By Rick Mauch

The last time Weatherford College was not competing at the College National Finals Rodeo, some team members were barely more than toddlers, and none were in kindergarten yet.

That's because every year since 2005, WC has been a part of the field—except in 2020, of course, when there was no CNFR. That's 16 consecutive national finals the Coyotes have been involved in, including last season when they sent the entire women's team, along with three men, bringing home a pair of top-five individual finishes and a fifth-place showing for the women overall.

And with more than 70 talented athletes on the roster for the 2021-22 season, there are plenty of reasons to believe WC will likely be back in Casper, Wyoming, next June.

Returners for the ladies include sophomores Kodey Hoss, who placed fourth nationally in goat tying; Bradi Good, who was fifth in the nation in barrel racing; and Sophie Dunn, who qualified in breakaway roping.

"All three of these girls are also very competitive in their other events," said head coach Johnny Emmons. "We also have Kristen Reaves back this year. She is an outstanding goat tyer and breakaway roper, along with Lilly Eakes, Brie Wells, Faith Furrow, Robbin Rice, Londyn Ross and Kaitlyn Woodman, who all won points last year."

Emmons also pointed to three transfer students who did well in the Southwest Region over the past couple of years. They are Kenzie Cook, who finished fourth in the region in barrel racing last season; Macy AuClair, who missed the CNFR in breakaway roping by "one decent rodeo," as Emmons put it; and Marissa Boisjoli, who was among the top ten in breakaway a couple of years ago.

For the guys, Emmons' squad will have sophomore CNFR qualifiers Chance Thiessen, who made it to Casper in two events (tie down roping, team roping); and Jace Helton, last season's team roping-heeler champ of the region.

"We have a strong all-around contender, Trent Sorey, who missed the CNFR in team roping by only five points last year," Emmons said. "Along with Cash Fretwell, Parker Carbajal, Tate Thomas, Zaine Mikita, Colton Greene, Jesse Hines, Jarett Freeman, Thane Lockhart and Brendan Bennett, who all won points last year."

The men also have a couple of transfer students who qualified for last season's CNFR. Trey Holston qualified in bull riding for Fort Scott Community College and Stoney Joseph qualified in tiedown and team roping for West Hills College in California. Also, Bubba Holcomb placed fifth in the Southwest Region in bareback riding standings last season.

Still, Emmons knows first-hand how tough the region is, so he knows it will take another amazing effort to get the women, or men (who qualified as a team in 2014), or even both, back to Casper.

"Who knows on odds? It's the Southwest Region, the largest and toughest region in the nation," he said. "I do think both our men's and women's teams do have a legitimate shot at making the CNFR as a team. I believe we have the talent. It's just a matter of everyone doing their job, staying healthy, keeping horses healthy and maybe a little bit of luck."

New recruits who have garnered attention among the ladies include:

• Kate Kelly, Tahlequah, Oklahoma – a breakaway roper/goat tyer/barrel racer and multi-time Oklahoma high school state champion
• Harley Meged, Miles City, Montana – a Montana state champion breakaway roper
• Several national high school finals qualifiers, including Dusti Boyd (Kersey, Colorado), Macy Brown (Kennewick, Washington), Gina Cope (Weatherford), Bailey Davis (Scio, Oregon), Kadi Fretwell (Pleasanton), Rayanne Griffin (Stratton, Colorado), Lily Hanson (Stephenville), Jessica Klein (Stephenville), Maycee Knight (Bakersfield, California), Reagan Laney (Granbury), Georgia McAuliffe (Snohomish, Washington), Paisley Pierce (Sweeny), Reece Stanley (Sidney, Nebraska), along with local  champions Jaci Baker (Weatherford) and Emily Williams (Boyd).

New recruits looking for their place in the spotlight include:

• Kacy Jones, New Castle, Wyoming – national high school finalist in bull riding
• Jayce Harrison, Pierce, Colorado. – national high school finalist in bareback riding
• Braden Tyrer, Krum – North Texas high school bareback champion
• Cayden Harmon, Stephenville – high school all-around state finalist and steer wrestler/team roper/tiedown roper
• Tyler Espenson (Wildorado), tiedown and team roper; and team ropers Brice Beene (Anderson), Spud Denmark (Palo Pinto), Trey Garey (Broken Bow, Nebraska), Isaac Gholson (Waurika, Oklahoma) and Manuel Mendoza (Weatherford).

"I am really excited that we have seven former CNFR qualifiers on this team, plus a few others that narrowly missed the CNFR in the past, plus the fact that we really focused on trying to improve our team on the roughstock side of the arena," Emmons said. "Adding Holston, Holcomb, Harrison, Jones and Tyrer should hopefully help balance our men's team to where WC has a good presence in most every event.

"We have a pretty mature team as well, many third-year kids who got six rodeos in during COVID year 2019 before the season was canceled. All got a free year of eligibility, so they are still second-year rodeo eligible this year. With those six free rodeos' worth of experience, that should help them all be even more competitive this year.

"We have a lot of talent on this team, and I look forward to what we can get done this year."