McNeese Cowboy Named Steer Wrestling Champion

McNeese State University junior Gavin Soileau, Bunkie, was crowned the champion steer wrestler Saturday night at the  College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo. This is Soileau’s first year competing in the CNFR.

“I practiced the same way I do for every rodeo, and then I got out there and tried to take it one step at a time, and tried not to get nervous, and it all worked out,” says Soileau. “When you get there and all your hard work pays off, it makes all the effort worth it.”

Teammates Waylon Bourgeois, Church Point, finished 5^th in bareback riding and Kamryn Duncan, Denham Springs, took 6^th place in goat tying. Overall, the men’s team finished the season in 10^th place and the women’s team in 11^th.

McNeese intercollegiate rodeo began in 1947 and this is the 29^th year that McNeese has sent students to the national championship finals. Since McNeese intercollegiate rodeo began, there have been five team national championships and 22 individual championships.