Aggie barrel racer wins region, advances to Casper

Aggie barrel racer wins region, advances to Casper

NCTA’s Lexus Kelsch in high school barrel racing action. (Courtesy photo)
NCTA’s Lexus Kelsch in high school barrel racing action. (Courtesy photo)

Curtis, Neb. – NCTA Aggie barrel racer Lexus Kelsch of McLaughlin, S.D., has won the Great Plains Region of National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association and ranks fifth in the national standings.

She will represent the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) at Curtis, Neb., at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo., on June 12-18.

The NCTA Aggies completed their spring rodeo schedule last weekend at North Dakota State University in Dickinson with Kelsch as the sole national qualifier, said Bridger Chykta, NCTA rodeo coach.

Kelsch has been a national champion in high school rodeo and competed strong for NCTA in 2014-2015 and again in 2015-2016, also earning a spot at CNFR in 2015.

Collegiate athletes compete during their fall and spring semesters in NIRA, among 11 regions.  The top three students in each event, plus the top two men’s and women’s teams qualify for the CNFR.

Kelsch is ranked fifth overall among the top 25 barrel racers in NIRA, which represents more than 100 colleges and universities of two-year and four-year programs.  NCTA is a two-year technical agriculture college.

Collegiate rodeo events include saddle bronc riding, bare back riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, and goat tying.

For details on NCTA academic programs and collegiate teams, see NCTA.unl.edu or call 1-800-3-CURTIS.

Source:

Bridger Chytka, animal science assistant professor and rodeo coach, bchytka2@unl.edu, or (308) 760-8090.

Writer:

Mary Crawford, NCTA News, 308-367-5231, Mcrawford@unl.edu

NCTA.Rodeo.NDSU.05.12.16

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