T-Bird (W-Rodeo) Brings Home Clarendon Stampede Title, Montoya Wins All-Around, Stanley Wins Breakaway

The Thunderbird women's rodeo team won the Clarendon College Stampede closing the fall season on Saturday, Nov. 15.

"Winning a team championship at a rodeo has definitely been a goal of mine since starting, and I'm very proud of all of the girls who contributed this weekend, whether that was in getting team points or in "playing defense" and taking points from the other teams," NMJC women's rodeo head coach Alexa Wilcox said. "Each year, we've recruited and worked to form a winning team dynamic and culture, and I feel as if we are finally seeing that come to fruition here."

The T-Birds were led by Quincy Montoya who won the rodeo in the all-around and Madi Stanley who won the title in the breakaway.

It was a trifecta of first time wins for NMJC women's rodeo head coach Alexa Wilcox. This was the first time she has won the team competition of the rodeo with NMJC, an individual competition with the breakaway, and had an all-around champion.  

"These were our first all-around and breakaway championships as a team," Coach Wilcox said. "The girls had set these goals at the beginning of the semester, and it's been fun to watch them work towards them. Again, I can't reiterate how hard these two and the team work towards achieving their goals. It's fun to build a team and culture around that commitment and tenacity. We try to stay focused on the process every day and let the results be the big bonus at the end. Both Coach Miller and myself push our team to improve at every practice - I feel like these championships are a testament to that challenge and to their dedication to meeting it."

Quincy Montoya started her rodeo with a third-place finish in the Long Round of the goats tying. She recorded a 6.6 second run to earn 40 points. Montoya split second and third in the Short Round with an identical 6.6 second run for 45 points. Then, she placed second in the average for 50 points. Montoya has now moved to fourth in the Caprock Region goat tying standings with 280 points. 

Montoya excelled in the breakaway roping as well this week. She registered a 2.1 second run good enough for 50 points and a second-place finish in the Long Round. Montoya stayed consistent and had a 2.7 in the Short Round to place second with another 50 points. In the average, she also was runner-up adding her last 50 points. She is T-5 in the Caprock Region breakaway standings with 150 points.

Montoya won the all-around title in Childress, Texas with 285 points. She is the first and only qualifier in the Caprock Region for the all-around with 430 points. 

"Quincy is in her element and competing in the way we always knew she could," Coach Wilcox said. "She's battled in and out of the arena to improve her approach to performing and fine-tuning her skills. Her success is no surprise to anyone who knows her - we are glad to watch all of her hard work pay off. Quincy is an all-around weapon in both of her events, so I was happy to see her perform as such this weekend." 

Madi Stanley was the other bright spot for NMJC winning the breakaway roping title at the Clarendon Stampede. Stanley placed first in the Long Round with a 2.0 for 60 points and was first in the Short Round with a 2.3 second run to pick up another 60 points. She won the average and the rodeo to grab 60 more points sweeping the field with a 180 point total. Stanley is third in the Caprock Region standings with 180 points in the breakaway.

"Madi had a rough start to college rodeo, with most of that being out of her control," Coach Wilcox said. "It's been a mental battle to focus on what she can control and wait for lady luck to show up - this weekend was a true testament to her dedication and her talent. I fully expect to see her name in the winner's circle throughout the rest of the year." 

Mia Box was the only barrels competitor to make the Short Round. She was fifth in the Long Round with a 17.53 to earn 20 points. She placed third in the Short Round with a 17.44 second run to pick up 40 points. Box was fourth in the average to gain 30 points for a total of 90 points. 

"Mia's horse Martha is one of my favorite barrel horses to watch," Wilcox said. "The duo tipped a few barrels last year to win, and we struggled with some soundness (injury) issues to start this year out, so I'm glad to see Martha back in action and excited about what's to come from them." 

Ashley Weber finished T-9 in the Long Round of the goat tying with a 7.2 second run and split sixth and seventh in the Short Round to pick up five points. Weber ended the rodeo seventh in average.

Kadey Urbantke made the Short Round in the breakaway after a T-9 in the Long Round with a 2.6 second run. She was a no time in the Short Round. 

The women's team was led by Quincy Montoya and Ashley Weber who picked up 290 points to win the rodeo for the first time since 2007. The T-Birds are now seventh in the Caprock Region with 503.33 points. 

The Thunderbirds end the fall at the Clarendon College Stampede and will pick back up in the spring in Odessa, Texas Feb. 26-28. 

"Of course, it's hard to have such a good weekend with the break right here, but I'm confident this has lit a fire in the whole team that will still be burning when we get back in January," Coach Wilcox said. "This team cheers for each other and one's success spurs the others on - we will back in the practice pen, trusting our process and ready to keep the momentum come February."