Panola Rides To Nationals
Longview News Journal
5/15/08

The Panola College Men's Rodeo Team has qualified for the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Finals. Panola College will be represented at the National Finals in Casper, Wyo., in June by six members of the rodeo team. The finals are divided into 11 regions across the country, and the two top teams in each region qualify to compete as teams at the National Finals. Panola came in second place in the Southern Region and is ranked 23rd nationally. The Panola team will send defending National Bareback Champion Tilden Hooper and five other teammates to compete for the National Team Championship. Other participating team members are: Lucas Butler, Ryan Thibodeaux, Will Foster, Friday Wright and Pat Garrett.

Hooper won the Regional Championship in bareback this year and will go into the finals ranked sixth in the country. Butler took second in the region in saddle bronc and Garrett finished fifth in the same event. Thibodeaux was fourth in tie down roping; Garrett ranked eighth in saddle bronc; Foster ranked 10th in saddle bronc and a 12th in bull riding; Wright ranked seventh in bull riding; Reese Cates ranked 15th in bull riding and Taylor Roach ranked 14th in steer wrestling. Other team members contributing to the championship run were: Kyle McKnight, Kennon Tucker, Matt Garner, Ryan Stouffer, Paul Meyers and Kelby Perah.

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