WC rodeo looks to break new ground in new season

There is an old expression that only two things in life are certain, death and taxes.

Maybe it's time we expanded that statement to include another certainty - Weatherford College being represented at the College National Finals Rodeo.

WC has been a fixture since 2005 at the annual event in Casper, Wyoming to crown the best in college rodeo - except for 2020, when there was no rodeo because of COVID-19.

"I think it is very significant," WC head coach Johnny Emmons said of the streak. "I really noticed that a lot this year in particular. We have a great reputation, the word is out WC is the place to be for college rodeo - and when you can consistently win, I think that draws other great athletes to our program."

WC's women won a team national championship in 2022 - the only team national title in the history of WC sports. They also qualified in 2021 and the men qualified their entire team in 2014.

About the only thing WC has not done is send complete men's and women's teams to the CNFR in the same year. While that is a daunting task for any program, Emmons believes this could be the year his program has its best chance.

"Knock on wood. I think we have an outstanding and very strong team all across the board in every event," he said.

Top returners for the Lady Coyotes/Coyotes include:

*Reigning national reserve champion goat tyer (runner-up) Jacee Graff.

*Jett Stewart, former CNFR qualifier in team roping.

*Kaydence Tindall former CNFR qualifier in breakaway roping.

Also, they have the addition of Brent Applegarth in bareback riding, a 2023 CNFR qualifier for College of Southern Idaho.

Others Emmons said he is expecting big things from are:

*Mitchie Story, who is leading the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Mountain Circuit in saddle bronc riding this year.

*Jase Stout in saddle bronc.

*Mecate Trammell in bull riding.

*A host of team ropers in Beldon Cox, Catcher Gasperson, Brock Rouse, Conley Kleinhans, Dalton and Clayton Huston.

*Tiedown and team ropers Lane Webb, Pax Vogel, Zane Rampey and Cash Fuesz. *Jake Shelton in steer wrestling.

"They have all been out winning at the pro rodeos this summer," Emmons said.

Other top men returners who earned points last year include Mason Stueve, Colby Holt, Ryan Gorham, and Hunter Helton. Also among the top returners for the women are Courtney Carbajal, Kynlee Stevens, Brooke Crenshaw, Ainslee Philippi, Kelsey Kennedy, Payton Andrus, and Jymie Adamson and Landry Wren, who all garnered points last season.

The class of newcomers includes reigning national champion barrel racer Acey Pinkson, who won the title last year for Southwest Texas Junior College. 

Also transferring in from Southwest Texas College was former national champion team roper Slade Wood; along with Shane Scott, a CNFR qualifier in bull riding for WTC last season. They are joined by last year's reserve national champion team roping - heeler Jeryn Ellerd from Howard College.

Other top transfer students who all won points last year are Emily Ward (Cisco), Bryce Bunting (Ranger), Claire Dale (Vernon), Handy Lieuallen (Howard), Blake Masden (Walla Walla Community College in Washington), Maylee McCrary (Texas Tech), Rylee Strickland (Texas Tech), Hayden Stump (Northeast Texas Community College), Carson Watford (Ranger).

Emmons said all of the transfers are at WC working on their bachelor's degrees.

Top freshman recruits for the Coyotes include high school champions Chizm Kuykendall (Oklahoma), Brock Borkman (Arizona), R.J. Johnson (Utah), all-around cowboy Tryan Hurley (California), Trigger Ladd (Oklahoma). The freshman men's class also includes Noah Lee, (son of Professional Bull Riders world champion Mike Lee), Wyatt Nuce (son of PRCA world champ bull rider Ted Nuce).

In addition, male freshmen recruits feature Denton Parrish, North Texas high champion Wyatt Tate, along with Logan Robertson, Hayden Hughes, and Cash Evans.

Among the top freshmen recruits for the Lady Coyotes are high school champions Alexis Hutchings (Idaho), Gentry Goza (Colorado), Dallas Jo Keenan (Arizona), Hannah Leatherwood (Florida), Carolina Sanchez (Florida), Roxy Waring (Florida), Breeley Armes (Texas), Abby Goldman (Texas), Kinley Shook (Texas) and Kacey Bass (Texas).

The newcomers list also has California standouts Charli Herber and Biliegh Jernigan, Brooke McCormick of Pennsylvania, along with local talent in Addison Byars, Kourtni Cecil, Caitlyn Colley, Lily DeWitt, Bayley McNutt, Madison Napier, Hevenli Scribner, Ainslee Sterling, and Kennedy Thumann.

WC is competing in a new region this year, the Lone Star Region, as the Southwest Region was broken up into two areas, the Lone Star and the Caprock regions.

"We had to do something, and thank goodness we did, because this year the Lone Star Region has over 600 runs, while the Caprock region has over 550 runs at each rodeo," Emmons said. "Last year with the two combined as the Southwest Region we had gotten up to 860 runs per weekend, now that would be over 1150 runs this year if we had not split up. That would be nearly impossible to do over a three day period.

"I am looking forward to the new Lone Star Region, a little less travel, less time at the rodeos, but, our region is still going to be the toughest region in my opinion."

As a result of the split, the Coyotes will host their own annual rodeo. The first is Oct. 9-11.

"We are excited and looking forward to putting on our own rodeo each year," Emmons said. "It gives our hometown, and our school a chance to see our team compete here locally."

WC opens the season Sept. 25-27 at the Sul Ross State University Rodeo in Alpine. They will then compete at the Cisco College Rodeo in Abilene Oct. 3-4 before coming home for their own event at the Parker County Sheriff's Posse Arena.