POPLARVILLE, Miss. — A season removed from sending six athletes to the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo., the Pearl River rodeo team is gearing up to get another season started on Thursday at the Missouri Valley Rodeo in Marshall, Mo.
“It got here really fast,” head coach Frank Graves said. “I think it’s going to be a really good year. I feel like I have a really good group that is looking forward to getting started. It won’t be long before we look up, and half the year will be past us.”
MEN’S TEAM
The men’s team was hit with some injuries last season, which caused the Wildcats to get a little behind. The 2024-25 team will be young, but Graves expects them to be solid contributors. Last year, we had a lot of injuries. Hopefully, we can avoid that this year.”
“The guys are a younger team this year,“ he said. “We have a few returners, but we’ve got a lot of new athletes that should make an impact. I think our guys have a chance to be a lot better this year.”
Trent Davis is expected to be one of the team leaders and has even added a new category to his events this year. He will compete in team roping, calf roping and steer wrestling.
“Trent has a good partner this year for team roping, and he’s going to start steer wrestling, too,“ Graves said. “Trent should have a standout year. He was close last year, and I think he solved some of his problems.”
Cayden Roland and Cole Lansford are back again to compete in team roping. Roland will also calf rope.
“They were a good team last year that started off strong,“ Graves said. “They fell off a little at the end of the year, but I think they’ll be really good this year.”
Trevor DeLee and Jake White will be another team roping duo this season. White will also compete in steer wrestling.
“They were going to be a good team last year before Jake got hurt,“ Graves said. “It put them behind from the beginning. They should get off to a good start this year. Jake will bulldog, too. He can have a really good year doing that.”
Lane Daniel and Gunner Payton will be another team roping duo for the Wildcats. Payton will also calf rope.
“That should be a good team,“ Graves said. “I’ve got really good team ropers this year. I’m excited about them all.
PRCC has a trio of bull riders on the 2024-25 team in returner Tyler Housley and freshmen Jay Rodrigue and Rowdy Weaver.
“Tyler finished fourth last year and fifth the year before, so he’s been right there with a chance to make it to Nationals,“Graves said. “Jay and Rowdy are really talented freshmen. Both of them have competed nationally and should do really well.”
Bryson Crawford will calf rope in addition to team roping with the women’s team’s Molli Rae Kinchen.
“Bryson is a really good team roper and calf roper,“ Graves said. “His calf roping was probably the best for us last year. He got a lot of points.”
Birch Harvey and Tate Joiner will be a pair of steer wrestlers for PRCC.
“Birch is a really good kid and a really good steer wrestler. I think he could have a big year,“ Graves said. “I’ve been watching Tate compete for years. He’s got some talent, so if he gets off to a good start, it’ll carry on.”
WOMEN’S TEAM
Pearl River should have plenty of experience on its women’s team, returning all but one member from its five that wereOzark Region Reserve Champions.
“We only lost one athlete off our women’s team from last year, so they should be really good again,“ Graves said. “Most of the girls will be in at least their second year, and our newer girls can help us now.”
Kate Eiland returns to lead the pack after being named the Ozark Region All-Around Champion a season ago. She will team rope, barrel race and goat tie.
“I think Kate could have an even better year this year with her not being a freshman,“ Graves said. “She knows what to expect now, so I feel like she’s going to do great.”
Kinchen and Karrigan Cagley also stood out on last year’s team. Kinchen will barrel race and breakaway rope. She will also team rope with the men’s team’s Crawford. Cagley will compete in the same events.
“Both of them have been here and are older athletes,“ Graves said. “They know what to expect and should have an opportunity to lead. I’m excited about their year.
Erin McLaughlin is PRCC’s final returner on the squad. She will compete in goat tying and breakaway roping.
“I have high hopes for Erin,“ Graves said. “She had some trouble last year, so I expect her to get better this year and be a big part of this team.”
Abbey Abraham and Maggie Fowler are talented barrel racers that Graves was excited to add to his team.
“I haven’t seen a lot of them competing yet, so I’m not sure how they’ll handle the pressure.“ He said. “They do well, but it’s new to them at this level. They’ll need to take it and run with it.”
The Wildcats added a hometown athlete in Gentry Wilson. The Poplarville native will be a barrel racer and compete in breakaway roping.
“She’s the hometown girl,“ Graves said. “She can rope really well and runs barrels. I’m hoping she gets kicked off well at the beginning and that it carries over.
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