Rodeo Student Shelby Rita shines at Mesalands Community College

TUCUMCARI, NM (12/02/2011)(readMedia)-- Shelby Rita of Haleiwa, HI, is one of four rodeo team members at Mesalands Community College who received the honor of being named a 2011 Academic All-American recipient by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. This honor is bestowed to students that have a 3.5 cumulative grade point average and qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR).

"We are very proud of Shelby and what she has accomplished while at Mesalands," C.J. Aragon, Intercollegiate Rodeo Coach at Mesalands Community College said. "She has definitely taken advantage of the many opportunities Mesalands has to offer, both academically and in the rodeo arena."

Rita is a sophomore at Mesalands majoring in Business Administration. She competes in barrel racing, team roping, and breakaway. At the 2011 CNFR, Rita finished 20th in barrel racing.

She is currently ranked fifth in the Grand Canyon Region in barrel racing. The Women's Rodeo Team is ranked third in the region.

The Men's Rodeo Team is also doing well both regionally and nationally. The Team is ranked second in the region and third in the national standings.

The next rodeo competition for the Mesalands Rodeo Team will be at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ February 4, 2012.

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Additional information about the Mesalands Community College's Rodeo Team can be obtained at 911 South Tenth Street in Tucumcari, or at (575) 461-4413, or on the Web at www.mesalands.edu.