USU’s Rodeo Team Produces National Champions

Utah State University is home to not one, but two national champions. Rodeo team members Garrett Thurston and Trevor Merrill placed first in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Championship in Casper, Wyo., June 11-18.

“I love representing the school that I grew up so close to. Being a national champion feels great.” Thurston said.

At the championship Thurston and Merrill competed together in team roping and placed seventh, 14th, and 12th in three preliminary rounds in order to qualify for a fourth and final round. In the final round, the team placed first by roping a steer in 5.8 seconds, placing one second ahead of Rob Webb and Jacob Minor from Walla Walla Community College.

In order to qualify for nationals, teams had to place either first or second in their region. The rocky mountain region consists of six schools including Utah State. Thurston and Merrill placed first in region, and teammate Jake Wanner placed second. As a team, USU men’s rodeo placed fourth in the region, and the women’s team placed sixth.

At nationals, Wanner paired with Weber State’s Taylor Christensen in team roping. They placed fourth in the first round and didn’t place in the second round, giving them 17th place overall.

As a team, USU’s rodeo club placed 13th in the nation. This is the highest the team has placed since Jeffery Hall, an associate professor and toxicologist in the veterinary diagnostics lab, started coaching 15 years ago. Hall said it’s a far jump from last year when the team only placed in the top 40. While most other teams at the championship competed with six members, Utah State’s team placed with only three.

“Considering the circumstances, placing 13th nationally was very good. We only had half of a team and those who were competing were young. I expect them to do great things in the future,” Hall said.

As a senior, Thurston just finished his four years of eligibility. Hall expects that Merrill and Wanner, who are sophomores, will carry the team in coming years. The team is also looking forward to new members in the 2011-2012 season, including Kyler Austin, an Idaho high school steer wrestling champion. His brother, Jace Austin, is currently a member of the team.

“Students who compete in the rodeo club are getting an education,” Hall said. “This championship really reflects well on our program,”