The purple vests at Tarleton State Rodeo are once again setting the pace in college rodeo. After back-to-back national championships for the men’s team and consecutive reserve national titles for the women’s team, the Texans have carried that same winning energy into the newly formed Lonestar Region, and they’re dominating. 

Last season, Tarleton swept the Southwest Region, winning both men’s and women’s team titles. Then came the region split. In the Lonestar Region’s debut year, Tarleton has picked up right where it left off. Through the first three rodeos of the fall, Tarleton sits comfortably atop both the men’s and women’s team standings, showing once again that the road to the College National Finals Rodeo runs through Stephenville, Texas. 

The fall season kicked off in Alpine, Texas, at Sul Ross State University, where the Tarleton men claimed the team championship and the women finished reserve. A week later at Cisco College’s Abilene Rodeo, the story was the same. Then came the inaugural Weatherford college rodeo, and Tarleton swept both team titles and claimed an impressive seven of nine individual event championships too, marking the most dominant weekends yet. 

Leading the charge for the men’s side of things is Taylon Carmody, who’s riding big momentum in the bareback riding standings. Carmody’s back-to-back average wins in Abilene and Weatherford have given him a commanding lead. In saddle bronc riding, the competition is tight with last year’s region champion, Waitley Sharon sits second, with a lineup of talented Tarleton teammates holding positions three through seven too. 

In the tie-down roping, Brody Clemons is leading the pack and Tarleton teammate Travis Staley is close behind. Kreece Dearing continues to show dominance in steer wrestling, holding the top spot as the fall run continues.

On the women’s side, freshman Faith Lundberg has wasted no time making her mark in college rodeo, leading the goat tying standings in her first collegiate season. Meanwhile, Kaylie Garza follows close behind. In the barrel racing, Maci McDonald’s consistency has kept her solid, currently in second. In the breakaway roping, Jenna Fulton jumped to second place after a standout performance in Weatherford taking the title. 

From seasoned champions to standout freshmen, Tarleton’s team continues to prove itself as the best. The purple vests are not only defending a legacy, they’re building on it, year after year, national title after national title. The message is clear, that winners win, and Tarleton Rodeo wins. The new region marks a new chapter in college rodeo, but the Tarleton story remains the same — building on their winning tradition with no sign of slowing down.