STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State University’s rodeo teams both lead the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Southwest Region standings as they prepare for the first rodeo of the spring semester.
Both will be in action at the Odessa College Rodeo beginning Feb. 27, the opening stop in the five-rodeo second half of the 2024-25 season. The season rolls on with the Ranger College Rodeo in Sweetwater March 27-29, the Western Texas College Rodeo in Snyder April 3-5 and the Howard College Rodeo April 10-12 in Big Spring. The annual Tarleton Stampede April 24-26 in Stephenville wraps up the regular season.
Tarleton State’s men, the defending national champions, hold a commanding 900-point lead over Western Texas College as the season continues. The men’s top-10 leaderboard features nine Texans in four individual events.
Saddle bronc rider Bailey Small is in first place as the spring campaign begins, followed by Coleman Shallbetter in second, Waitley Sharon in third and Travis Handley in sixth.
Bareback rider Roedy Farrell, in second place at the break, leads a group of three in the event from Tarleton State, including Tuker Carricato in third and Taylor Carmody in sixth.
Steer wrestler Landris White heads to Odessa in second place and team roping heeler Joshua Hare finished the first half in fourth.
Tarleton State’s women have a cushion of more than 500 points over Weatherford College in the regional standings, led by Jordan Driver and Kaylie Garza, who hold the top two spots in the all-around category.
First-place Driver is the leader in barrel racing and is currently in seventh in breakaway roping. Garza is third in goat tying and tied for fourth in breakaway roping with teammate Gina Cope.
Other Tarleton State women in the Southwest Region top-10 leaderboard include barrel racers Hadley Tidwell in fourth and Rylee Abel in ninth; breakaway ropers Taylor Felton in second and Jacelyn Frost in eighth; and goat tyers Tori Brower in second, Shyanne Bauerle in fourth, Keni Labrum in sixth, Hattie Haynes in ninth and Emily McDeavitt in 10th.
Tarleton State rodeo coach Mark Eakin also heads into the spring season on a roll, having been named the 2024 Smarty Rodeo Collegiate Training Program Coach of the Year.
“At Smarty Rodeo, we prioritize faith, authenticity and integrity,” the company said in a release, “and we are honored to partner with Coach Mark, a leader who exemplifies these values both in and out of the arena.”
The award was announced at the 15th Annual Tarleton Rodeo Hall of Fame induction dinner in November.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.