Mesalands set to open rodeo season

The Mesalands Community College Rodeo team is scheduled to open its season Friday and Saturday night in Tucumcari.

“It is great to have a home event,” said Michael Bates, a steer wrestler. “We are looking for a big start-off to our season and want to keep rolling from here.”

The 42-member rodeo team is one of 14 teams set to compete in the Second Annual Mesalands Community College Rodeo.

“We have got a good team,” said Mesalands head coach C.J. Aragon. “I think we can win a regional title this year. We have closed the gap on our competition.”

Mesalands competes in the Grand Canyon Region, which includes teams from Arizona and New Mexico.

Aragon said there are 15 students returning from last year’s team.

But the season has already been marked by tragedy. A vehicle accident on Aug. 21 claimed the life of 19-year-old Meagan McCain. She was among Mesalands’ top performers, Aragon said.

Also injured in the accident were rodeo athletes Angela Stash, 19, of Pueblo, Colo., Amber Scheret Miller, 20, of Westminster, S.C., and Daphne Lynn Wehrs, 21, of Sparta, Wis.. Aragon said all four women were top points earners from last year.

“The girls have really stepped it up,” Aragon said. “I am proud of them.”

Aragon said McCain’s parents will be at the rodeo this weekend. He said the team will honor McCain’s Memory with a riderless horse during the opening ceremony.

“A scholarship fund has been started in Meagan’s honor,” Aragon said. “Her parents have been very supportive of our program. It has been a very hard time for them and the team and they have helped each other get through this ordeal.”

Aragon said they hope to fill the stands this weekend.

“We are hoping for a good start to the season,” Aragon said. “It means a lot to these students to have the town come out and support them.”