SENATOBIA - College rodeo will make its return to north Mississippi next weekend, as Northwest Mississippi Community College prepares to host its annual Ranger Rodeo.
This year's event will take place from Thursday, April 24 through Saturday, April 26 at Lawrence "Bud" Young Arena, located at 10899 Highway 4 West in Senatobia. The three-day affair is once again scheduled to serve as the regular season finale of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association's Ozark Region, giving competitors one final chance to garner points to qualify for the College National Finals in Casper, Wyoming.
Main competition will begin at 7 P.M. each night, running from Thursday through Saturday. Advance tickets are on sale for $10 at
nwccrangers.com/tickets, but can also be purchased for $15 at the gate each night. Admission is free for children under six years old.
In the latest NIRA Ozark Region standings on April 15, Northwest was well-represented, currently sitting in fourth for the men's team standings with 2,860.50 team points. The Lady Rangers are also sixth in the region with 947 points.
Christian Cagle currently sits at third in the men's all-around standings with 1,108.50 points. The sophomore from Canton, Ga. is atop the steer wrestling standings with 675 points and also ranks seventh in saddle bronc riding with 248.5 team points. He is also eighth in tie-down roping with 185 total points.
Several other Rangers are well-represented in the region standings, including
Dakota Smith, who sits atop the bull riding standings with 400 points.
Luke Stanley is not far behind, ranking third with 260 points.
Will Collier is second in the steer wrestling standings, trailing only Cagle, while teammate
Kent Jordan is currently sixth.
Hank Burgess and
Tate Williams also rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in tie-down roping. Burgess holds 250 points on the season, with Williams sitting at 240 total points.
Sophomore
Delaney Naifeh is in the top 10 of two categoires, holding seventh place in goat tying (240 points) and eighth with 232 points.
Emily Fugate is eighth in breakaway roping with 175 points and
Darby Toole is 13th with 130 points. Toole is also currently 12th in barrel racing with 170 points on the season.
Mid-South Scaffolding is the presenting sponsor for this year's event. Other sponsors include BankFirst, Cornerstone Equine Veterinary Services, Ross Sod Farm, Mississippi Land Bank, NorthCentral Electric Cooperative, One Source Auto Glass, Prime Manufacturing, Cedar Gap Wealth Management, Town Creek Farm, Tate County Farm Bureau and Kirk Auto Group.
For more information about this year's event, contact Northwest rodeo coach
Will Lummus by email at wlummus@northwestms.edu.
