September 27, 2017 - The Panola Rodeo Team dominated the rough stock events this weekend at the first Southern Region Rodeo of the year, which was hosted by Panola College. "It was a great start to the year for our team. Our team has cowboys and cowgirls that will be competitive for the CNFR in each event. This weekend the roughstock guys showed out a little. The livestock was very challenging and gave each rider an opportunity to win the event. I am very excited about the whole team and we should be seeing more names than just the ones from this weekend because we have a lot of depth and very talented," says Panola Rodeo Coach Jeff Collins.
Sophomore Logan Cook, of Alto, TX, picked up right where he left off last year at the College National Finals. Logan continues to prove why he is one of the best hands in the country as he won the saddle bronc with an impressive ride on Saturday night that had the whole arena on their feet hollering. He also tallied points in the team roping as he and his partner Colton Johnson of Shreveport, LA, finished 6th. Logan is now tied for second place in the Men's All-Around Competition with 195 points after the first rodeo.
In the Bareback competition, they saved the best for last as sophomore, Travis Chapman, from Woodville, TX excited the crowd with a powerful and exciting ride that stole the victory away from the defending National Champion from Sam Houston State Lane McGeehee, and two CNFR top 10 qualifiers last year Zach Hibler and Paden Hurst. Panola teammate, Tyler Johnson, a freshman from Athens, TX took 7th in the bareback riding to add to the points for the team.
Freshman, Koby Radley of Holdren, LA made his mark in the Southern Region as he won his first College Rodeo in the bullriding with an impressive score of 86. Teammate, Boudreaux Campbell, a freshman from Crockett, TX, finished 5th in the bulls. Radley and Campbell are setting the bar high in the Southern Region and in the PRCA as these two youngsters are ranked #28 and #16 in the PRCA World Standings.
Campbell Grover, a freshman cowgirl from Purvis, MS was the only cowgirl that put up some points up for Panola, as she finished 6th in the barrel racing.
Team Roper Duncan Nash, a freshman from Marshall, got points in the team roping, as he and his partner finished 4th in the team roping.
The Men's team finished 2nd overall in the rodeo and the women finished 7th.
The final standings for the teams were:
Men's Division
1. Hill College
2. Panola College
3. Northeast Texas C. C.
4. Wharton Jr. College
4. Sam Houston State
6. Texas A&M
7. Southwest Texas Jr. College
7. McNeese State Univ.
Women's Division
1. Texas A&M
2. Sam Houston State
3. McNeese State
4. Southwest Texas Jr. College
5. Texas A &M - Commerce
6. Stephen F. Austin State Univ.
7. Panola College
7. Wharton Jr. College
9. Hill College
Submitted by Don Clinton
