Fort Scott Community College men's rodeo team qualifies for rodeo finals

Submitted photo Seven Fort Scott Community College rodeo team members have qualified to compete in the College National Finals Rodeo at Casper, Wyo., June 14-21. The qualifiers are (from left) back row: Jake McKellops and Chancy Lovinggood. Middle row: Billie Saebens and Cody Kelly. Front :Head coach Chad Cross, Ty Clearwater, Cali Griffin, James Carter and assistant rodeo coach Jeff Sawyer.

Herald-Tribune

FORT SCOTT, Kan. --The Fort Scott Community College rodeo team has a lot to celebrate. After finishing runner-up in the Central Plains Region, the team has automatically qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo, which will be held June 14-21 in Casper, Wyo.

Going to the CNFR was accomplished through a lot of hard work and determination from the team. FSCC will take seven to the CNFR including six men which will make up the qualifying team. One member of the women's team also qualified individually.

The student athletes who will be participating in the CNFR are James Carter, bareback riding; Ty Clearwater, bull riding; Chancy Lovinggood, bareback riding; Cody Kelly, bull riding; Jake McKellops, saddle bronc riding; Billie Saebens, team roper; and Cali Griffin, the lone distaff qualifier, break-away roping.

According to FSCC head rodeo coach Chad Cross, who was recently named the Central Plains Region Coach of the Year, most participants in the Finals are college juniors and seniors. So for three sophomores and four freshmen to qualify is a remarkable achievement.

All participants will compete in three rounds. Coach Cross says approximately 45 people will compete in each event with the top ten qualifying for the short round. There will also be 45 teams competing for the national team title.

When the participants compete, it will be on a clean slate. Cross explained that the points they received from the other rodeos throughout the season are not carried over to the CNFR

Cross is thrilled with how well this team has performed this year.

"Our team has gone through a lot of adversities including injuries and personal issues," Cross said. "Most wrote this team off, but they are a special group that wanted to accomplish a goal they set earlier in the year."

Going to finals means a lot to these rodeo team members as it is a reflection of their hard work throughout the year. Finalists give a lot of credit to the FSCC rodeo program. Fort Scott's coaches are willing to help out anytime of the day and they provide a good atmosphere, the student athletes said.

For more information on the FSCC rodeo program, contact Cross at (620) 223-2700, ext. 702. For more information on the finals, visit the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Web site at www.collegerodeo.com.

Some information for this article courtesy of Fort Scott Community College.