The 17-member Texas A&M University-Commerce rodeo team finished first at North Texas Community College Rodeo in Mount Pleasant under first-year coach Dameon White.

A&M-Commerce got off to a strong start this season, defeating rodeo teams from McNeese State, Sam Houston State, Texas A&M-College Station, and Texas A&M-Kingsville.

There are nine different events and each student participates in one event individually and how they rank in their event affects how the team places overall because team points add up after each event.

In the tie-down roping event, A&M- Commerce student Cole Mitchell placed first for the men’s team. Also for the men’s team Justice Whitcher finished first in the steer wrestling with teammate Rowdy Parrot finishing second.

The A&M- Commerce women’s team placed 5th placed overall with Addy Pursisul taking third in the barrel race and Kara Large taking eighth.

White said their goal was to “be in the top 3” in the southern region. There are 11 regions in the nation and competitions are yearlong. There are five rodeos in the fall and five in the spring. At the end of the year, the Collegiate National Finals Rodeo is held in Casper, Wyo. Under director Edward Romero, the A&M- Commerce rodeo team finished 4^th in the nation in last year’s national finals.

The next rodeo has A&M-Commerce on the road, traveling to McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La.

Students or faculty members can keep up with the rodeo team at collegerodeo.com and click on standings, then results, and click on the southern region.