acastro@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

Sometimes mother nature’s on your side and sometimes she’ll try everything in her power to take you down.

This weekend, CMU’s rodeo team hosted the Regional Intercollegiate Rodeo Finals in the first ever Maverick Stampede Rodeo. Friday night’s events went off without a hitch, but Saturday night was a different story. With 45 mph winds rocking the Mesa County Fairgrounds, the riders battled the wind the majority of the night, adding another obstacle the Mavs had to face off against.

“The team did a good job,” coach Jimmy Allen said. “I didn’t think [the weather] was going to be like this.”

The Mavs didn’t let the weather affect them, despite having a full-blown dust storm on their hands and continued to put on a good show for approximately 700 spectators in the grandstands.

Along with the nine events taking place, the Maverick Stampede Rodeo kicked off each night with Mutton Busting and a silent auction that took place next to the concession stand with all proceeds going towards the rodeo team.

On the final night of the rodeo, the Mavs made the top 10 in five out the of the nine events.

Freshman Haillie Taylor advanced to the Top 10 in breakaway, team roping and barrel racing. Going into the final night in the No. 2 position after a 12.0 long round time in team roping, Taylor and her partner, senior Wiley Buttons, knew what they had to do in order to come out on top.

Both Taylor and Buttons hit their shot, coming out with a first-place finish with a time of 26.2.

“I just focused on getting my shot and getting it for Wiley,” Taylor said. “It was great, especially for Wiley.”

Although CMU won’t be sending any riders to the Nationals in June, Allen is pleased with how the rodeo came together and how his team performed.

“I do expect to send someone or multiple people to the finals next year,” Allen said. “I think this will have helped them get their confidence up. I’ve watched them in practice. I know they can do it.”