September 18, 2025

NMJC Rodeo Starts the 2025-26 Season at the ENMU Rodeo

The NMJC men's and women's rodeo teams start the 2025-26 season this week in Portales, NM Sept. 18-20 at the Eastern New Mexico University Rodeo.

The T-Bird rodeo program continues to grow as they are fielding a squad of 27 women and 24 men to their first rodeo of the fall.

The Thunderbird men are ready for a new season to begin on Thursday and there are plenty of new faces on this year's 2025-26 team.

"We've got a great looking team right now," NMJC men's rodeo head coach Stewy Kinley said. "It's definitely a bigger team and we've got a lot of freshmen with talent as well as a handful of sophomores that are solid and know the college rodeo setup. I'm really looking forward to this first rodeo in Portales. We've been putting in the work over the last several weeks and we're ready to see how they'll do. I'm excited to watch these guys win."

The new faces are not just players. Coach Kinley has also added a men's assistant in Payson Crouch to the squad this year for the first time.

"Payson has been a huge help for us," Coach Kinley said. "He's done a really good job so far. He's knowledgeable, leads by example and comes in with a ton of experience to help these guys understand what they need to get to that next level in their events. I'm really fortunate to have him here at NMJC."

The T-Birds move to a new region, the Caprock Region, after the split from the Southwest Region. The move also gives NMJC an opportunity to host their own rodeo for the first time in two decades.

"We're definitely in unchartered waters here and are excited to see how the new region plays out. We've been working on consistency in the practice pen. The rodeos won't be as big so these guys will need to be consistent," Kinley said. "Points will be a little bit easier to come by. It's so exciting for us to be able to host our own rodeo in Lovington. Planning is well underway, and we can't wait to show off our rodeo team to this community who have been so supportive."

The men's team sent a pair of team ropers to Casper, but Coach Kinley has even bigger goals for this year.

"I hope we get to take several guys to Casper, WY this year," Coach Kinley said. "I'd like to take a men's team. My short term goals for these guys are to do their jobs every time they nod their head. Big mistakes won't cut it this year. You can't make big mistakes and win the other times. It'll take consistency all year long and that's my goal for the team."

No moving over to the women's side.

The T-Bird women are very optimistic headed into the 2025-26 season as the calendar flips to the start of the year with the ENMU rodeo.

"The NMJC women's rodeo team has a lot to look forward to this year," NMJC women's rodeo head coach Alexa Wilcox said. "Our sophomores have always been strong competitors, and they have a lot of confidence walking into this new year. Our freshmen add a lot of depth to the team and have a lot of talent and experience – I expect this transition to college rodeo to be an easy one for them."

The new season also means a new face enters the arena in women's assistant Kaytlyn Miller.

"NMJC is a great place to rodeo and has been for the last several years," Coach Wilcox said. "Adding assistant coaches to our roster has only made that even more clear and given the students more opportunities for practice and care. Kaytlyn has been an asset that has allowed NMJC to grow without sacrificing the attention each student gets."

The Thunderbirds are now a part of the Caprock Region after a split from the Southwest Region. The new region's biggest benefit will be the added chance to score and reach Casper come June.

"A new region gives us a lot of opportunities with a fair playing field," Wilcox said. "The Southwest Region was the toughest region in the entire nation, and I don't anticipate our level of competition to waiver from that – the level of competition in the Caprock Region will continue at a high level. Our athletes are prepared and ready to win at that level. "

The ENMU rodeo runs from Sept. 18-20 in Portales, NM at the Lewis Cooper Arena.

Below is the draw for the ENMU rodeo. Stay up to date on the NMJC rodeo team by following them on Facebook and Instagram @nmjc_rodeo.

To watch the ENMU rodeo livestream please click here.

2025 ENMU Rodeo Draw

Thursday 7 p.m. MDT Performance

Gunnar Tipton | Tie Down & Team Roping

Cash Trexler | Tie Down

Jace Beierbach | Steer Wrestling

Slaton Harkins | Team Roping

Brock Boutwell | Team Roping

Lucas Ozirney | Bull Riding

Ashlynn Jones | Barrel Racing