The 2017 Raider Rodeo season kicked off on Sept. 14 with the Pear River Community College (PRCC) Rodeo in Hattiesburg, MS. Roper and racer Madison Steele ended the weekend as PRCC Rodeo reserve champion after a 3.5-second run in the short go-round of breakaway roping, pushing her up to the #2 spot in the Ozark Region for breakaway roping. Rodeo Coach Chad Phipps said Steele’s performance and versatility make her the TRC rodeo rider to watch for the 2017 season. 

“It’s a marathon, not a race, but Madison got off to a great start in the breakaway,” said Phipps. “When she steps up in her other three events, I expect her to be a deadly threat in all four events she competes in.”

The bull riding team of Joe Phillips, Christian Cox, and Dalton Mann struggled against tough bulls and failed to make the short go-round, but Rodeo Coach Chad Phipps said that he was pleased with their performance against challenging bulls.

“They drew some tough bulls, and while they rode well, the bulls just got the better of them,” said Phipps. “I’m looking for big things out of that crew going forward.”

Despite the fact that no rider other than Steele advanced to the short go-round, Phipps and the Raider Rodeo team remain optimistic for the upcoming events in their schedule.

“I think we struggled with nerves some this weekend, but I think we’re going to settle in just fine for the next rodeos,” said Phipps. “We were a little weak in some areas, and we’re going to have to work hard to catch up, but we’re hanging in there against more experienced teams. We’re going to come back strong.”