Rodeo team members finals bound

Coming off a season where its men's team finished first in the nation and its women's team sixth, the Mesalands Community College rodeo team will send a school-record 10 members to the College National Finals Rodeo.

"This is the first year that our team will have a representative in every single event at the college finals," coach C.J. Aragon said. "It's pretty impressive to have that dominant of a year."

The College National Finals Rodeo will be held in Casper, Wyo., June 10-16.

Two members — Fran Marchand of Omak, Wash., and Macy Fuller of Clarkston, Wash. — will be competing in multiple events at the rodeo.

Marchand, a sophomore, has qualified to compete in saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, and bull riding. He is currently ranked second in the nation in the men's all-around, sixth in bull riding, 11th in saddle bronc riding, and 20th in bareback riding.

Last year Marchand competed at the CNFR and finished the season 13th in bull riding and 22nd in saddle bronc riding. He says he looks forward to nationals again this year.

"I would like to stay on all my bulls this time at nationals," Marchand said. "I will be competing in some pro rodeos this summer to prepare."

Fuller, a freshman, is third in the women's all-around and 15th in goat tying. She has qualified to compete in breakaway roping, goat tying, and the team roping event with fellow teammate Daniel Munoz-Baeza from Chihuahua, Mexico.

"I'm excited to see what nationals will be like and how it plays out," Fuller said. "It will be a fun experience."

Also competing will be:

• Sophomore Shelby Rita of Sunset Beach, Hawaii, in barrel racing. Last year Rita was MCC's only female competitor as the 2011 CNFR and finished 20th in barrel racing.
• Freshman Christian Stremler of Winnemuca, Nev. in saddle bronc riding. He is currently ranked sixth in the nation.
• Freshman Jordan Minor of Navasota, Texas, in tie down roping. He is currently ranked 20th in the nation.
• Sophomore Chase Massengill of Pojaque and Hayden Moore both qualified to compete in steer wrestling at nationals. Massengill is currently ranked fifth in nation and Moore is 23rd.
• Sophomore Kit Pettigrew of Fort Sumner in tie down roping.
• Freshman Bailey Bates of Mexican Springs in breakaway roping.