The Maverick rodeo team is lassoing in the excitement so far this season. Competing in unique events such as barrel racing, breakaway, and team roping, rodeo is one of the most interesting sports at Colorado Mesa University (CMU).

For those who know nothing about rodeo, learning how they practice is a great way to start. In the world of rodeo events, achieving the highest level of horsemanship is a crucial element. This expertise doesn’t come overnight; it’s the result of countless hours in the saddle and endless repetitions. 

Head Coach Branden Edwards underscores the significance of communicating between the handler and the horse. 

“While on horseback, we can’t really make a game plan with them, we have to communicate to them by the points of contact we have with the reins, stirrups, and saddle seat,” Edwards said. 

The rodeo team has a long history at CMU, having been a club since the 1970’s and were officially recognized as a sport at the university within the last ten years in the last decade

The program has grown from only four students in 2018, when Edwards accepted the head coaching position, to now having 29 students on the team who come from eight different states and one Canadian province. 

Haylee Stroud is one of the new freshmen on the team. She is from Heyburn, Idaho, and competes in breakaway roping, goat tying, and team roping. Stroud’s love for rodeo and her connection to horses is deeply rooted in her family history.

“I was around horses my whole life. My mom and dad both grew up with horses, and they have always been in my life,” Stroud said. “Being part of the CMU rodeo team is a blast. At practice and rodeos, we are always cheering each other on and it feels like family. We are always having a good time together and it makes college fun!”

Another rider on the team, Kael McCarty, a dedicated bareback rider, discovered his passion for the sport after moving to Hayden, Colorado, at the age of 14. 

McCarty and his teammates practice on real bucking horses at the Mesa County Fair Grounds every Wednesday. Despite a challenging previous season marred by a torn shoulder, Kael reflects on the experience as “…a lot of fun with great people to be with.”

This season, CMU has been dominating, as recently displayed by their performance at the rodeo hosted by Colorado Northwestern Community College on Sep. 22. 

For the third consecutive week, the women of the team, including Wylee Mitchell, Ky Murphy, and Taylor Davis, made their mark in events like barrel racing, where Wylee secured an impressive win, and goat tying, where Mitchell demonstrated her multi-talented skills alongside Justise Jones and McKenna Clingman.

Currently, the team is number two in the Rocky Mountain Region Standings and is lining up for another National qualification. Their next match is set to be on March 8th against the College of Southern Idaho, so get ready Mavily, and be ready for another win!