In West Texas, it is not hard to find a cowboy. But finding one who actually rides may be a different story.

 
The South Plains College Rodeo Team, full of real cowboys and cowgirls, practices every day at 3 p.m. to prepare for the up-coming rodeo season.

The team will attend four rodeos this fall and six more in the spring. The season began on Sept. 16 at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, N.M. From Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, the team will be at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, before traveling to Vernon College in Vernon, Texas on Oct. 7 – Oct. 9. The final rodeo of the fall semester is at Texas Tech University from Nov. 18 – Nov 20.

“College rodeo is like preparation for professional rodeo,” said Josh Crow, coach of the SPC Rodeo Team.

While the entire team will go to each competition, only six men and four women will ride. The over-all top three riders will go on to compete in the College National Finals Rodeo, the biggest competition of the year, representing 99 regions from across the country. This year, the CNFR is June 12 – June 18 in Casper, Wyo. Those who win at this level are the best in the United States.
Most riders submit videos to Crow to get on the ream, but some are personally scouted. Crow said the team as high expectations, so riders must be very good at what they do.

Dustin Pool, a freshman animal science major from Canyon, will compete in calf roping and team roping,

“I’ve been roping since I could pick up a rope,” Pool said.

The coolest thing he has seen at a rodeo was when Clay O’Brian Cooper, a professional team roper, finished first at the national finals despite a broken rope. Though Pool has had several injuries, he said the most damaging was when a horse rolled over him. He broke two of his ribs and ruptured his spleen, which had to be removed.

Among the newcomers is Jenna Ericcson, a freshman engineering major from Alberta, Canada, who competes in barrel racing, goat tying, and breakaway calf roping. Ericcson said her worst injury was when she jumped off her horse wrong and rolled her ankle.

Sophomore Stephanie Smith from Eunice, N.M., who placed 11th in breakaway roping at the 2004 College National Finals Rodeo, is among the top returnees.

Others back in the saddle this season are Kyle Anderson from Decatur, Niki Bacon from East Rochester, Ohio, Brooklyn Chester from Carlsbad, N.M., Brad Combs from Artesia, N.M., Matthew Cramblet from New Home, Kelsey Garrison from Channing, Zane Hankel from Alberta, Canada, and Wendy Brooks from Welch.

Those new to the team this year are Chance Butterfield from Alberta, Canada, James Lockhart from Georgetown, Jenna Lucero from Grants, N.M., Drew Mahaffey from Georgetown, Jake Mitchell from Borger, Sterling Via from Muleshoe, Casey Westra from Alberta, Canada, Tony Byers from Lubbock, Shawn Gray from Lubbock, Taylor Ward from Hereford, Blade Ward from Hereford, and Cody Heck from Perryton.

“This is the best bunch we’ve had since we started in 2001,” said Crow.

He expects good things from this group.