McNeese Men’s Rodeo Team is in First Place in Southern Region 

McNeese State University’s rodeo team has a great start to the 2025-2026 season with rodeos at Panola College Rodeo in Tatum, Texas, and Southwest Texas Rodeo in Uvalde, Texas. 

At the Panola College Rodeo the McNeese men’s team placed second with winning rides in the saddle bronc and bareback riding events.  

In saddle bronc riding Caleb Miller, of Welsh, placed first, Jace Nixon, of Lake Charles, placed third, Jackson Ford, of Sturgis, South Dakota, placed third and Wyatt Lavergne of Sulphur placed fifth. In bareback riding, Devin Byram, of Welsh, placed sixth and Monty Fontenot, of Ville Platte, placed seventh. 

Also on the men’s team, Jude Leonards, of Bell City, placed ninth in steer wrestling and Colten Ethsay, of Kaplan, placed seventh in tie down calf roping. 

On the women’s team, Alyssa Gary, of LeBleu Settlement, placed second and Tiffani Crawford of Burna, Kentucky, placed sixth in goat tying. 

At the Southwest Texas Rodeo, the men’s team placed first and earned the championship. 

In saddle bronc riding Miller placed first, Lavergne placed second, Ford placed third and Nixon placed fifth. In bareback riding Fontenot placed third and Byram placed fourth, and in steer wrestling, Leonards placed second. 

The McNeese Rodeo team will be hosting the 70^th Annual McNeese Rodeo on Oct. 23-25 in Burton Arena.