STEPHENVILLE, Texas — After claiming the 2025 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southwest Region title and qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR), Tarleton State University’s women’s rodeo team is laser focused on a national title, which would be their first since 2005.
Each member of the team feels like there is unfinished business in Casper after last season’s reserve championship.
“They competed so hard, and the title was right there almost in their grasp,” said assistant head coach Brittany Stewart. “This year, with this group, a championship is 100% achievable.”
The Tarleton State women claimed eight first-place finishes during the 10-rodeo regular season, earning a regional title and qualifying for the June 15-21 CNFR.
“There’s a lot of confidence on this team,” said Stewart. “Winning the Southwest Region is a huge accomplishment. This is one more rodeo, one more step to a national championship.”
A trio of previous CNFR qualifiers from Tarleton State lead as the program competes for its fifth crown.
Barrel racers Jordan Driver and Hadley Tidwell, along with goat tyer Tori Brower, all seniors, have made a combined 11 trips to Casper, lending a wealth of experience to the team.
“They were all members of last year’s reserve championship team,” Stewart said. “They know what it takes and they’re ready for it.”
Driver, who also took the regular-season all-around title, finished atop the region’s barrel racers on the strength of four top-three runs including firsts at Texas Tech, Western Texas College and Vernon College. She was third in last year’s CNFR.
“The hardest part is getting (to the CNFR),” Driver said. “After that, we kind of know what to expect. We know the ins and outs. We all have the same goal. In that arena, we’re all on the same page.”
Tidwell’s third-place finish in the Southwest Region featured first-place efforts at Sul Ross State and Ranger College and a reserve championship at Odessa College. She was seventh last year at Casper.
She remembers feeling a sense of pride at being reserve champion last year but still a little let down.
“We definitely took motivation from that,” she said. “We have enough experience as a team, and we know we’re talented enough to be champions. We just have to make sure we do our best to treat this as just another rodeo.
“That is tough because you work so hard to get here and you’re building up the experience in your mind. You have to put that behind you and take care of business one run at a time.”
Brower, who finished in the No. 2 spot in the Southwest Region placed first in four rodeos – Eastern New Mexico, Texas Tech, Vernon College and Howard College.
In her estimation, this year’s strong regular season gives the group a confidence boost heading into the championship scenario.
“We’ve had a great year. We’re confident because we’re in one of the toughest regions in the nation and we saw the toughest competition at every rodeo, and we know we can compete. We’re ready to come back strong and win.”
Regional breakaway roping champ Jacelyn Frost and third-place qualifier Kaylie Garza round out Tarleton State’s CNFR roster. Both are first timers in Casper, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have a say in the outcome of the national title chase.
“Both of them have pretty good heads on their shoulders,” said Driver. “I’m not worried about them at all. Kaylie is a freshman but she performs like a senior. Jacelyn is a transfer. I’ve seen her in the region the last couple of years and I’ve always admired her. They’re important parts of this team.”
Their coach concurs.
“They’re looking to the others for their experience and motivation.” Stewart said, “But they’re both seasoned competitors with a strong list of accolades.”
Frost has taken advantage of her teammates’ experience as she negotiated her first regular season at Tarleton State.
“Everybody on the team has been helpful,” she said. “They’ve been great in helping me to focus on being consistent. To keep doing what got me here.
“One of the strengths of our team is how close we are. All the girls are practicing together every day and supporting each other in every event. We have a lot of confidence in each other.”
Garza has also leaned into the veterans for support in her first season of collegiate competition.
“They have already been there and done that,” she said. “They can fill me in on things I don’t know. They ease my mind for sure.”
Driver, gearing up for her final appearance for Tarleton State, admits to being driven by last summer’s final standings and is intent on a different ending for 2025.
“Going into the short round last year, we were winning, so to fall short was disappointing. We did well finishing second, but that’s never the goal.
“The moment we left Casper last year, we knew we needed to get back there and make a statement. We’re going back with a vengeance and the goal of bringing a national title home to Stephenville.”
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 approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 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.