Freshman Tanner Edwards, a member of the New Mexico State rodeo team, rides a bucking bronc during practice. He is one of 12 NMSU students set to compete at the College National Finals Rodeo June 9-15. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)

With the New Mexico State University rodeo teams regular season concluded, preparations have been in progress for the College National Finals Rodeo that will be June 9-15 in Casper, Wyoming.

Both NMSU’s men’s and women’s teams finished second in the Grand Canyon region this season, qualifying them for the CNFR.

The men’s team will consistent of graduate student Dylan Riggins, junior Nick Clark, junior Derek Runyan, sophomore Justin Neil, sophomore Trevor Scott and freshman Tanner Edwards.  

The women’s team will include junior Beth Shofner, sophomore Bailey Johnston, freshman Abbie Shofner, freshman Amy Bowditch, freshman Jade Wamal and freshman Kaitlyn Harwell.

“Really anything’s possible up there,” said rodeo head coach Logan Corbett. “It’s really hard to predict because what you’re going to see there is the best student-athletes in college rodeo from across the country.”

In college rodeo, the men’s team has six individuals compete for points, and the women’s team has four. Since the NMSU men’s team has six members going to the CNFR, all of their points will count for the team score.

The women’s team works a little differently. The NMSU women’s team also will have six individuals attending the CNFR, however, Corbett chooses only four for points. All six women will compete, but only the four selected will have their personal points count for the team score.

Every individual competes in three rounds of their event and then their individual points from each round are averaged to produce an overall personal score. On the last day of the rodeo, the top 10 average scorers in each event are invited to compete in one last round. National champions are then selected based on this final performance.

NMSU has made several appearances at the CNFR in recent years but has not had a national champion since 2008. This will be Corbett’s fourth time taking a team to the CNFR.

“I have been excited about teams that I have taken to the college finals before,” he said. “I have never felt as confident about a team as I do about this one.”

The CNFR will be featured in a delayed broadcast on ESPNU later this summer.

For more information on the NMSU rodeo team, contact Corbett at 575-646-3659 or lcorbett@nmsu.edu.