Wood ropes in victory: Claims national college rodeo title in team roping event
Uvalde, TX, June 20, 2023 - Southwest Texas Junior College Cowboy Slade Wood and Wharton County College roper Logan Moore clinched the gold buckles as the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) Team Roping National Champions. Wood, the team’s roping header, is a business major representing Southwest Texas Junior College, while Moore, the team’s heeler, is a wildlife biology major at Wharton County Junior College.
The duo exhibited exceptional performance, completing their first of four runs in a blazing 4.8 seconds to secure victory in round one, along with a pair of National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) gold championship CNFR rings on Monday, June 12.
On Tuesday, June 13, the pair delivered another thrilling run of 5.2 seconds, earning them a commendable fourth-place finish in round two and establishing control of the average with a combined time of ten seconds over two runs.
Despite adverse conditions on Thursday night, June 14, with constant rain and intense flash flooding, the determined ropers showcased their unwavering focus. They achieved a flawless third run of 6.3 seconds, securing the sixth position in round three and accumulating a total time of 16.3 seconds across three runs. Their remarkable lead of 2.3 seconds over their competitors propelled them to the number one position ahead of the 12 finalist teams heading into the short round on Saturday night.
The atmosphere inside the Ford Wyoming Center for the short round on Saturday, June 17, was filled with real competition and electrifying energy. Wood and Moore experienced mounting pressure as they were the last team to compete. They needed a clean run of 8.4 seconds or faster to claim the national title.
The charismatic team of Wood and Moore rose to the occasion triumphantly. Not only did they achieve a clean run of 6.5 seconds, securing them second place in the short round, but they also secured the national title by an astonishing margin of 6.3 seconds.
Wood's victory in the national title marked SWTJC's first such achievement in 27 years. With 285 points, this remarkable feat earned Wood the NIRA Team Roping Rookie of the Year accolade and single-handedly propelled the SWTJC Men's Team to a 16th-place finish in the nation. Wood also achieved a commendable 28th position in the country in tie-down roping.