Three Rivers College’s Casey Roberts highlighted a strong finish to the Raiders’ 2021-22 rodeo season by winning the Bull Riding National Championship at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo.
In addition to Roberts’ finish, teammates Cole Skender finished third in bull riding and Kolby Krieger finished 30th in tie-down roping. Three Rivers finished fifth overall in the team standings despite only having three participants.
“We were the only team to not have six people,” Three Rivers coach Chad Phipps said.
“That is pretty unheard of and that got a lot of coaches’ attention.”
This year’s success continues a run for Three Rivers after Skender finished second in 2021 and Holden Moss finished fourth. Of the eight go-rounds in bull riding the past two years, a Three Rivers Raider has won five of them.
“We’re building a championship caliber program and that’s what I want to see,” Phipps said.
Roberts won the first go-round with 79 points, four points ahead of Skender. Skender later won the third go-round with 84 points. Heading into the final round, defending national champion A. Tristen Hutchings of Sul Ross State University held a slight lead on the field.
Roberts was the only bull rider to pull off an 8-second ride in the final round, and his 82.5 points gave him 239.5 in the average and 295 total points. Skender earned 159 points in the average and 230 total points.
Roberts has also been drafted to the Oklahoma Freedom PBR team but may return to Three Rivers to pursue a degree in agriculture.
To follow the Three Rivers rodeo team, visit facebook.com/3Rrodeo.
