Vernon College slipped past 14 other schools to capture the men's rodeo team championship for the Southwest Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. The final rodeo of the 10-rodeo season was held at Tarleton State University on April 25-27. VC Coach Bobby Scott had seven cowboys and three cowgirls qualify for the Conference Finals Rodeo at Hobbs, New Mexico, on May 23-26, which gives them a shot at making the College National Finals Rodeo in June. Will Lowe's regional championship in bareback riding gave him a berth at the Conference Finals Rodeo and the College National Finals Rodeo. Bull rider Cal White's second place in the region earned him the same ticket as Lowe's to the CFR and CNFR.
To win the championship, VC accumulated 2020 points for the season followed by Western Texas College with 2002.5 points. VC, coming from behind to win by a slim margin of 17.5 points, placed 3rd at the final rodeo winning 260 points while WTC earned 182.5 points for a 4th place at the final rodeo.
To qualify for the CFR, the contestants had to place in the top ten in an event. VC cowboys who qualified for the CFR are Lowe, Gardner, Kansas; White, Springtown; Brady Brock, Springtown, 3rd in calf roping and 8th in steer wrestling; Cade Swor, Winnie, 4th in calf roping; Jesse Kirby, Dodge City, Kansas, 5th saddle bronc riding; Jeremy Watson, Roanoke, 8th in bull riding; and Zach Dickens, Farmersville, 8th in bareback riding. The cowgirls, headed for the CFR, are Tessie McMullan, Bronte, 10th in breakaway roping and 6th in goat tying; Jody Gray, Seymour, 6th / 7th place split in breakaway roping, and Jaclyn Hobbs, Sallisaw, Okla., 5th in goat tying. The top seven in each event at the CFR will have a chance at a national championship at Casper, Wyoming, on June 11-15 at the CNFR.
