The NTU (Navajo Technical University) Rodeo Team recently participated in their first rodeo event of the season, showcasing their talents and skills in various rodeo disciplines. Despite facing some tough competition, the team displayed determination and resilience throughout the event.

Out of the 11 eligible NTU Rodeo Athletes, only 5 competed in this inaugural rodeo event. The team faced a formidable lineup of competitors from Cochise College, with entries in various rodeo categories, including saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, goat tying, and breakaway roping.

In the Steer Wrestling event, senior Matthew Jodie demonstrated his prowess in the arena. In the long go, he clocked an impressive 6.3 seconds, tying for 4th place. In the short go, Matthew continued to shine with a time of 14.7 seconds, securing a 3rd place finish. His combined efforts resulted in a 2nd place Average with a total time of 21.00 seconds on two runs, earning him 115 points and positioning him at 2nd place in the standings.

Freshman Kadin Jodie showcased her talent in the Breakaway event. In the long go, she roped her calf in 3.5 seconds, placing 6th. Unfortunately, she faced challenges in the short go and recorded a no time, receiving 10 points and currently standing at 8th place in the standings. On the other hand, freshman Ashley Yazzie posted a time of 4.3 seconds in the breakaway, narrowly missing the top 10 cutoff of 3.8 seconds. Freshman Renae Ben, however, missed her calf in the breakaway, as did sophomore Amythiess Marvin.

In the Tie Down Roping event, Matthew Jodie displayed his skills with a smooth run clocking in at 21.5 seconds. Unfortunately, he broke the barrier, missing the top 10 cutoff of 12.8 seconds.

The Team Roping event proved to be challenging for the NTU team, as Matt and Kadin recorded a no time in their attempt.

In the Goat Tying event, Renae Ben posted a time of 12.2 seconds, just missing the top 10 short round cutoff of 10.5 seconds. Amythiess Marvin faced a tough break when her goat got up, resulting in a no time.

Finally, in the Barrel Racing event, both Ashley Yazzie and Amythiess Marvin posted times of 19 seconds, with the top 10 cutoff standing at 17 seconds.

The NTU Rodeo Team's performance in their first rodeo of the season is commendable. The athletes displayed their dedication to the sport and will no doubt continue to improve as the season progresses. We look forward to seeing them shine in the upcoming rodeo events and wish them the best of luck in their future competitions. Go Skyhawks!