By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information
It was a big finish for the Trinity Valley Community College rodeo team in the final Southern Region event of the year this past weekend in Wharton.
Austin Gross, a freshman from Arcadia, Fla., turned in an 82-point ride to finish second in the competition. The ride also gave Gross a third-place finish in the regional standings, earning him a trip to the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyo., in June.
Gross will join freshmen Wesceslao “Lightning” Aguilera of Athens and Kolby Miller of Alba at the CNFR. Aguilera and Miller placed seventh in team roping at the Wharton event, but finished ranked No. 1 in the Southern Region to punch their CNFR ticket.
“Considering that these contestants must compete against students from four-year universities at each of these rodeos to finish at the top is quite an accomplishment,” said TVCC rodeo coach Brent Bratton. “I am extremely proud of how our team members worked to stay in those top positions. It was a fight until the end and they did what they needed to do to win.
“We are confident for great things at the College National Finals and hoping to come home with several national champions. The team is so thankful to the supporters in the community. Without them and the support from the administration, they would not be able to live out their dreams.”
TVCC had three other team members finish in the Top 10 of the Southern Region rankings: Justus Whitcher, 8th, steer wrestling; Kacey Kirby, 9th, barrel racing; Garrett Jones, 10th, bareback.