Cress
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 16, 2019
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Winning big at big events is becoming a habit for Haven Meged.
The Tarleton State University rodeo team cowboy claimed the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world title in tie-down roping at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas over the weekend.
Tarleton teammate Brody Cress, a three-time CNFR qualifier, also secured his second saddle bronc average title by winning the 10th round with a 91.0.
Coupled with his 2019 College National Finals crown in the event, the NFR win puts Meged, a senior agriculture industries and agencies major from Miles City, Mont., in good company.
He is the first PRCA rookie to win a tie-down roping gold buckle since 1985. He also became just the fourth person in ProRodeo history to win a college championship and a professional world championship in the same year, following in the footsteps of Ty Murray (all-around, 1988), Matt Austin (bull riding, 2005) and Taos Muncy (saddle bronc riding, 2007).
“It’s a dream come true,” Haven told 406mtsports.com. “I hurt myself three weeks before here and just had faith in God that it would be all right and that this is his plan. It’s unbelievable.”
Besides earning the NFR gold championship buckle, Haven left Las Vegas with the prize saddle for first place in the average. He also was named PRCA Rookie of the Year.
Cress, the only saddle bronc rider to cover all 10 head at NFR, finished with 840.5 points to win the average and also finished second in the world standings for the second time in three seasons.
He won the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southwest Region saddle bronc title in 2018 and sits in second at the winter break this year. He entered the NFR ninth in the world standings as a professional.
Tarleton, founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven education marked by academic innovation and a dedication to transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s leaders. It offers degree programs to more than 13,000 students at Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian, RELLIS Academic Alliance in Bryan, and online, emphasizing real-world learning experiences that address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, excellence, leadership and service.
Contact: Phil Riddle
817-484-4415
priddle@tarleton.edu