NMSU Women Sweep Events in Home Rodeo Win

LAS CRUCES-New Mexico State University's women's rodeo team showed their talent for “turning and burning” as they swept the top four places in barrel racing to win a homecoming rodeo at the Southern New Mexico Fairgrounds.

The NMSU women solidified their first-place standing in the Grand Canyon Region. They also took first place in goat tying and breakaway roping at the Oct. 30 rodeo.

The NMSU men, who finished second, held on to their second-place regional standing. “The guys really picked it up this weekend,” said coach Jim Dewey Brown, who was pleased with the women’s success and team’s improvement.

Wylene Penrod of Laveen, Ariz., led the barrel racers, followed by Meghan Jo Frie of Virden; Chelsee Byerley of Gallup; and Casey Talbot of Malaga.

MegAnne Casey, the winner in breakaway roping, and Kayla Weiss, first in goat tying, are both NMSU recruits from Great Falls, Mont.

The Aggie men turned in solid results in team roping. NMSU’s Kody Gentry of Dell City, Texas, teamed with Rene Rodriguez of the University of Arizona to win the competition. The NMSU team of Dusty Penrod of Thatcher, Ariz., and Nate Mortenson of Virden were third. Fourth place went to the NMSU team of Bode Baize of Anthony and Ty Trammell of Alamogordo.

In bareback riding, junior Clay Houston of Seminole, Texas, had two good rides and outscored all other competitors for first place. Houston is a transfer from Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari.

Calf roper Wacey Walraven of Datil took second place for the Aggies. Bullrider Daren Albrecht of Veyo, Utah, was third.

The home rodeo wrapped up collegiate competition in the Grand Canyon region until spring.