NTU rodeo team’s all-around cowboy Rooster Yazzie (left) and coach Nicole Pino are excited about the 2022 spring rodeo season. The steer wrestler from Coyote Canyon won the event at the University of Arizona rodeo in Tucson.

On March 5, 2022, The Navajo Technical University (NTU) rodeo team travelled to Tucson, Arizona, to compete at the University of Arizona for their rodeo season opener. The Grand Canyon Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) held its first event of the year, gathering athletes from its eight university and college alignment. The competition proved that NTU is among the top contenders with Rooster Yazzie of Coyote Canyon, New Mexico, garnering top honors in the steer wrestling event. The Skyhawk men also earned 324.5 points as a team and third place at the event.

“There were some good performances from the team, but of course we must continue improving and preparing for the next show,” said Nicole Pino, head coach of the NTU rodeo team, as she discussed how they worked together to motivate and assist one another during the rodeo. “We are staying positive and looking forward to our upcoming show in Casa Grande, Arizona.”

The winner of the steer wrestling event at the U of A rodeo, Rooster Yazzie, put his steer down in 5.1 seconds to earn 145 points and a trophy buckle. The win moved him into third place of the steer wrestling rankings with 273 points and eight points ahead of teammate Matthew Jodie. Yazzie also competes in the tie-down roping and collected 32 points for the event. The all-around athlete is currently earning his certificate with NTU’s Commercial Driver’s License and Heavy Equipment Program and is focused on completing his studies and representing the university with the best of intentions.

“It’s always a great feeling to be in the winner’s circle and it’s even more exciting at this level, but I can’t let that allow me to slow my pace.” said Yazzie about his win among top college athletes in the region. “It’s important for me to stay focused on my studies and practice, I always trust the outcome will be positive-like winning.”

At the event, Hiyo Yazzie contributed 147.5 points towards the NTU team rankings with fourth place in steer wrestling and fifth place for tie-down roping. Currently, he is ranked second with 209 points in the tie-down roping, 11^th as a healer in team roping, and 10^th place for steer wrestling. NTU athlete Matthew Jodie did not earn any points in steer wrestling, and bull rider Milton James was unable to make a successful ride. In the NTU women’s team, Labelle LeFrance and Kyra Capitan competed in goat tying and breakaway roping respectively, but did not earn points.

The Skyhawk men’s rodeo team is currently in fourth place in the Grand Canyon region with 1,107. 50 points behind Mesalands Community College, New Mexico State University, and Central Arizona College.