athletes.
“College rodeo is the closest to professional rodeo that we can get and still be able to go to school. It’s a good opportunity for us to pursue a degree so that we can rodeo with a career,” she continued.
First-place winners of the nine events include Grace Hanley (Barrels), Mia Manzanares (Goat tying), Mitchell Hutto (Steer wrestling), Parker Fleet (Saddle bronc), Abby Hampton (Breakaway), Kolton Mazoch (Tiedown roping), Colby Fedor (Bareback), Ty Harris and McCray Profili (team roping), and Justin Mire(bulls).
After the results were in and buckles were handed out, junior steer-wrestler Paul Hornaday conveyed his passion for the TAMUK Rodeo team.
“It means a lot to me. I get to compete and make new friends, and then compete with those friends out on the road. The team is a great group of people. I can depend on them. When I come across trouble or if I’m having trouble with my horse, I can call and people are going to come help,” Hornaday said.
