Texas A&M Women’s Rodeo Team brings home National Champion honors
Young garners Rookie of the Year title, her horse Jettin to Docs Bar is Horse of the Year
The Texas A&M Women’s Rodeo Team was named 2026 College National Finals Rodeo, CNFR, National Champions after competing against athletes from across the country recently in Casper, Wyoming.
Top athletes from 12 geographic regions competed in three earlier rounds of competition. The top 12 cumulative scores or times advanced to the championships on June 20 to vie for national championships.
“It is great to be able to celebrate the success of our students as they represent Texas A&M on collegiate rodeo’s biggest stages,” said Clay Mathis, Ph.D., head of the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Animal Science.
Roger Hanagriff, Ph.D., instructional associate professor in the Department of Animal Science and Texas Aggie Rodeo coach, said while it is common for one or two competitors from a team to advance, having four make the final round is a significant accomplishment.
“We’re incredibly proud of the outstanding efforts of this team as a whole,” Hanagriff said. “They have shown such dedication and hard work throughout the season, and we are excited to see that pay off at the CNFR.”
Grabbing the titles
Devin Young ’29, of Rosanky, a biomedical sciences student, earned the National Barrel Racing Champion title after earning an overall first place. Young was also named CNFR Women’s Rookie of the Year, and her horse, Jettin to Docs Bar, was named the Women’s American Quarter Horse Association Horse of the Year.
Ceily Simpton ’27, of Navasota, an agricultural communications and journalism major, placed third overall in barrel racing, and McKinlee Paschal ’27, Nome, public health, placed fourth.
Lucy Richards ’28, of Hereford, an agricultural economics major, tied for seventh overall in goat tying.
Emma Matchett ’29, of Marquez, who is majoring in animal science placed second in the second round in the goat tying.
