New Mexico State University Rodeo athletes Trevor Scott, left, and Bethanie Shofner compete in the team roping event at the Douglas, Arizona, college rodeo. (NMSU photo by Savannah Montero)WRITER: Savannah Montero, 575-646-1614, smontero@nmsu.edu

Hot, dry, windy weather, faces covered in dirt, and the New Mexico State University rodeo team still came out with a bang.

New Mexico State University Rodeo athlete Anna Barker rides her horse in the barrel racing event at the Douglas, Arizona, college rodeo. (NMSU photo by Savannah Montero)New Mexico State University Rodeo athlete Karley Deforest rides her horse in the barrel racing event at the Douglas, Arizona, college rodeo. (NMSU photo by Savannah Montero)At the Cochise College rodeo in Douglas, Arizona, Sept. 22-23, the men's team finished first overall and the women's team placed second. The Aggies had multiple event average winners for the weekend.

Assistant Rodeo Coach Oobie Hawkes was asked at the rodeo about how the team was doing.

"I just want the kids to go to College Finals and do the best that they can at every college rodeo," Hawkes said. "We have done well so far at the Cochise rodeo. We are placing in just about everything. It's just a matter of the student athletes getting their minds right in order to match their talent."

Derek Runyan, sophomore of Silver City, New Mexico, won the average for the tie-down roping event.

"Ultimately winning is not my goal, but more of a desirable result of not just going to practice to win at the rodeo," Runyan said. "Instead I have been practicing to make myself better. So, my goal at every rodeo is to go rope every calf and tie them down without any mistakes and that's what I have been working on."

Ty Ballard, freshman of Fort Sumner, New Mexico, ended up first for the weekend in the saddle bronc riding.

Hayley Dalton-Estes, sophomore of Las Vegas, Nevada, finished first in the goat tying event after completing two quick runs.

"It felt good to put a couple of solid runs together, especially since I'm riding a different horse this year in the goats," Dalton-Estes said.

Wyatt Jurney, senior of Las Cruces, won the steer wrestling event. Jurney was asked last Saturday about his outlook on rodeo, along with his placing so far in Douglas.

"You have to look at life and rodeo the same. If you're not having fun with rodeo, then there is no reason to do it, so have fun, try your best and do the best that you can, and that's what it's all about," Jurney said. "I won fourth today. I should have ridden my horse better, but we are headed to the short-go and we are blessed. That is all that matters."

The next college rodeo will be held in Las Cruces, Thursday and Friday Sept. 28-29.

For more information contact Logan Corbett at lcorbett@nmsu.edu.