Mesalands Rodeo Team members Michael Ortega and Dominic Silva of Belen, NM dominate in Arizona

TUCUMCARI, NM (02/22/2012)(readMedia)-- The Mesalands Community College's Rodeo Team had one of their best performances at a regional rodeo at the University of Arizona in Tuscon, AZ on February 4-5, 2012. The Team had a total of 19 members place at the rodeo. The Men's Team took first place with 954 points and brought home two championship titles. The Women's Team clinched their first championship title of the season and finished in second place with 456.5 points.

"Our Team is on pace to shatter the single season points record for the region," C.J. Aragon, Mesalands Intercollegiate Rodeo Coach said. "We have been averaging a little more than 900 points a rodeo, and our old record is around 670 points a rodeo. Our Women's Team also has a chance to go to the college finals after the last rodeo. They were 600 points behind going to the rodeo, and they cut the gap down to 200 points in one weekend."

The following Mesalands Rodeo Team members are from your area:

Michel Ortega and Dominic Silva took seventh place in team roping at the rodeo at the University of Arizona.

The Mesalands Men's Team is currently ranked second in the nation and second in the Grand Canyon region. The Women's Team is ranked third in the region and 13th in the nation.

"Our Men's Team is only 12.5 points from leading the nation at the midway point of the season," Aragon said. "I think it's impressive that New Mexico has two of the best rodeo teams in the country, Mesalands and New Mexico State."

The next rodeo competition for the Mesalands Rodeo Team will be at Cochise College in Ft. Huachuca, AZ, March 2-3, 2012.