The rodeo season for Colorado Northwestern Community College kicks off this Friday in Salina, Utah. Two girls are competing in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association for the Rocky Mountain Region for CNCC. Both are barrel racers. Sadie Shake is from Buena Vista. Her horse is Ricky Bobby. Hadley Gross is from Lyman, Wyoming, competing on Hubs and she also competes in goat tying. The rodeo program at CNCC is in Rangely but expands to Craig as well in the fall.
Here is more on the CNCC Rodeo Program from Rodeo Coach Tammy Olson.
CNCC competes in the Rocky Mountain Region, of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA), in 10 college rodeos (four in the fall and six in the spring), which are held in western Colorado, Utah, and southern Idaho. Our first rodeo is this Friday and Saturday, March 4-5, in Salina, UT. After that, we travel to Twin Falls, ID (March 11-12), Ogden, UT (March 25-26), and then our own “Spartan Showdown” rodeo is held in Rangely on April 1-2. After that, we travel to Grand Junction (April 8-9), and then our last rodeo is in Spanish Fork, UT (April 15-16).
Our current roster consists of Sadie Shake, from Buena Vista, CO, and Hadley Gross, from Lyman, WY. They are both 4.0 students, in CNCC’s dental hygiene program. This winter, they have been practicing in Vernal’s indoor arena at their fairgrounds, as it is a safer drive for our athletes and their equine partners.
Sadie Shake is a tough barrel racer, who has a strong reputation in the state of Colorado. She is just coming back on her horse, “Ricky Bobby”, as he had an extended “injury recovery” break.
Hadley Gross is sitting 4th in the region in the barrel racing, on her horse “Hubs” and 11th in the goat tying, on her mare “Chloe”.
The College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR), is held in Casper, Wyoming every June. Based on points won, our region will send the top three competitors in every event, as well as the top two men’s and women’s teams. This year, the CNFR dates are June 12-18, 2022.
Then, starting this fall, CNCC’s rodeo program will be on both campuses, Rangely and Craig. This new expansion program is geared toward recruiting more student-athletes, with an emphasis on our local and regional rodeo competitors. Indoor and outdoor practice will be available to both campuses. CNCC’s agriculture program will also have a stronger presence on the Craig campus starting Fall 2022.
If you have questions about CNCC’s new and expanded college rodeo program, or if you interested in becoming part of CNCC’s rodeo program, please contact me at (970) 629-3466 or Tammy.Olson@cncc.edu. Thank you!