NMJC (M-Rodeo) Wins Tie Down & Team Roping in Lubbock

The NMJC men's rodeo team had their best week of the fall season at the Texas Tech Rodeo on Saturday, Nov. 1 as they sent nine T-Birds to the Short Round. 

Thunderbirds Cash Trexler and Treyden Gonzales won the rodeo in their respective events.   

Cash Trexler won at tech in the tie down roping this weekend. He placed fourth in the Long Round with a 9.2 second run which was good for 30 points. In the Short Round, his 8.5 second time finished second to secure 50 points. He was first in average for 60 points, recording a total of 140 points. He is currently third in the tie down for the Caprock Region with 190 points.  

Freshman Treyden Gonzales finished second in the Long Round of the team roping with a 5.4 second run earning 50 points. He split the Short Round with his teammate Taylor-Roukema after posting a 5.7 second run for an additional 55 points. Gonzales won the rodeo after being first in the average which added another 60 points. He ended the rodeo with 165 total points. 

"Both of these guys have been roping really well, and they both know how to win so this weekend was no surprise," NMJC men's rodeo head coach Stewy Kinley said. "They both put in the work and have the talent to keep winning. Cash also has a really good calf horse, and she gives him a chance every week. He did a great job finishing it off. Treyden's no different. Him and his partner, Clay McNichol, haven't drawn the greatest so far this fall so it was good to see them rack up some points on some better steers. It's been a frustrating fall for them so hopefully this will take some pressure off, and they can keep winning."

Sophomore Connor Box placed sixth in the first go of the tie down roping with a time of 9.7 seconds for 10 points. He won the Short Round with a run of 8.3 seconds to earn 60 points. Box tied for second in the average to add another 45 points for a total of 115 points at the rodeo.

"Connor had an awesome rodeo as well," Kinley said. "He set up two really good runs and his run in the Short Round was exactly what he needed to do. He set it up properly and blasted. Him and Cash Trexler also made it back in the team roping. They're a threat in that event as well." 

Teagan Taylor-Roukema is still on fire in the team roping. He placed third in the Long Round with a 6.1 second run for 40 points. In the Short Round, he had a 5.7 to tie his teammate Gonzales in first place for 55 points. Taylor-Roukema ended the rodeo second in the average for an additional 50 points. The Bayfield, CO native is the No. 1 heeler in the Caprock Region with 470 points. He is 240 points ahead of the nearest competitor. 

​​"Teagan and his partner have dominated this fall," Coach Kinley said. "They've made every Short Round and placed in the average three times. Their experience has been paying off, and I look for them to keep their foot on the gas."

The men's team finished second this week in Lubbock, Texas with 565 points. They were led in the arena by Gonzales, Trexler, Taylor-Roukema, and Box.

"I've been saying for several weeks now that these guys have been getting better and better every rodeo," Coach Kinley said. "Rodeo is such a mental sport. Confidence is everything and I think our confidence is the reason they continue to win. If you look what these guys did in the Short Round, they didn't just complete the course, they dominated. All four of them. They all know they belong at the top of their respective events so it was fun to see them do what I've known they could do all along."

Gunnar Tipton was fifth in the Long Round of the tie down roping with a time of 9.3 seconds for 20 points. He placed fifth in the Short Round with a 13.1 second run to pick up 20 points. In the average, he once again was in fifth place for another 20 points.

Freshman Triston Flinn had a trio of seventh place finishes in the Long Round, Short Round, and average of the bareback riding. He scored 72 in the first go and a 68 in the short.

Cash Trexler and Connor Box finished T-8 in the Long Round of team roping with an 8.8 second run. In the Short Round they mustered an 11.9 second run to finish seventh.

Ryker Hutchinson and Jerry Martens were also T-8 in the Long Round of Team Roping with a time of 8.8 seconds. The duo went on to post a 14.1 in the Short Round to finish in eighth place. 

Jace Beierbach placed seventh in the Long Round of the steer wrestling with a finish of 5.9 seconds. However, he was a no time in the Short Round.

The Thunderbirds gear up for their final rodeo of the fall at the Clarendon College Rodeo in Childress, Texas Nov. 13-15. 

"The message is simple, let's keep it rolling," Coach Kinley said. "There's still plenty of room in the Short Rounds for the guys that haven't caught a break yet. It'll be our last chance until February to get a boost in the standings so let's just keep doing what we've been preparing for."