The dust was flying and 11 members of the New Mexico State University rodeo teams were riding, tying and roping last month in Casper, Wyo., during the College National Finals Rodeo or CNFR.

The CNFR is the culminating event of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association where individual and team championships are awarded.

NMSU rodeo team members Brandi Pfeifer and Cooper DeWitt were off to a winning start with Pfeifer sharing first place with another competitor in goat tying and DeWitt placing second in saddle bronc riding.

During the second round Trenton Montero found himself in second place in bull riding while DeWitt dropped to sixth place. During the third round the rodeo team members did not make up any ground and when it was time for the short round there were four NMSU Aggies left in the competition.

While they were unable to win any top titles, five NMSU rodeo team members did end up ranking within the top 20 places nationwide. Bo Simpson ranked seventh in tie-down roping; DeWitt ranked eighth in saddle bronc riding; Montero ranked twelfth in bull riding and eighteenth in bareback riding; Dixie Richards ranked twelfth in goat tying; Pfeifer ranked fifteenth in goat tying and Rodee Walraven ranked twentieth in team roping.

"All in all we had some outstanding performances at this year's CNR, we just had some difficulties closing," said NMSU rodeo coach Jim Brown. "I have every reason to be proud of our Aggie Rodeo team and look forward to this fall when our 2012-13 season starts."

Brown said he is optimistic for the future of NMSU's men's and women's rodeo teams and is proud of the team members' perseverance and positive attitude.

"Most all of our student rodeo athletes coming back to shoot for the National Titles in 2013," Brown said.