WC hosts Intercollegiate Rodeo March 1-3

Weatherford College is presenting its National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Rodeo Thursday through Saturday, March 1-3, at the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds.  The event will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
 
“This is a great recruiting tool for our rodeo team,” said Mike Brown, WC head rodeo coach.  “It increases the awareness of our program and the level of competition for our athletes.”  
 
Five universities and 10 community colleges will be sending teams to the WC Rodeo. Participating universities will include Eastern New Mexico, Sul Ross, Tarleton State, Texas Tech and West Texas A&M.  Two-year colleges include Clarendon, Frank Phillips, Howard, New Mexico, Odessa, Ranger, South Plains, Vernon, Weatherford, and Western Texas.
 
“This rodeo is going to demonstrate great local support for our program,” Brown said.  “A lot of Parker County businesses and individuals have helped us prepare for this, and our faculty, staff and students will be involved during the event.”
 
Athletes will compete in bareback riding, bull riding, tie down roping, saddle bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, goat tying and breakaway roping.
 
The event is the first of the spring semester for the NIRA Southwest region. The current regional standings place the WC women’s team in second place and the men’s team in ninth. WC’s Savannah Todd leads the women’s All-Around standings and WC has the top three in breakaway roping:  Cierra Kunesh in first place, Todd in second, and Brooke Sully in third.
 
Tickets are $5 at the gate for adults; children under 10 are free.  For more information, call 817-598-6280.