Trexler & Box Win Team Roping Title in Big Spring

Cash Trexler and Connor Box led the T-Birds this week with a team roping title at the Howard College Rodeo on Saturday, April 11.

The Thunderbird men's team sent eight student-athletes to the Short Round.

Team roping champions Cash Trexler and Connor Box won the Long Round with a time of 6.4 seconds to earn 60 points. The team was second in the short go with a run of 7.1 seconds. Box and Trexler were first in average at 13.5 seconds earning an additional 60 points and finishing as the team roping champions at 170 total points. The pair is 10-11 in the header/heeler team roping standings for the Caprock Region.   

"Cash and Connor have been capable of winning this event all year long and it was finally their turn to get it done," NMJC men's rodeo head coach Stewy Kinley said. "The cattle were strong and they drew a good enough one to win the Long Round. Their Short Round steer was a bit stronger. They made an aggressive run on him and walked out of Big Spring with a bunch of points."

Connor Box's success this weekend was not just in the team roping. He was third in the tie down roping with a 10.7 second run to earn 40 points in the Long Round. Box was a no time in the short go but did place third overall in the all-around with 210 points total. Box is 11th in the tie down roping for the Caprock Region with 215 points.

"Connor's been roping well in both of his events," Coach Kinley said. "The calves were walking fresh for the Long Round and Short Round. He drew well and made a good run in the Long Round for 3rd and then got kicked in the Short Round and his calf got up. You just never know with walking fresh calves." 

Bull rider Jestin Jacklin was second in the Long Round of the bull riding picking up 50 points on an 81.5 ride. Jacklin received a no score in the Short Round and was sixth in the average earning 10 points. Jacklin ended the bull riding with 60 points. Jacklin is 13th in the Caprock Region for the bull riding with 110 points.

Mya Workman and Jacklin made the Short Round in the team roping with a 12.7 run to finish eighth. The pair were a no time in the short go. 

"Jestin's been working really hard, doing what it takes to figure out how to win and I was really happy he got some revenge on his Long Round bull and got some points," Coach Kinley said. "He'd like to have his Short Round bull again but he'll ride him next time. He doesn't team rope much either but got it done in the Long Round too! It's fun to see these guys out there winning and having fun at the same time!"

Box, Trexler, and Jacklin combined for 440 points to finish third as team for the Howard College Rodeo.

Gunnar Tipton was the leader in the Long Round of the tie down roping with a time of 10.4 seconds earning himself 60 points. He was a no time in the Short Round finishing the rodeo in seventh place. The tie down roper is 10th in the Caprock Region standings with 235 points. Tipton was fourth in the team roping with Slaton Harkins after an 8.1 run earned them 30 points each in the Long Round. The pair was a no time in the Short Round.

"Gunnar had a really good Long Round. He's got a new tie down horse named Blake that he's doing such a good job with," Coach Kinley said. "He's been setting up really good runs and it's paying off for him. He's been turning a lot of steers in the team roping too. I look for him to keep doing the same things going into the next 2 rodeos."

Jace Beierbach and Maysa Schiffner were second in the Short Round of the team roping with a time of 7.3 seconds earning 50 points. The pair recorded a time of 13.2 in the Short Round to finish sixth with 10 points. Beierbach and Schiffner added 10 more points in the average to finish the rodeo with 70 points each. 

Beierbach also tied for third in the Long Round of the steer wrestling picking up 35 points. The freshman was sixth in the short go with a time of 11.9 seconds to earn 10 points. He finished fourth in the average to add 30 points and finish the Howard College Rodeo with 75 total points for the steer wrestling. Beierbach is 13th in the Caprock Region for the steer wrestling with 110 points. 

"Jace turned it up this weekend in the steer wrestling and the team roping," Coach Kinley said. "He drew a great steer on Thursday night and made him fly! That's what you're supposed to do when you draw that well. He was a bit longer in the short go but completed the course and got some average points. He also won 2nd in the Long Round with Maysa Schiffner in the team roping. He'll tell you he's not really a team roper but apparently he's not scared to go out there and show everyone he can win!"

Jerry Martens finished seventh in the Long Round of the team roping. He was tied for third place in the Short Round with an 8.0 run earning 35 points. Martens finished fifth in the average to add 20 more points and finish with 55 points overall.

"Our team ropers showed up this weekend," Coach Kinley said. "I expect this every weekend and they do too but I'm really proud of the fact that we had so many guys and girls make it back in this event." 

The Thunderbirds are fifth in the Caprock Region standings with 2,495 points.

The T-Birds are right back at it April 16-18 at the WT A&M Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas.