RANGELY I The Colorado Northwestern Community College rodeo team posted a good weekend in Twin Falls, Idaho, on March 12-13 for a solid weekend of Rocky Mountain Region NIRA rodeo action.
The CNCC team ropers stole the show as the freshman pair of Johnny Pavkov and J.D. Slagowski took home top honors as the College of Southern Idaho Rodeo champion team ropers.
Also placing well was the team of Rhett Nielson and Justin White, who placed second in the first round and third overall. Other Spartan placers during the weekend action were Brendon Beck, who was sixth in bareback, Colton Onyet, fourth in bareback, Nick Chew, who was fourth in saddle bronc and Johnny Pavkov, who was seventh in steer wrestling.
On the women’s side, freshman Shawnie Stone-Swedberg placed fourth in barrel racing, Teasha Moody was sixth in barrel racing and goat tying. Ashley Farrington continued to rope well in the break-away roping, snagging her calf in 2.8 seconds in the first round to place sixth.
“The CSI rodeo is traditionally a very tough rodeo being hosted by the annual dominant force in the region of the College of Southern Idaho,” CNCC head rodeo coach Jed Moore said. “The buckle wins by J.D. and Johnny marks only the third outright event win by a CNCC rodeo athlete in the five years we have been competing. With their placing this weekend, they move very close to the No. 1 spot in the region in the team roping.”
Overall, the men’s team placed second for the weekend behind CSI, which is holding steady in the No. 2 spot in the Rocky Mountain Regional standings, Moore said.
“The women of CNCC are still improving and developing consistency on the team level and are sitting eighth in the region,” Moore said.
At the end of the regular season, the top two teams in the region will qualify a team (six men or four women) to the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo., in June.
Additionally, any athlete who places in the top three in an event will qualify individually for the CNFR.
“As of right now, we will qualify a men’s team and have several individuals who are gaining on them,” Moore said.
