MARSHALL, Mo. – Following a successful 2019-20 campaign, Northwest rodeo coach Shelli Benton and the Rangers will open the fall portion of the 2020-21 Ozark Region schedule this weekend at the Viking Stampede in Marshall, Mo.

Hosted by Missouri Valley College, the event will begin on Thursday, Sept. 17 and run through Saturday evening, Sept. 19.

"We are excited to get the season underway," Benton said. "We have a good group of returning competitors that have been working hard all during the summer and they are itching to resume competition this weekend. We had a few qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo last season and although that event was unfortunately canceled because of COVID-19, our athletes are excited about the opportunity to earn a chance to qualify once again."

Several key competitors return for the Rangers, including sophomore bull rider Jacob Hodges. A native of Ripley, Hodges was declared the overall winner in bull riding for the Ozark Region last season and became the first Northwest rodeo athlete to qualify for the CNFR since Ben Cullum in 2014. Hodges also would have been only the fourth Northwest bull rider in program history to earn a trip to the national finals, joining Cullum, Virgil Alsup (1995) and Eddy Halfacre (1978).

Sophomore barrel racer Caroline Crawford also highlights the group of Ranger returners. Though she fell just short of qualifying for nationals, the Lambert native finished within the top five of the Ozark Region standings when the season was canceled and also won third place at the EMCC Rodeo in Meridian last February.

Team roping duo Brandon and Brennan Tomlinson also return for the Rangers, along with two-sport athletes Cody Dowell (barrel racing/breakaway) and Logan Tomlinson (barrel racing). Highlighting the incoming class of freshmen are Floresville, Texas native Cody Gilbert, Pinson, Tenn. barrel racer Gracen McClain and Tate County natives Anna Clair Johnston and Mary Gracin Johnston.

For updates on this weekend's competition, follow the Northwest rodeo program on Twitter (@NWCCRodeo). Full results will be posted on Monday to nwccrangers.com.