TVCC-Henderson County Now

Wrapping up the TVCC rodeo

By Benny Rogers, TVCC Sports Information

Approximately 400 competitors, representing 20 colleges and universities, were on hand for the 5th annual Trinity Valley Community College National Intercollegiate Rodeo this past weekend at the Henderson County Fairpark Complex.

TVCC was well represented in the two days of competition with five team members qualifying for the short-go round of the sixth event of a 10-event rodeo season.

Qualifying for the short-go for TVCC were team ropers Wenceslao “Lightning” Aguilera and Kolby “Thunder” Miller, Austin Gross in bull riding, Justus Whitcher in tiedown roping and Garrett Jones in bareback riding.

Aguilera and Miller roped their first steer in 4.7 seconds, which earned third place in the round. They also placed fifth in the average. Aguilera and Miller are currently in first place in the Southern Region of the NIRA and second in the national standings.

Gross qualified for the finals and scored an 81 which placed second in the round.

Austin placed third in the average and is currently fourth in the Southern Region standings.

Following the 10 regional rodeos, the top three competitors in each event and the top two teams in each region qualify for the College National Finals, which are held in Casper, Wyoming in June.

“We have four rodeos to go and are hoping to stay and finish strong this year,” said TVCC rodeo coach Brent Bratton. “Our students’ have such determination and drive.

“It would be a great feeling to have a truckload of TVCC students qualifying for the CNFR and make a few of the university students stay home. The community and college is so supportive of this team, it would be a great feeling to bring home a national title for them.

PHOTO: TVCC in Austin

A group of students and administrators from Trinity Valley Community College recently visited the city of Austin for Community College Day at the Texas Legislature. The group participated in a rally on the steps of the capital and met with legislators from the area concerning community college-related issues. Pictured are: (front row, from left) Dist. 4 Representative Lance Gooden (R-Terrell), TVCC students Chelsea Malone and Kensarah Lockhart, TVCC President Dr. Glendon Forgey, (second row) TVCC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Mary Nicholson, TVCC Director of Student Activities Cortney Curran, students Madi Smith, (third row) Gage Locke, Henry LeBeau, Kallan Campbell, Trevarr Walts, (back row) Will Baker and McCae Larson. (PHOTO COURTESY TVCC)

TVCC Sports Notes: Basketball sweep over Tyler

By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information

On the night Leon Spencer Court was dedicated, the Lady Cardinals and Cardinals swept a doubleheader against Tyler. The Lady Cardinals were an 86-45 winner and the Cardinals took a 64-57 decision.

The win improved the Lady Cardinals to 24-1 on the year and 11-0 in conference. The Cardinals raised their records to 16-9 and 7-7.

Shannon Smith led the Lady Cardinals with 20 points. Adut Bulgak had 15, Roddricka Patton and Savannah Carter 13 each and Victoria Wells 11. Krystle Henderson added eight.

The Cardinals were led by Tyler Corley’s 17 points. Karon Phillips had 10 and Carl Porter nine.

Both teams are scheduled to be in action again Wednesday at Kilgore. Action begins at 5:30 p.m.

SOFTBALL

The Lady Cardinals went 3-3 in the Cow Town Tournament in Fort Worth over the weekend to move their season record to 5-4.

In action Friday, the Lady Cardinals fell to Cowley, 12-3, and Butler, 10-3, and defeated Cisco, 10-1. Saturday, they defeated Western Oklahoma, 5-4, and Odessa, 3-2, and lost to Weatherford, 9-7.

The Lady Cardinals had 53 hits during the tournament.

Here are the hitting leaders in the six games:

Vs. Cowley – Eric Jordan 2-for-3, Jazmine Hicks 2-for-3

Vs. Butler – Chyna Phipps 2-for-4, Chantelle Whitehead 2-for-3, Jordan Olivaras 2-for-3 (2 RBI)

Vs. Cisco – Phipps 3-for-4, Candise Wise 2-for-3 (HR)

Vs. Western Oklahoma – Melissa Boland 2-for-4, Hicks 2-for-3, Phipps 2-for-4, Wise 2-for-3

Vs. Weatherford – Lauren Webster 2-for-3, Hicks 2-for-3 (HR), Phipps 2-for-4

Vs. Odessa – Marci Seymour 1-for-3 (game-winning hit), Wise 2-for-3

The Lady Cardinals are scheduled to be back in action Tuesday in Waco against McLennan. Doubleheader action begins at 1 p.m.

The Lady Cardinals are scheduled to be at home Saturday against Grayson in their home opener. Doubleheader action starts at 1 p.m. They will also be at home on Saturday, playing Grambling State in two games starting at 1 p.m.

ON THE AIR

Palestine radio station KYYK (98.3 FM) will broadcast both TVCC-Kilgore basketball games Wednesday. The games will also be streamed online at www.youreasttexas.com.

Pregame programming starts at 5:20 p.m.

TVCC rodeo Friday and Saturday

It’s time to rodeo up!

The 5th annual Trinity Valley Community College National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association-sanctioned rodeo is scheduled Friday and Saturday at the Henderson County Fair Park Complex.

Competition is scheduled at 7:30 each night with slack beginning at noon Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. Each night during the performance, children can compete in a calf scramble to win prizes.

“We always have a lot of fun with that (calf scramble),” Bratton said. “It’s a great way for kids to come out and find out what we’re all about.”

TVCC rodeo coach Brent Bratton said approximately 400 contestants, representing 20 college and universities, are expected to compete. Expected to compete with Bratton’s talented squad are Hill College, Southwest Texas Junior College, McNeese State University, Northeast Texas Community College, Lone Star Community College – Montgomery, Panola Junior College, Texas A&M University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University – Kingsville, and Wharton County Junior College.

Each NIRA member college has its own club composed of student members and sponsored by a faculty advisor who supervises the club’s activities. Each year, a men’s team consisting of six members and a four-member women’s team is chosen from each school. These team members travel to the regional rodeos competing against other NIRA member schools. Those not chosen for the team may compete on an individual basis and still be eligible for all prizes except those given to the team. The top three contestants in each event from each of the NIRA’s 11 regions qualify to compete in the CNFR. The top two men’s teams and women’s teams also qualify from the regions.

The TVCC roping team of Wenceslao “Lightning” Aguilera and Kolby “Thunder” Miller is currently ranked No. 1 in the region.
General admission tickets are $5 each and may be purchased in advance at Lone Star Western Wear in Athens, or on the night of the performance at the gate.

All proceeds generated by the rodeo are given back to the students to further their education, according to Bratton.
Sponsors of the 2013 event include: Henderson County Farm Bureau, Holiday Inn Express, Best Western Royal Mountain Inn, Athens Bank, Kevin Lilly’s McDonald’s, Champion Genetics, Miars Arabians, Whataburger, Bent Bucket Ministries, Smith Pro Rodeo, Carr Pro Rodeo, ETMC EMS, Southside Feed, North 19 Fire & Rescue, Reynolds New York Store, Ag-Power, Inc., Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative, KCKL 95.9FM, Red Line Power, Citizens National Bank, Lone Star Western Wear, Mark Roberts, DDS, Marion’s Shell & Service Center, Heritage Land Bank, Dillon Manufacturing, Agri-Land Farm Credit Services, Athens Cleaners, Mill’s Feed & Supply, First State Bank, Bar None Cowboy Church, Jalapeno Tree, Prosperity Bank, Big Tom Construction, Athens Lumber & Supply, Spencer Hardware, East Texas Ag Services, Henderson County Veterinary Hospital, Citizens State Bank, Cox Trailers, Iron Hill Ranch, McMurray’s Signs, East Texas Crushed Rock, Palmer Trucking and The Cutting Company.

On a Wing and a Dare: TVCC students downs 61 wings in 15 minutes

Trinity Valley Community College student CeQuan Anderson of Houston eats his way to first place during the college's first Super Bowl Wing Eating contest. (PHOTO COURTESY JENNIFER HANNIGAN/TVCC) — Trinity Valley Community College student CeQuan Anderson of Houston eats his way to first place during the college’s first Super Bowl Wing Eating contest. (PHOTO COURTESY JENNIFER HANNIGAN/TVCC)

By Jennifer Hannigan, TVCC Public Information

With just a couple of hours until the kickoff of this week’s Super Bowl, 10 Trinity Valley Community College students lined up in the campus cafeteria, appetites ready.

Last Sunday, TVCC Dining Services and TVCC student activities paired up to host the first TVCC Super Bowl Wing Eating Contest.

The contestants were challenged to eat as many wings as possible in 15 minutes. They were allowed a drink. They were cheered on my other students who showed up to witness the event.

“We are planning to make this an annual event,” said Vice President of Student Services Dr. Jay Kinzer, who was also one of the judges for the event. “It’s just a good way to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday and we’re thankful to dining services for hosting this event.”

Aramark, the company that provides food services for TVCC, sponsored the event and cafeteria workers cooked the eight cases of chicken wings used for the event.

When the time was called, the college’s first wing-eating title went to CeQuan Anderson, who wolfed down 61 wings in the 15 minutes.
Second place went to Isaac Robertson with 53 wings and third place to Levi Robertson with 52 wings.
For his culinary prowess, Anderson received a $40 gift card to Applebee’s. Second and third place took home an Outback Steakhouse gift card and a TVCC blanket.

Anderson’s accomplishment also carries another reward. The contest will be named in his honor as the first winner of the event.