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Hill College Men’s Rodeo Team named Southern Region Reserve Champions and one from Women’s Rodeo Team heading to College National Finals Rodeo in June

04.27.17

HILLSBORO, TEXAS---Hill College Men’s Rodeo Team was named NIRA (National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association) Southern Region Reserved Champions at their last rodeo of the season at Wharton Junior College, only 500 points behind Sam Houston State University. The Women’s Rodeo team ended the season in fifth place.

John Douch, a sophomore from Huntsville, was named the Region’s All-Around Champion winning the Calf Roping event and placing fifth in the year-end Steer Wrestling standings. Tanner Fleet, a freshman from Axtel was fourth in the All-Around standings, ending the year 10th in Tie-down Roping and 11th in Steer Wrestling. Cole Melancon, a sophomore from Liberty, was named the Region’s Champion Bull Rider, and Ezkiel Mitchell, a freshman from Baytown, was named the year-end Reserved Champion Bull Rider. Cooper Mathews, a freshman of Cleburne, was named the Region’s Reserve Champion Calf Roper.

Hill College dominated the Tie-down Roping in the region with six spots in the top 15 standings. Douch was named the Regional Champion. Mathews was named Reserved Champion and Bo Picket, a sophomore of Caldwell, Idaho, was third, Reno Gonzales, a sophomore of Magnolia was fifth and Cooper Martin, a sophomore of Alva, Kan., was sixth and Tanner Fleet was 10th. In the Steer Wrestling event, Douch ended up fifth in the standings with Fleet placing 11th and Preston Westpahl, a freshman of Mansfield, was 14th.

Jarrod Lee, a freshman from Stephenville, and Logan Decker a freshman from Burleson, ended the year in sixth and seventh place in Saddle Bronc Riding. Wyatt Gleeson, a freshman from Alberta, Canada, was eighth in the year-end Bareback Riding event.

In the Team Roping event Forest Fisher, a sophomore from Covington, finished 12th in the heading standings and Clay Sieber, a sophomore from Troup, was fourth in the heeling, and Gonzales was 13th.

For the Women’s Rodeo Team, Brooke Jordan, a freshman from Covington, finished third in the Region in Breakaway Roping and Cierra Doyal, a freshman from Durant, Okla., placed seventh in the year-end standings.

Hill College will take a full team of six from the men’s team and one from the women’s team to the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyo. June 11-17. Men’s rodeo team athletes competing at the CNFR are; John Douch in calf roping and steer wrestling, Cole Melancon and Ezkiel Mitchell in bull riding, Cooper Mathews, Bo Picket and Reno Gonzales in calf roping. Brooke Jordan will represent the Hill College Women’s Rodeo Team and will compete at the CNFR in breakaway roping.

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Photo Cutlines L to R:

Dr. Al Waggoner, NIRA Southern Region Faculty Director from Texas A & M, with John Douch, Hill College sophomore from Huntsville, with All-Around trophy saddle; NIRA Southern Region Student Director KL Spratt, from Sam Houston State University; and Hill College Rodeo Coach and Athletic Director Paul Brown.

Dr. Al Waggoner, NIRA Southern Region Faculty Director from Texas A & M with Cooper Mathew, Hill College freshman from Cleburne, Southern Region Reserved Champion Calf Roper with trophy buckle and NIRA Southern Region Student Director KL Spratt of Sam Houston State University.

Dr. Al Waggoner, NIRA Southern Region Faculty Director from Texas A & M, with Cole Melancon, Hill College sophomore from Liberty, with Regional Bull Riding championship certificate; Southern Region NIRA Student Director KL Spratt, from Sam Houston State University; and Hill College Rodeo Coach and Athletic Director Paul Brown.

Hill College Rodeo Coach and Athletic Director Paul Brown with Cooper Matthes, Hill College freshman from Cleburne and NIRA Southern Region Reserved Champion Calf Roper; John Douch, Hill College sophomore from Huntsville and NIRA Southern Region All-Around Champion; and Cole Melancon, Hill College sophomore from Liberty who is the NIRA Southern Region Champion Bull Rider.

 

Hill College Women’s Rodeo Team member and NIRA Southern Region’s third place Breakaway Roping Year-end Champion Brooke Jordan, freshman from Covington.