Story by Simone Del Rosario
The spring rodeo hosted a full house of community members and visitors. (Photo by Simone Del Rosario)
The New Mexico State University Rodeo Team finishes the year first in the Grand Canyon Region after a second place finish at the Las Cruces spring rodeo.
Both the men and women’s team ended up on top in the region. The men’s team is currently sitting 14th in the nation, and the women’s team is fifth.
“We are happy to be sending 10 people to the College National Finals Rodeo,” Megan Albretch, the assistant rodeo coach, said.
Johnny Salvo won the Men’s All-around at the spring rodeo by getting second in the tie-down roping and second in the team roping. He finished the year first in the region in the tie-down roping and third in the team roping with his partner, Rodee Walraven. JoDan Mirabal, who won the tie-down roping at the spring rodeo, finished third in the region behind Salvo and Bo Simpson.
NMSU rodeo coach Jim Dewey Brown and region student director Staci Stanbrough watch the rodeo. (Photo by Simone Del Rosario)
Staci Stanbrough, Grand Canyon region student director, won second in goat tying and fourth in the breakaway roping at the spring rodeo. Overall, she finished the year second in the Women’s All-around, second in the breakaway roping and fourth in the goat tying.
Contestants who win first or second in the all-around race qualify for at least two events at the CNFR automatically. Otherwise, athletes must place first, second or third in an event in the region to qualify. Although Stanbrough ended up fourth in the goat tying, she will still go to the CNFR in two events.
“I automatically qualified to go to the CNFR in breakaway roping, not just because I finished second, but because, as the region’s student director, I get to go in at least one event,” Stanbrough said. “Winning the all-around gave me the opportunity to qualify in the goat tying as well.”
Other regional champions, along with Salvo, were Steven Hacker in the saddle bronc riding and Jessica Silva in the breakaway roping.
"Radical Ryan Rodriguez" and his son perform a clown act for the crowd. (Photo by Simone Del Rosario)
The CNFR, which is considered the “Rose Bowl” of college rodeo, is being held in Casper, Wyo., June 12-19. Individual event champions will be crowned in nine events, as well as national team championships to both men’s and women’s teams. More than 400 cowboys and cowgirls from over 100 universities and colleges compete in Casper each year. Ten of those cowboys and cowgirls will be representing NMSU, with hopes of bringing home individual and team championships.
