New Mexico State University Rodeo athlete Hayley Dalton-Estes competes in the goat tying event at the 10th Annual Mesalands Community College Rodeo in Tucumcari.
(NMSU photo by Savannah Montero)WRITER: Savannah Montero, 575-646-1614, smontero@nmsu.edu

Last weekend the New Mexico State University rodeo team headed north for the Mesalands college rodeo in Tucumcari.

New Mexico State University Rodeo athlete Baylee Johnston prepares to dismount her horse in the goat tying event at the 10th Annual Mesalands Community College Rodeo in Tucumcari.
(NMSU photo by Savannah Montero)New Mexico State University Rodeo team.
(NMSU photo by Shelby Herrera)The men's team placed fourth and the women's team placed third for the final rodeo of the season.

"You're either winning or learning and we've done a lot of both this semester," NMSU Rodeo Coach Logan Corbett said. "I'm excited to see how the student athletes use their time off this winter to better themselves."

Tyler Muth, junior of Murrieta, California, had a great semester of rodeo and finished first in the average in the steer wrestling for the weekend. He is leading the Grand Canyon region.

Anna Barker, senior of Rochester, Washington, made two quick runs resulting in a first-place finish in the barrel racing.

"My first couple of rodeos didn't go exactly how I wanted, but in Tucumcari I really just decided to trust Rios (Barker's horse) and let him work the way I used to," Barker said. "He ended up winning each round by over three tenths of a second. Trust is key! Blessed to own such a talented horse."

Cauy Pool, freshman of Klamath Falls, Oregon, rode two bucking horses, scored high, and finished first in the average for the bareback riding.

Justin Neill, freshman of Edgewood, New Mexico, won the bull riding event with an 82-point ride on the bucking bull Mano-y-Mano.

"It felt good to get one ride," Neill said. "I'm feeling healthy and good about my riding and was grateful to win. I am ready for the upcoming semester."

A freshman from Prescott, Arizona, Baylee Johnston received the women's all-around title for the weekend. Johnston split second in the long round in the goat tying with a 6.6 second run and took second in the barrel racing. Later qualifying for the short-go, she placed in both events and received average points.

The 2017 season has ended and the 2018 rodeo season will return in February.