McNeese Rodeo Team Ready for Spring Season

The McNeese State University men’s and women’s rodeo teams enter the spring 2025 season both ranked nationally in several categories by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) after competing in five rodeos in the fall.  

For the men’s rodeo team in saddle bronc riding, Izaah Bartels, of New Underwood, South Dakota, is ranked third, Jace Nixon, of Lake Charles, is ranked fourth and Caleb Miller, of Welsh, is ranked 10^th. In bareback riding, Kash Martin, of Lufkin, Texas, is ranked in the top 25, while in bull riding, Kash Krogman, also of Lufkin, Texas, is ranked in the top 20. The men’s rodeo team is currently ranked 17^th in the nation.  

From the women’s team, Alyssa Gary, of LeBleu Settlement, is ranked sixth in the nation in goat tying.  

McNeese competes in the NIRA Southern Region, comprised of 13 colleges and universities from Louisiana and Texas. At the first spring rodeo of the season, the men’s team placed fourth while the women’s team placed third. 

In saddle bronc riding, Drew Bordelon, of Ville Platte, placed first, Trent Broussard, of Crowley, placed second, Nixon placed third and Bartels placed sixth, while in bareback riding, Martin placed third, Devin Byram, of Welsh, placed fifth and Jacob Lamon, of Pollok, Texas, tied for sixth. 

For the women’s team, Gary placed first in goat tying. 

Currently, the men’s team is ranked second and the women’s team is ranked fifth in the Southern Region’s standings. 

In saddle bronc riding, Bartels is ranked No. 1, Nixon is No. 2, Miller is No. 3, Bordelon is No. 4 and Broussard is No. 7. 

In bareback riding, Martin is ranked fifth, Lamon is ranked sixth, Monty Fontenot, of Ville Platte, is ranked ninth and Byram is ranked 11^th. 

In bull riding, Krogman is ranked third while Kase Busby, of Hicks, is tied for 14^th in tie down roping. Jude Leonards, Bell City, is tied for No. 11 in steer wrestling. 

For the women’s team, Gary is ranked second in goat tying and Katelyn Schlange, of LeBleu Settlement, is ranked fourth. 

Next, the McNeese teams travel to Bryan, Texas, for the Texas A&M rodeo competition Feb. 28-March 1.