SENATOBIA - In his first season as the Northwest rodeo coach, Will Lummus has a qualifier for the College National Finals Rodeo.

Sophomore bull rider Colby Burgess has finished in the top three of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association's Ozark Region standings, clinching a spot in the CNFR. The Houlka native was tied for first entering this past weekend's Ranger Rodeo, and logged a second place finish to end the season, collectiong 330 total points.

Burgess is the Rangers' first College National Finals Rodeo participant since bull rider Ben Cullum qualified in 2014. However, former Northwest bull rider Jacob Hodges and team roper Cade Cowan were atop the Ozark Region standings in 2020 when the season was paused due to COVID-19. The duo would have qualified for the CNFR after finishing first and third, respectively, but the CNFR was canceled due to the pandemic.

Burgess is the first CNFR qualifier for first-year head coach and professional steer wrestler Will Lummus. The event will take place from June 11-17 at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyo., with coverage airing on ESPN3.

As for the rest of the Ranger Rodeo, the Northwest men's team tied for a seventh-place finish with Murray State, with both teams collecting 50 points. David Holt placed fourth in team roping, tying with Clay Livengood of West Alabama. The Lady Rangers did not place.

With the 2022-23 regular season now in the books, Northwest finishes 10th in the men's standings with 600 total points, while the Lady Rangers finished the season in eighth, logging 275 points. Individually, Luke Stanley finished sixth for the Rangers in bull riding, collecting 185 points, while Holt placed 12th in tie-down roping with 220 season points.

In barrel racing, freshman Darby Toole concluded her season with 140 total points, finishing in the top 15 of the Ozark Region standings.