Ranger rodeo enters national standings
Credit: NWCC Sports Information
The Northwest Mississippi Community College men’s rodeo team moved into second place in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s Ozark Region following the team’s outstanding performance during the Racer Roundup College Rodeo held at Murray State University (Ky.) last weekend. The news got even better for the Rangers this week as it was announced they have moved into the top 25 teams nationally based on points gained during the fall semester. The Rangers end the semester ranked #17 among all teams nationally.
The Rangers will enter the spring with 2,055 points, good for second in the region behind Missouri Valley College. Missouri Valley also leads all schools nationally with 3610 points. Northwest’s score was good enough to outpace the third place squad, University of West Alabama, by 15 points at the break.
Northwest’s efforts were led by Christian Cagle, who gained enough points in Saddle Bronc Riding (330) and Steer Wrestling (320) to move into second place in the Ozark’s All Around category with 650 points. Cagle trails only Ty Pope, of Missouri Valley, whose 1,390 total points is good enough to lead the nation at the break. Cagle’s total is good enough to land him in the number nine overall spot nationally. His Saddle Bronc total places him fourth in the region behind Pope’s 675 and his Steer Wrestling scores place him second regionally behind Garrett Leatherman of Three Rivers College (Mo.). His Steer Wrestling total is also good enough to land him in the 20th position nationally.
Cagle is hardly alone amongst his teammates in the points chase, though.
Sophomore Bull Rider Luke Stanley is currently tied for the region lead with 330 points. He stands toe-to-toe with Collin Craig of Three Rivers going into the break, and, at number 10, is within striking distance of the University of Montana Western’s Gavin Knutson and his 470 points nationally.
Steer Wrestling has become a team strength of the Rangers-no surprise due to the specialty of the head coach, and world-ranked steer wrestler, Will Lummus. Cagle’s 320 points place him just ahead of #4 Kent Jordan (275), a two-way tie at #5 between Wyatt Newman (265) and Will Collier (265), #9 Laine Moore (190), and 10th-ranked Hank Burgess (140) in the region standings.
Burgess (#5/200 points) and Moore (#10/130 points) have picked up valuable points for their team in Tie Down Roping, and both are within reach of the Ozark’s leader, Blayne Saine (330) of the University of West Alabama.
Moore, currently 4th regionally as a Team Roping Header with 260 points, looks to keep pace with Cooper Cowan of the University of West Alabama, who leads the region and the nation with 555 points.
The University of West Alabama (2040) and Three Rivers College (1765) are the other Ozark Region programs who rank nationally at the break at #19 and #25, respectively.
Head Coach Will Lummus’ squad will resume action in the spring semester, March 14-16, at the East Mississippi Rodeo held annually at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center in Meridian.
