Skocdopole Excels at ENMU Rodeo

NMJC men's rodeo athlete Chase Skocdopole had a fantastic performance at the Eastern New Mexico University rodeo Sept. 14-16. 

The sophomore finished in a tie for 7th/8th place in the long round of calf roping, third in the short round, and fourth in average. The finish gained the T-Bird men's team 70 points, which was their first points of the season. 

Skocdopole backed up his impressive performance in calf roping with a stellar showing in the team roping competition. There, with his partner Blake Walker from Sul Ross State University, Skocdopole placed fifth during the long round, third in the short round, and second in average.

The performance earned the team another 110 points to push their season total to 180 points after the completion of ENMU rodeo. 

NMJC's men's rodeo head coach Stewy Kinley was impressed with his sophomore's poise in the first rodeo of the year.

"Chase's experience is definitely something that helped him push through the tough conditions we faced at ENMU's rodeo," Kinley said. "He finished last year's season with a bang, winning a lot in the last few rodeos. That confidence helped him roll into this first rodeo and know exactly how to handle the pressure and perform well."

Coach Kinley is hoping to see consistency from Skocdopole because he sets the bar for the rest of the team as they look forward to the final four rodeos this fall. 

"Not only did he make two good runs in the long round, but he followed that up in the short round and did his job in each event," Kinley said. "This is exactly the way you want to start your year off and keep it rolling. I know the rest of the team is hungry to do the same thing this weekend in Alpine at the Sul Ross State University rodeo."

The Thunderbird men's and women's rodeo teams will compete in the second rodeo of the fall semester Sept. 21-23 at the Sul Ross State University Rodeo in Alpine, Texas.