By Bobby Allen

SDN Sports Editor

Sixteen schools and hundreds of visitors begin decending on Snyder today in anticipation of the 2004 Western Texas College Rodeo.

The rodeo, a mainstay on the Snyder entertainment scene for years, begins at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Scurry County Coliseum, with 400 hands slated to compete.

WTC rodeo coach Greg Rhodes said the three-day competition is a boon to the local economy.

“I think it’s a great economic boost,” the seven-year coach and member of the WTC rodeo team from 1982-1985, said. “Any event that can bring in 400 contestants -- not counting parents and friends -- is good. It’s one of the top events in town.”

Rhodes also noted that the facilities are attractive to those wanting to catch a rodeo.

“Having it at the coliseum is a big difference, especially for the older generation. They like it here. It’s comfortable, the weather is not a factor and the coliseum crew does a good job of catering to the guests.”

While the facilities and location provide a certain amount of comfort to visitors, they offer no real advantage for the team, according to Rhodes.

“My point of view is that it doesn’t matter what type of set-up or cattle you have, you have certain things that you have to do at home or away,” he said. “I don’t look at it as a home-field advantage. You treat your rides and runs a certain way, and you should come out on top.”

WTC enters the rodeo with the men’s team in third place in the Southwest Conference behind West Texas A&M and Tarleton State University, while the women trail only TSU in the standings.

After a disappointing turn at the Odessa rodeo last week, Rhodes said he predicts the bull riders to have a good rodeo.

“I expect the bull riders to bounce back. They have done well both semesters,” he said. “Look at the five rodeos we’ve been to, and we’ve had just one bad one.”

Bull rider Tate Stratton is first in the conference in that event, according to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association rankings, while Hadley Hunting stands in fifth.

Jared Farley also is in the top 15, currently sitting at 12th.

Rhodes said his saddle bronc riders have been the stalwarts on his team the past five years.

“That’s one event I can count on. They did a good job at Odessa, but just didn’t have the horses to finish,” Rhodes stated. “But they didn’t let the stock affect their performances.”

Sam Spreadborough is in second place in conference in the event, while Guy Simanton stands in sixth.

Rhodes also said he was pleased with the work of his bareback riders, two of whom -- Clay Bunney and Jake Marshall -- are in the top six in the conference.

Tie-down roper Clay Long is in fifth place in the individual standings, as is steer wrestler Bruno Paoiella.

The women’s team is just 112 points off the pace for the top spot, and Rhodes indicated the team has yet to have its best performance as a unit.

“Our women’s team is really strong, we just haven’t had a strong rodeo,” he said. “They all haven’t hit at the same time. We’ve got the women who can do it, and it’s a credit to them that they are in second place.”

Barrel racer Sabrina Lay is blowing away the competition in her event, with a commanding 205-point lead over the next closest competitor.

“Sabrina is the hub,” Rhodes said. “She’s a unique situation, because she has one of the best horses, not just in college rodeo, but in the world. She rides so good that she take care of her deal.”

The coach also praised the work of Julie Jones, currently fifth in the individual goat-tying standings.

“I wouldn’t trade Julie for anyone in goat-tying. Julie is another Jill Childers. She’s that caliber -- she’s just got to have her rodeo,” the coach said, referring to WTC’s 1999 national champion goat-tier, who won the crown as a freshman. “The same goes for breakaway, and Erin (Anglin)and Jennifer (Weeding). We’ve got the women’s team to win the region.”

Rhodes said the toughest competition in the rodeo would come from West Texas A&M on the men’s side and Tarleton State in the women’s division.

Rhodes said he hopes this is the event where each of his hands has “their”rodeo. “We have to have everyone hit at the same time,” he said. “That’s what’s different about rodeo as a team sport -- it’s individuals competing in individual events. It’s about picking the right rider at the right time.”

The rodeo begins with the first-round performance at 7 p.m., followed by slack.

The event continues at 9:30 a.m. Friday with the Exceptional Rodeo, followed by slack at 1 p.m.

Performances pick up again at 7 p.m. Friday, with the short go performance scheduled for 7 Saturday night.