SHSU Cowgirls And Cowboys Competing
In National Intercollegiate Rodeo Finals

Thirteen team members from SHSU qualified for the rodeo with strong performances in the regional competition. After the third day of competition, the women's team is in fifth place, only 70 points behind leader Western Texas College. The men are in a 42nd-place tie with Dickinson State University.

Leading the way for Sam Houston State for the women is Morgan Figueroa, who after three go-arounds in the barrel racing competition, is in third place with an average score of 43.51. For the men, Jarrod T. Senior is holding his own in the calf roping event sitting in third place and William Manahan is in eighth in the steer wrestling competition .

Other members competing for SHSU and their current standings are: Amanda Gamblin (30th, breakaway), Britt Walters (32nd, steer wrestling), Brooke Cranek (57th, breakaway), Chris Laslie (39th, calf roping), Julie Adams (25th, goat tying), Justin Macha (29th, calf roping), Kaci Riggs (18th, goat tying), Termaine DeBose (43rd, calf roping), William Scoggins (29th, team roping), and Yvan Jayne (26th, bearback). To qualify for the college finals, students must be first or second in the region or place in the top seven at the regional championships. The team from Sam Houston State University is coached by Roger Walters.

Not only do students compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships for their schools at the national finals, they also get national exposure from participating in an event that is televised through the ESPN sports network.

The NIRA is the governing body of college rodeo. It is divided into 11 regions with over 135 colleges and universities having a recognized rodeo organization on their campus. Many other colleges and universities who do not have rodeo clubs are represented by independent members. Members compete in approximately 10 rodeos a year trying to earn a trip to the College National Finals Rodeo.

Often dubbed the "Rose Bowl" of college rodeo, the College National Finals Rodeo hosts over 350 cowboys and cowgirls each year.

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SHSU Media Contact: Brandon Autrey
June 13, 2002
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