WC rodeo ready for another run at nationals

The Weatherford College rodeo program has become as synonymous with the College National Finals Rodeo as Christmas is with presents and Halloween is with candy. 

The program has sent competitors every year since 2005, which includes the women winning a national team championship in 2022. The program also has individual national champions in 2022 with Jace Helton in team roping, Cole Wheeler in 2016 in team roping, Arena Roberson as women's all-around champion in 2008 and Cody Tew in team roping in 2007. 

"We have built a good tradition of winning over the years. Our program has a good reputation, and kids follow other kids here," head coach Johnny Emmons said. "Our geographic location is very important as well. There are so many major rodeo events and opportunities to compete here in North Texas. It is a huge calling for us. 

"Weatherford/ Parker County being the horse capital of the world, cutting horse central, we have some of the best veterinarians and farriers in the country, and it's a nice town with a great college." 

The 2024-25 season begins September 19 at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, and Emmons is taking a strong mix of returning competitors and new faces. 

Key returners 

The top returners feature defending Southwest Region team roping-header champion Jett Stewart, along with defending regional breakaway roping champion Kaydence Tindall.  

Also, a pair of transfers are grabbing attention with two-time CNFR goat tying qualifier Jacee Graff from Frank Phillips College and CNFR bareback qualifier Brent Applegarth from College of Southern Idaho. 

Emmons is looking for good things out of returner Lane Webb, who finished fourth in the regional men's all-around standings last year, in both team roping and tie down roping. Also, Cash Fuesz and Pax Vogle were both very competitive last year in tie down roping, the coach noted. 

Emmons said Mitchie Story, who finished in the top five in saddle bronc riding, should be very competitive again. Likewise, Catcher Gasperson, Cashton Weidenbener and Clayton Huston all finished in the top six in team roping last season and Emmons said they will be fun to watch, as well as Zach Nicholson, Zane Rampey, Mason Stueve, Zane Rampey, Zane Schroeder who all won points last season. 

Among the women, Emmons said he is looking forward to what Kynlee Stevens, Landry Wren, Briley Reeves, Kadi Fretwell, and Ranger College transfer Kaydence Crawford can do. 

"They all won points last year, and hopefully with that experience behind them they will step it up this year," he said. 

New recruits 

"For the guys, we have what I feel like is a very strong group of freshmen," Emmons said. 

Jake Shelton (Krum) competes in steer wrestling, tie down, and team roping and is already winning money on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit, and Emmons said, "He should be a good all-around contender for us." 

Emmons called Jase Stout (Decatur), "Probably one of the best, if not the best, freshman saddle bronc riders in the nation." 

Beldon Cox (Weatherford), Brock Rouse (Ponder), Dalton Huston (Decatur), Conley Kleinhams (Montague), Hunter Helton (Tolar), Ryan Gorham (Parma, Idaho), and Wyatt Johnson (Weatherford) round out a very tough group of team ropers, Emmons praised, while adding that Mecate Trammell (Perrin) and Diego Garcia (Laredo) will give the team a great shot in bull riding. 

As for the women, Emmons noted the team should get a boost from newcomers Courtney Carbajal (New Smyrna, Florida), Chayni Chamberlain (Stephenville), Brooke Crenshaw (Colbert, Oklahoma), Kelsey Kennedy (Bellglade, Florida), Teagan McInnis (Las Vegas), Emma Parks (Culleoka, Tennessee), Jaden Usher (Goodyear, Arizona), Caysen Weidenbener (Payson, Arizona), Josslyn Smith (Minburn, Alabama), Jymie Adamson (Buffalo, Wyoming), Cate Cooper (Lipan), Jazilyn Buys (Chandler, Minnesota), Ainslee Philippi (Hermiston, Oregon) and Agnes Richardson (Graham). 

Region 

As always, the Southwest Region is one of the toughest and is the biggest region in the country. Along with Weatherford College, it is the home of other perennial powers such as Tarleton State University and Texas Tech University. 

"It is very, very competitive, every team has star players and will be competitive," Emmons said. "I am happy with the team we have here. I believe we have several members who, if they just go out and do their job, they will be successful."