The newly formed Lone Star Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association hosted its first Fort Worth rodeo inside historic Will Rogers Coliseum. Tarleton State swept both team titles with five individual champions.
While the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo took over Dickies Arena, another piece of rodeo history was unfolding just across the grounds in the Will Rogers Colesium.
For the first time, the Lone Star Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) hosted a Fort Worth college rodeo inside Will Rogers. This is the same arena that once served as home to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo before the building of Dickies Arena.
This year also marks the first season since the former Southwest Region split into two, creating the Lone Star Region and the Caprock Region. The restructuring reshaped the competitive landscape in Texas, but the mission remains the same for each team and each individual. The goal is to earn points throughout the season and qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo.
Competing inside a building that holds generations of rodeo history added something special to every ride and every run. Tarleton State handled it just like a program built for the big stages.
Tarleton State claimed both the men’s and women’s team titles in Fort Worth and continues to lead the Lone Star Region standings on both sides.
Even more impressive, the Texans captured five individual event championships out of nine events. The purple vests dominated once again.
Tarleton’s Devon Moore delivered one of the strongest performances of the weekend. He posted an 84.5 in the long round and followed it with an 87.5 in the short round to complete a clean sweep and secure the average win.
Tarleton cowboys claimed the top five spots in the bareback riding.
Sul Ross State University’s Cameron Haumea took control of the steer wrestling. Haumea turned in matching 3.6-second runs to win the average by nearly two seconds.
The breakaway roping ended in a tie at the top between two Tarleton cowgirls. Jenna Fulton and Emilee Charlesworth each ended with a 4.8 second average on two head to share the top spot.
Angelo State University’s Sam Lewis was picture perfect in the tie-down roping. He stopped the clock at 8.3 seconds in both rounds to secure the average title with back to back identical runs.
Tarleton was back on top in the saddle bronc riding. Devon Hay scored 82 points in the long round and 77 in the short round to win the average. Just like in the bareback riding, Tarleton cowboys filled the leaderboard, taking first through fifth. This sure goes to show that iron truly does sharpen iron.
Freshman standout Faith Lundberg continued Tarleton’s momentum in the goat tying. Lundberg clocked a 6.4 in the long round and improved to a 6.2 in the short round to win the average, helping her Lonestar region standings lead.
Weatherford College cowgirl Emily Ward took the barrel racing title with runs of 16.81 and 16.70 to win the average.
Ranger College’s Paycus Raulston and Duke Norby captured the team roping title with an 11.7-second time on two head.
Tarleton closed the weekend strong in the bull riding. Zane Monnett went two for two, scoring 81 points in the long round and 79.5 in the short round to secure the average win.
Hosting the inaugural Fort Worth rodeo inside Will Rogers Coliseum felt significant for the Lone Star Region. It connected college rodeo athletes to a piece of Texas rodeo history while also signaling a new chapter for the region itself.
Tarleton State has every intention of writing the next chapter. Regardless of the region, or the arena, Tarleton is still unstoppable. They did it once again in an arena that has crowned many champions before them.