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Rodeo athletes poised to qualify for nationals

link Edmiles Harvey of Tsalini Springs, at the 7th Annual Mesalands Community College Grand Canyon Region Fall Intercollegiate Rodeo. Harvey cinched his second consecutive championship title in bareback for Mesalands with this

ride during the championship rounds of the college’s fall rodeo in Tucumcari. Harvey recently secured his ticket to the 2015 CNFR in bareback riding with his performance at the Navajo Technical College rodeo in Window Rock, Arizona.

He is currently second in the region.

By Thomas Garcia

QCS Senior Writer

Mesalands Community College will be hosting its first intercollegiate Spring Rodeo for the Grand Canyon Region and a Ranch Rodeo this weekend at the Quay County Rodeo Arena in Tucumcari.

“This will be the largest weekend of rodeo and western activities in the city of Tucumcari, in recent history, said Tim Abbott, Mesalands’ interim rodeo coach.

The rodeo will feature three full days of rodeo competitions in two events. Abbott expects 150 college rodeo contestants and around 200 ranch rodeo contestants to participate in competition.

“The College Rodeo has very traditional, rodeo specific events,” he said, “while the Ranch Rodeo offers the western heritage and western lifestyle side.”

This weekend is going to be a trying one for the members of the Mesalands men’s and women’s rodeo teams. He said team members will not only be competing against 13 schools in their second home rodeo, they will also be working the ranch rodeo.

Abbott said during Mesalands’ fall rodeo, the men’s team won the team championship for the first time at their home event. He said the team is working to repeat that success, as well as to qualify or secure their standings as qualifiers for the 2015 College National Finals Rodeo.

Abbott said the team has two members who have qaulified for the CNFR and have seven additional members in the running or on the cusp of qualifying.

“There is going to be a lot of talent out in that rodeo arena for the public to enjoy,” Abbott said. “It’s always exciting when we get to perform in front of the home town crowd. We hope the community will come out and show their support for our college teams and for the teams entered in the ranch rodeo.”

On Saturday and Sunday, the Mesalands Community College’s Rodeo Club is hosting a ranch rodeo with 16 five-man teams registered to compete.

On Saturday, there will be events going on from 9 a.m., to 9 p.m., in both collegiate and ranch rodeo.

The events begin on Thursday with the Stampede Fiesta at the North American Wind Research and Training Center, said Kimberly Hanna, Mesalands’ public relations director.

Hanna said the Stampede Fiesta will feature the live mariachi music, games and prizes that hav e been associated with the college’s Cinco de Mayo celebration. These events will not be repeated at the campus’s Cinco de Mayo observance this year.

“We are very excited to have nearly 400 rodeo participants and their families coming to our community for the first Mesalands Spring Rodeo Weekend,” said Dr. Thomas W. Newsom, Mesalands president. “We had a fantastic fall rodeo and Stampede Week, and we are looking forward to continuing this excitement with our Spring event. These college events are successful because we have incredible support from our community.”

The Mesalands Spring Rodeo Weekend activities were partially funded by city of Tucumcari Lodger's Tax funds.

Below are Mesalands rodeo team members’ standings in the Grand Canyon Region:

The top three in each event qualify for the college finals.

Tie Down Roping

1. Chace Valdez

Bareback Riding

2. Edmiles Harvey

Saddle Bronc Riding

4. Devyn Sisneros

Bull Riding

2. Adriano Long

3. Jake Carr

4. Kasy Baker

Steer Wrestling

2. Jacob Rounds

6. Chance Stucker

Team Roping

3. Chance Hunter (header)

3. Sam Tyler

Breakaway Roping

2. Betty Pack

Below are the “Mesalands Spring Rodeo Weekend” activities:

Thursday

Stampede Fiesta

5:30-8:30 pm North American Wind Research and Training Center

• To kick off Mesalands Spring Rodeo Weekend, the College has combined their Cinco de Mayo festivities with the Spring Rodeo, for one big community celebration, Stampede Fiesta.

• Live mariachi music by performers Reynaldo Maestas, Ernestine Romero, and Carlos Medina.

• Come and enjoy the food and games for all ages, including horse rides, face painting, and free popcorn.

• There is no gate charge, but participation in some of the activities will have a nominal charge.

Friday

Mesalands Spring Rodeo

6 p.m., Rodeo Performance

Quay County Rodeo Arena

• Tickets: Adults $5, Seniors 55 and over $2, Children under the age of 13 will receive free admission to the Mesalands Rodeo with the purchase of an adult ticket

• Free admission for Mesalands students, faculty, and staff. Must show College IDs at the gate.

Saturday,

Mesalands Spring Rodeo

9 a.m., Slack (no cost for admissions)

6:00 p.m., Rodeo Championship

Quay County Rodeo Arena

• Tickets: Adults $5, Seniors 55 and over $2, Children under the age of 13 will receive free admission to the Mesalands Rodeo with the purchase of an adult ticket.

• Free admission for Mesalands students, faculty, and staff. Must show College IDs at the gate.

Saturday

Mesalands Community College Rodeo Club's Ranch Rodeo

1 p.m.

Quay County Rodeo Arena

• Tickets: Adults $5, Children and Seniors 55 and over $2.

• Free admission with the purchase of a ticket to the Mesalands Spring Rodeo.

Sunday

Mesalands Community College Rodeo Club's Ranch Rodeo

2 p.m.

Quay County Rodeo Arena

• Tickets: Adults $5, Children and Seniors 55 and over $2.

• Free admission with the purchase of a ticket to the Mesalands Spring Rodeo.

 
 
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