WTC will send five hands to compete in the national rodeo finals June 13-19 at Casper, Wyo., and have one rider qualified as alternates and another potential alternate.
Sab rina Lay, who finished first in the championship round and first in the average at TSU, won the region in barrel racing and will represent WTC at the finals.
She will be joined on the women’s team by breakaway roper Jamee Roach.
Clay Bunney, second in the average at Stephenville, will compete in the finals in bareback riding. Sam Spreadborough earned a spot in nationals in saddle bronc and Tate Stratton will compete in bull riding.
Julie Jones is listed as alternates for the finals in goat-tying, and Trent Cormier is a potential alternate.
Including Lay, WTC had four top-five finishes at Stephenville, with Bunney taking fourth in the short go with a 75.
Saddle bronc rider James Irish was third in the short round with a 71 and third in the average, while breakaway roper Ashley Hadley placed fourth in the average with a 3.1.
Teammate Jennifer Weeding scored a 3.2 in the short round.
WTC rodeo coach Greg Rhodes said it was a memorable and competitive year.
“Coaches that have been in the region for 20 to 25 years said it has never been as tough as it was this year,” he said. “It’s been an unbelievable year. The quality of competition in the region was phenomenal.”
West Texas A&M won the region followed by TSU, Odessa College and WTC. The teams all finished within 300 points of one another.
“We had four men’s teams going back an forth, and normally it’s not that tight.”
Rhodes said the women’s division also was tough, but not as close as the men’s side.
“We had a great year, and we’ll finish it up at the finals,” Rhodes said. “I appreciate all the support from the community and college.”