WT Rodeo Closes Out Season with Awards, Hall of Fame Banquet

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M University Rodeo saluted its top students at its end-of-year banquet, which also recognized significant athletes and supporters from the team's past.

Seven students won awards, and prominent WT Rodeo and alumni were inducted into the WT Rodeo Hall of Fame at the May 2 banquet.

"As I look back on this year, the word 'momentum' is what comes to mind," Coach Cody Joe Bonds said. "Numerous students met personal goals in and out of the arena, and we are excited to have celebrated those. We had a great year and could not have done it without the help of our community."

Clayton Veldhuizen, a sophomore agricultural business and economics major from Woodburn, Iowa, was named MVP for the men's team, and Tori Huddleston, a junior health sciences major from Childress, was named MVP for the women's team.

Justin Wright, a senior agribusiness major from Walsh, Colorado, and Trinity Kruse, a junior marketing major from Pretty Prairie, Kansas, won the academic excellence awards for the men's and women's teams, respectively.

Henry Jones, a freshman agribusiness major from Spur, and Kaiden Stricklen, a freshman agricultural business and economics major from Durant, Oklahoma, were named rookies of the year. Rylynn Bradford, a sophomore equine industry and business major from Tomball, won the Try Hard Award.

As announced in April, the 2026 Hall of Fame inductees were Mike Reid Settle, a 1961 graduate and National Cowgirl Hall of Fame member; former coach Dr. Kelvin Sharp; the late Dr. Dean Hawkins, former head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences; and supporters Johnny Trotter and Mike Kuhlman.

WT Rodeo closed out its season with the South Plains College Rodeo from April 23 to 25 in Levelland.

Jones tied for fourth in tie-down roping. Wright placed fifth and Veldhuizen placed ninth in steer wrestling. Marquel Moser, a junior animal science / pre-vet major from Las Vegas, Nevada, placed sixth and Huddleston placed 10th in barrel racing. Stricklen placed 10th in breakaway roping. Wright and James Colvin, a senior agricultural business and economics major from Uvalde, placed fifth in team roping. Dallee Robison, a junior animal science major from De Leon, placed seventh in goat tying.

For the year, John Hisel, a senior agribusiness major from Elida, New Mexico, ranked fifth in region in team roping with partner Lyvan Gonzales from New Mexico Junior College. Huddleston ranked sixth in the region in barrel racing. Avery Aaron, a freshman animal science major from Edgewood, ranked ninth in the region for breakaway roping. Veldhuizen, who sat out of three rodeos as a transfer students, ranked 10th in the region in steer wrestling.

Spring commencement ceremonies are scheduled for May 15 and 16.

Promoting, recognizing and rewarding excellence is in line with the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which raised more than $200 million dollars, the largest such campaign in Texas Panhandle history.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

Photo: The West Texas A&M University Rodeo Team celebrated the end of its season at its Hall of Fame Banquet on May 2. Team members include, bottom row from left, Rylynn Bradford, Taylor Thompson, Avery Aaron, Preslie Poling, Sage Gaillard, Trinity Kruse, Markee Hawksworth, Jaylee Lane, Tyla Maness, Abby McCreary and Kashli Stouard; middle row from left, Bella Saulan, Bella Ayers, Kaydence Carroll, Lainey Konetzki, Shaylee Edmiston, Marquel Moser, Kelli Frazier, Lexi Shedd, Dallee Robinson and Kaiden Stricklen; and top row from left, Weston Peters, James "Tres" Colvin, Heath Harkins, Corbin Nix, Henry Jones, Tryce Johnson, Justin Wright, Dillon Hall and Clayton Veldhuizen. Not pictured are Madison Clark, Tori Huddleston, Kiley Hargrave-Batten, Sydney Bracher, John Hisel, Ransom Tiffany, Jake Herndon, Ruy Martinez, Sierra Pimm, Acelyn Brink, Camryn Beinhaur, Karsen Collier, Maci Seals, Cash Robertson, Head Coach Cody Joe Bonds, and Assistant Coach Paige Brandon.

-WT-