College rodeo to split Southwest Region in 2025-26

As the College National Finals Rodeo begins in Casper, Wyoming this week, the future of college rodeo beyond this year, and specifically for Weatherford College, saw a big change last week.

The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Board of Directors met June 12th and approved a proposal to split the Southwest Region into two regions. The Southwest Region is currently made up of schools with more than 800 competitors; this change will help to even the playing field, creating two regions of approximately 400 student-athletes, comparable to other regions in the NIRA.

Beginning in 2025-26, the Southwest Region will be split into the Cross Timbers and High Plains regions, with WC competing in the Cross Timbers with Angelo State University, Cisco College, North Central Texas College, Ranger College, Sul Ross State University, Tarleton State University, Texas Christian University and Vernon College.

The new High Plains Region will be made up of Clarendon College, Eastern New Mexico University, Frank Phillips College, Howard College, New Mexico Junior College, Odessa College, South Plains College, Texas Tech University, West Texas A&M University and Western Texas College.

That means WC will no longer have annual trips to Portales, New Mexico; Lubbock, Odessa, Snyder, Clarendon, Big Spring and other long trips for their regular season rodeos.

"One of the biggest reasons for the split was for the safety of our students and animals, along with the huge cost of producing rodeos with over 800 kids," said Johnny Emmons, WC's head rodeo coach. "Now we are back down to 400 students, way more manageable and affordable, less travel, less time away from class, and a little more representation at CNFR."

The change will also mean WC will host an annual NIRA rodeo, tentatively scheduled for mid-October.

"I believe our region will still be the toughest in the nation, just not as big," Emmons said.