By: Justin Hargrove, Assistant Athletic Director
The Northeast Texas Community College Rodeo team headed to the first National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Southern Region Rodeo of the 2025-2026 year hosted by Panola College September 26-27.
Team Roping is one of the best events for the Eagles and NTCC had two teams place in the points in the Rodeo. The team of newcomers Henry Welch (Header) and Keaton Kellum (Heeler) placed fifth, while retuning National Finals Rodeo Contestants, Kelon Andrews (Header) and Hayden Sanders (Heeler) finished in sixth place to earn points for the Eagles. Andrews is looking to make his third straight trip to the CNFR this year and Sanders is looking for back to back trips as well.
In Steerwrestling, Clayton Jones narrowly missed out on a first-place finish when he made a 3.7 second run in the finals but broke the barrier for a 10 second penalty. Even with the penalty, Jones finished fourth due to another fast time in the long round prior.
On the women’s side Payton Barnes made the short go in Ladies Breakaway with a 2.8 second run in her first run of the season, but luck would not go her way in the finals and missed her calf.
Both teams will head south to the second Southern Region Rodeo hosted by Southwest Texas College in Uvalde, Texas October 4-6. NTCC host the third Rodeo for the Southern Region, October 9-11 at the Mount Pleasant Rodeo Association Arena.
NTCC competes in the Southern region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association with Hill College, Lamar University, Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Panola College, Sam Houston State University, Southwest Texas College, Texas A&M University, East Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Trinity Valley Community College, and Wharton County Junior College. The Eagles will compete in ten total College Rodeo’s in hopes of qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo.
The College National Finals Rodeo is held in Casper, Wyoming each summer. The CNFR is the best of the best in college rodeo. It is where the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association crowns individual event champions in saddle bronc riding, bare back riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, and goat tying. National team championships are also awarded to both men’s and women’s teams. Over 400 cowboys and cowgirls from over 100 universities and colleges compete in Casper each year. Contestants compete all year in one of the NIRA’s 13 regions for a chance to rope or ride at the CNFR.
