September 16, 1997
For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Willson, SID
505.562.4309 or 356-4755
(Portales, N.M.) --- The Eastern New Mexico University rodeo team will host the 1997 College Daze Rodeo on September 18-20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds. College Daze Rodeo is the first National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) event in the Southwest Region for the 1997-98 season. A record number of entries are expected to compete this weekend.
Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for children in advance. The ticket prices go up $1 at the gate. ENMU students get in free with a current ENMU I.D. activity sticker. There will be a dance following the championship finals on Saturday evening from 9:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. in the Armory Building at the fairgrounds. Cost of the dance is $4 with music provided by "The Chaser". Tickets are available through the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce, the ENMU Athletic Department and Rodeo Office.
Men's Team
The Greyhound rodeo team, under head coach Charles Chambers, is expected to make great strides this season and be among the top five teams in the Southwest Region. The major strength of the team is bull riding, with the addition of more rough stock and timed stock competitors bringing more balance to the program.
Bull riding...there are high expectations for this corp in 1997-98. Sophomore Felipe Aragon (Tome) finished his freshman season ranked third in the Southwest Region. He missed advancing to the National College Rodeo Finals by one place. Also returning for the new season are Ryan Grandi (So., Corrales), Craig Chavez (So., Peralta) and Tanner Trujillo (Fr.-RS, Los Alamos). Grandi finished third in bull riding at the 1996 ENMU College Daze Rodeo. Chavez rode well last season but suffered a groin pull late to keep him from finishing strong. Trujillo received a redshirt season in 1996-97, but was able to help out a lot at practice. All four had good summer competition on the professional and amateur rodeo circuit.
Bareback riding...will be up to sophomore Brad Long (Raton). Long has three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out of school for three years. He is recovering from a broken foot but is riding well in practice. Freshman Brandon White (Clovis) is scheduled to compete in the bareback competition this weekend. ENMU did not have any bareback riders last season.
Saddle bronc...White and freshmen Geoff Decker (Aztec) are scheduled to compete in the saddle bronc competition.
Calf roping...is expected to make vast improvements this season with sophomore Kris Westfall (Carlsbad) and Garrett Goodson (Portales) leading the way. Westfall stayed home in Carlsbad last season to strengthen his skills, especially his aggressiveness. Goodson spent the summer in south central Texas improving his technique and aggressiveness. Cody Morrow (Portales) is back for his senior year to round out the calf roping corp.
Steer wrestling...brings a pair of brothers to ENMU --- Ryan and Ross Pratt (Sr./Fr., Scott City, Kan.). Ryan transferred to ENMU from Colby Community College in Kansas where he was ranked third in the region in all-around. Ross, better known as "Spud", was a four-time qualifier to the National High School Finals in team roping and steer wrestling.
Team roping...will be a stronger category for ENMU with a lot of new team ropers. In addition to Ryan and Ross Pratt, there are six more team ropers. Garrett Goodson will team up with Jimmy Mardis (Jr., Muleshoe, Texas), then the two will split up to rope with competitors from Texas Tech, Goodson with Brett Thomas and Mardis with Jerry Cormin. Ryan Pratt will team up with Portales native Kurt Kiehne, who is competing for New Mexico Junior College this season, while Ross will team up with freshman Kyle Stamps (Clovis). Stamps will also compete with Vernon Regional Junior College's Clay Lewis (Clovis). Tanner Sparks (Fr., Portales) will pair up on different occasions with freshmen Marty Seely (Portales) and Kyle Rigsby (Portales).
Women's Team
The Zia rodeo team is also expected to make improvements this year with some new but familiar faces. ENMU will have a balanced team in all three areas of competition.
Barrel racing...will have four competitors this season. Junior transfer Brandi Curtis (Roswell) is expected to lead the way with a good, strong horse. Curtis had a good fall last year in the short-go. Portales native Jodi Seely will be competing in her first collegiate rodeo this weekend. Freshman Charisse Gerard (Gallup) will also be competing in college for the first time. She had a strong year as a senior in high school and has a good competition horse. Senior Jaylene Armstrong (Portales) rounds out the barrel racing corp.
Break-away roping...Jackie Bremner is back for her senior season. Bremner is expected to come through as one of the top break-away ropers on the team. She has been roping well in practice. Sophomore Jennifer Zeller (Flower Mound, Texas) has made improvements over last season. Expected to give some needed help is freshman Kelly Saiz (Flora Vista). Saiz finished her high school career first in the state of New Mexico, qualifying for the National High School Finals.
Goat tying...will also see Bremner, Saiz and Zeller in competition. Zeller was third in the Southwest Region after the first semester last year before she was declared academically ineligible for the spring. Saiz finished second in New Mexico high school competition as well as second in the state in all-around competition. Bremner will give some added support.
Quotes from Chambers
- on his teams - "Our team is more balanced this year than in past years. It's good to be able to compete in the rough stock events as well as solidly in the timed events."
- on the region - "Tarleton State is always tough. They will be in contention for nationals. West Texas A&M, Odessa College, and Western Texas College are always among the top programs in the region. I expect West Texas A&M and Texas Tech to be much improved with the addition of some quality competitors and new coaches."