Tarleton’s men’s and women’s rodeo teams both enter the CNFR as National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Southwest Region champions and are at the summer season finale for the eighth straight year.
Experience is on Tarleton’s side as several members of Coach Mark Eakins’ team are repeat CNFR qualifiers, including Kody Lamb—a graduate student from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada—who’s making his fifth appearance. Regional goat-tying champion Baili Collins is making her fourth appearance, and Lauren Bane, who topped all breakaway ropers in the region, her third.
“It’ll be nice that they’ll know what to expect,” Eakin said. “They’ve been there, so hopefully they’re ready to go.”
Tarleton State University graduate student Kody Lamb is making his fifth-straight appearance at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) and will represent the men’s team in the bareback riding event. A native of Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, Lamb was crowned champion bareback rider of this year’s National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southwest Region.
The CNFR features the top two teams from each of the NIRA’s 11 regions and the top two regional champions of each event.
Competition began Sunday night with the bronc, bulls and breakaway performance. Tarleton saddle bronc rider Brody Cress slipped into second place after the first day with a 76.5 tally, two points out of first, while teammate Lamb took fourth in the first go of the bareback riding with a 77.5 score.
Also representing Tarleton at this year’s CNFR are tie-down ropers Reid Zapalac and Kyle Parrish, saddle bronc rider Jace Lane, team roper Zach Kraus, barrel racer Lindsey McLeod, and breakaway roper Abby Medlin. Zapalac also will compete in the team roping competition.
The rodeo runs through Saturday, when champions will be named. To view the complete CNFR schedule and daily results, see www.cnfr.com.
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