The New Mexico State University rodeo team dominated the competition for the second weekend in a row at the University of Arizona National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) rodeo held March 1-2 in Tucson, Ariz.

“The NMSU Rodeo team is on fire right now. We are taking each rodeo head on and breaking away from the competition to establish comfortable leads in some events and the team races. We just need to continue with our successes and keep practicing until the season is over,” said Jim Dewey Brown, NMSU rodeo coach.

After two winning weekends, the women’s team is ranked first and the men’s team is ranked sixth nationally by the NIRA. NMSU cowgirls Staci Stanbrough, of Capitan, N.M., and Brittany Striegel, of Aztec, N.M., are individually ranked first and third, respectively, in the women’s all-around.

In the breakaway roping event, Sealee Walraven, of Farmington, N.M., won first, with Kayla Goode, of Montrose, Colo., and Bailey Gow, of Roseburg, Ore., tying for second.

Kelsi Elkins, of Aztec, N.M., placed second in the barrel racing. Laura Baeza, of El Paso, Texas, placed third.

Striegel placed first in the goat tying event, followed by Julie Etchegaray, of Eureka, Nev., and Brooklyn Chester, of Carlsbad, N.M.

In the bareback riding, Travis Ottney, of Hereford, Ariz., tied for first place. Clay Geronimo, of Mescalero, N.M., received third.

Camp Verde, Ariz., native Olan Borg won first in the saddle bronc riding event, with teammate Dean Daly, of Belen, N.M., placing third.

Wyatt Althoff, of Gilbert, Ariz., placed second in the tie-down roping, and Tanner Robinson, of Mesilla Park, N.M., placed first in the steer wrestling.

The team of Althoff and Aaron Moyers, of Moriarty, N.M., won first in the team roping. Daniel Scalva, of Durango, Colo., and Johnny Salvo, of Datil, N.M., placed second, with Tony Steele, of Alamo, Nev., and Casey Felton, of Fallon, Nev., finishing third.

Althoff was named the men’s all-around champion and Striegel was named the women’s all-around champion for the weekend.

The next rodeo will be held March 8-9 at Central Arizona College in Florence, Ariz.

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Photo is available at
http://ucommphoto.nmsu.edu/newsphoto/rodeo_striegel_brittany.jpg
CUTLINE:  University of Arizona National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Rodeo women’s all-around champion and New Mexico State University athlete Brittany Striegel, of Aztec, N.M. (NMSU photo by J. Victor Espinoza)

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Photo is available at
http://ucommphoto.nmsu.edu/newsphoto/althoff_wyatt.jpg
CUTLINE:  University of Arizona National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Rodeo men’s all-around champion and New Mexico State University athlete Wyatt Althoff, of Gilbert, Ariz. (NMSU photo by J. Victor Espinoza)

Margaret Kovar
March 7, 2008

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