STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State University bareback rider Daxtyn Feild came up big in Saturday night’s championship go-round of the College National Finals Rodeo to claim a portion of a three-way tie for the national title in the event.
Both Tarleton State rodeo teams finished third at the CNFR. The men’s team placed behind Clarendon College and Lone Star Region rival Weatherford College, while the women trailed only Texas A&M University and the University of Wyoming.
“I’m proud of them,” said Tarleton State Head Rodeo Coach Mark Eakin. “Any time you can go up there and be in the top three with both teams, you’ve had a good rodeo. We were the only team in the entire nation to do that.”
Tarleton State’s men were back-to-back defending national champions heading into the CNFR but the draw went against them this year.
“A roper on the men’s team drew a calf that no one got a time on, we had one bronc rider that had three re-rides,” Eakin said. “We just didn’t draw on the right end. As a whole, though, for them to come out of there the way they did, they had a great week.”
Feild’s 85 on Saturday gave the Roosevelt, Utah, cowboy a four-head score of 326.51 to become Tarleton State’s 32nd individual crown winner. He tied Clarendon College cowboy Carson Hildre and Kooper Heimberg of Missouri Valley College in the average.
“Daxtyn did a really good job,” Eakin said. “He’s a freshman and his ride in the finals was one of the best rides I’ve ever seen. That was the first time ever there’s been a three-way split.”
Goat tyer Faith Lundberg led the Tarleton State women, capturing the event’s reserve championship Saturday with a 6.0-second time for a four-run aggregate of 25 seconds.
“Honestly, I wasn’t even nervous for the short go,” Lundberg said. “I knew I had to put it all on the line and bring the best I could.
“I had lots of fun,” she said. “I was thankful to be there and happy, but I definitely don’t like being second. The good news is I hopefully have four more chances to win it.”
Additionally, Dalton Porch snagged fifth in the men’s all-around, competing as a steer wrestler and tie-down roper, and Clay Greenslade, who rode in both the saddle broncs and bareback events, took seventh.
Other bright spots for Tarleton State in the week-long rodeo included an arena record 7.1 seconds to win the third go-round of the tie-down roping by Travis Staley, saddle bronc rider Waitley Sharon’s 84.5, just .5 behind eventual event winner Tagg Bond of Clarendon College, and Jenna Fulton’s 2.0 time in breakaway roping, good for second in the third go-round.
Looking to 2027 and beyond, Eakin is optimistic.
“Out of that whole group of 15 we took to Casper, there are only two that are out of eligibility,” he said. “It was a young team, and they all did a great job.
“The future looks pretty good.”
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of more than 21,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For over 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.