Odessa, TX – Rodeo is back. The Sul Ross Rodeo Team walked away from the first event of the spring season riding high for lack of a better term. Coming off an impressive showing during the fall season, expectations were lofty out here in Alpine. If the results from the Odessa Rodeo are any indication, then this team is ready to meet them.

The Men’s team claimed the number one spot this past weekend in Odessa, TX with 745.00 total points. Besting Western Texas College and Tarleton State University who came in second and third. The Women’s team finished tied for 8^th.

Tristen Hutchings continues his torrid season winning Bull Riding in Odessa with a 165.0 along with the number one finish in Steer Wrestling with a 9.1. This helped him earn another Men’s All-Around with a total score of 330.0. This marks the second time this season that Hutchings has claimed Bull Riding and Men’s All-Around after he did it in Lubbock last year in late October to cap off his fall season.

“I just went out and did my job,” Hutchings commented stoically. This seems to be the mindset of the whole team. A focused drive and a confidence are brewing once again in Alpine. They’ve not only been competing hard but practicing hard in the offseason and they’re ready for all of their work to pay off.

Other notables included Zachary Hamar who followed teammate Hutchings in Steer Wrestling with a 9.6 score and a 2^nd place finish. Cooper Hurt also made the leader board in Steer Wrestling at 6^th with a 4.6. Team Roping Header saw Lane Cooper tie for 6^th while Blake Bentley had the same finish for Team Roping Heeler. Brandon Lansford also came in tied for 4^th in Saddle Bronc with a 153.0 total score. Hannah Martin’s efforts in Goat Tying were good enough to be tied for 5^th with a 15.5 and Rocky Rodriguez finished tied for 7^th with a 16.2. Cole Hollen’s score of 141.0 in Bareback Riding landed him in 8^th.

This is more than an ideal start for Sul Ross with the fierce competition that comes with being in the Southwest Region which is one of the deepest in the country talent wise. They’re currently chasing Western Texas College in 1^st place with 3,460.0 total points. But it has Coach C.J. Aragon excited.

“The men’s team had a good rodeo at Odessa.  We finally had strong performances in both the rough stock and timed event ends of the arena at the same rodeo. It was a great way to start off the spring season and build some momentum heading into the last four rodeos. We have 7 or 8 individuals on the team capable of competing for individual national championships in the respective events at the College National Finals Rodeo.  We just need to have a strong spring semester and have them all qualify to Casper this summer,” said Coach Aragon.

He’s got a whole myriad of reasons to be excited about his squad. Heading into the spring:

National Rankings

• Men’s Team 13^th Nationally
• Men’s All-Around 6^th Nationally
  • Tristen Hutchings, Junior, Inkom, Idaho
• Saddle Bronc Riding 16^th Nationally
  • Brandon Lansford, Senior, Cotulla, Texas
• Bull Riding 1^st Nationally
  • Tristen Hutchings, Junior, Inkom, Idaho
    • Reigning National Champion
• Steer Wrestling
  • Zachary Hamar, Senior, Yuma, Colorado 14^th Nationally
  • Tristen Hutchings, Junior, Inkom, Idaho 16^th Nationally
• Team Roping Header 10^th Nationally
  • Lane Cooper, Senior, Weatherford, Texas
• Team Roping Heeler 10^th Nationally
  • Blake Bentley, Junior, Joshua, Texas

Regional Rankings

• Men’s Team 2^nd in the Region
• Tristen Hutchings
  • 1^st Men’s All-Around
  • 1^stBull Riding
  • 3^rdSteer Wrestling
• Brandon Lansford
  • 3^rdSaddle Bronc Riding
• Cole Hollen
  • 13^th Bareback riding
• Zachary Hamar
  • 2^nd Steer Wrestling
• Cooper Hurt
  • 9^th Steer Wrestling
• Lane Cooper
  • 1^st Team Roping Heading
• Kade Smith
  • 12^th Team Roping Heading
• Blake Bentley
  • 1^stTeam Roping Heeling
• Timmi Hutchings
  • 7^th Goat tying

The Rodeo team has some time to rest so they’re sharp for the next event at Ranger College in Sweetwater, TX that starts the weekend of March 24^th.

Photo Credit: Hannah Martin