The Sul Ross State University Rodeo Team is proud to announce that Cameron Haumea has claimed the prestigious 2025 National Championship in Steer Wrestling at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyo.
This is the 27th Individual National Championship for Sul Ross State University, but the first Steer wrestling title in school history.
Haumea, a junior from Honolulu, earned the National Championship with a four head total of 20.6 seconds. He dominated the competition this year finishing almost five seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, Cole Detton of Montana State University. Haumea delivered a consistent performance all week with runs of 4.5 seconds for fourth in the first round, 5.9 seconds for 14th in the second round, 5.5 seconds for 13th place in the 3rd round, and a clutch 4.7 seconds in the short‑go to finish second in the round. His four-run total culminated in the top spot overall, earning him the championship.
“I’m incredibly honored to bring this championship home for Sul Ross,” said Haumea. “The support from my coaches, teammates and family made this victory possible. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
The win marks a high point in Haumea’s 2024–25 season. He earned Steer Wrestling Championships at the Eastern New Mexico College Rodeo and the Sul Ross College Rodeo and placed in a total of eight different college rodeos this past season on his way to Casper.
“We knew going into the CNFR that our guys had a good chance of doing well,” said Coach C.J. Aragon. “Cameron has worked hard for the past two years, and he went out there and made the type of runs he has consistently made all year. We are proud to have him on our team.”
Fellow teammate Colten Leech, a graduate student from Billings, Mo., placed 9th in the second round with a 5.1 second run. Leech then followed up with a go-round win in Round 3 with a 4.0 second run. He finished 16th in the national standings.
The Sul Ross rodeo team finished the season ranked 17th in the nation. This makes five consecutive years that the team has finished the season in the Top 25. Sul Ross Rodeo was also selected by coaches and students at the CNFR as a recipient of the Smarty Rodeo Sportsmanship Award.
Sul Ross State University competes regionally and nationally through the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.
Photo: From left: Cy Haumea, Cameron’s father, Coach C.J. Aragon, Cameron Haumea, Jessica Haumea, his mother, Zane Cline and Dean Bonnie Warnock, Sul Ross State University. Jackie Jensen photo