Rowdy Sanders and Raelyn Gardner to Compete at College National Finals Rodeo

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University rodeo athletes Rowdy Sanders (Sr., Whiteface, TX/South Plains College) and Raelyn Gardner (So., Lovington, NM/Lovington HS) will be competing next week at the 2006 College National Finals Rodeo. The CNFR is set for June 11-17 in Casper, Wyo. Sanders will compete in bull riding and Gardner will participate in break-away roping.

Rodeo athletes had to conclude the regular season ranked among the top three finishers in an event within their Region in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association in order to qualify for the National Finals. ENMU competes in the Southwest Region, which is generally considered one of the top two regions in the NIRA. Gardner won the Southwest Region title in break-away roping, while Sanders finished in second place in bull riding.

Gardner scored a total of 400 points during the season to claim the break-away roping title with a 30-point victory over Jamie Anne Mader of Tarleton State University. Sanders scored 565 points during the year to battle for the Southwest Region championship. He ended the season just 15 points behind Regional champion Justin McDaniel of Vernon College. Points were awarded for top finishes in the short go, the long go and the average at every rodeo on the Southwest Region regular season schedule.

Gardner and Sanders helped Eastern’s rodeo teams place in the Top 10 of the Southwest Region. The ENMU women’s team claimed third place with 1,433.33 points, as the Zias trailed only Vernon with 2,050 points and Tarleton State with 1,630 points. The ENMU men’s team finished in seventh place with 2,019.99 points. West Texas A&M University won the men’s Southwest Region title with 3,283.33 points, as the Buffaloes edged Tarleton State (3,258.33) and Texas Tech University (3,244.16).

At the CNFR, Gardner is scheduled to compete in the first go on Sunday, June 11 during the matinee performance between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. MST. She will be the 15th competitor in break-away roping. Gardner will return to action in the second go as part of the morning slack on Tuesday, June 13, starting at 7 a.m. MST. She will be the 30th competitior during the second go.

The third go will include Gardner during the performance on Thursday, June 15, starting at 7 p.m. MST. She will be the 28th break-away roper in the third go.

Sanders and other bull riders will be notified of the order of competition in the first go following the position draw on Friday, June. 9. Both sessions of the first go are set for Sunday, June 11, with action from 1 p.m. through 3 p.m. MST and from 4 p.m. through 6 p.m. MST. Sanders also is set to compete in the second go during slack on Tuesday, June 13, as part of the session starting at 7 a.m. His ride in the third go will be on Thursday, June 15, during the performance at 7 p.m. MST. He will be the 22nd bull rider in the second go and the 20th bull rider during the third go.

A total of 44 break-away ropers and 35 bull riders are slated to compete during the CNFR. Following the first go on Sunday, June 11, the second go will last from Monday, June 12 through Tuesday, June 13. The third go extends from Tuesday, June 13 through Friday, June 16. The championship round for all events will be held on Saturday, June 17.