WT Ranch Horse Team Rides to Victory in Fort Worth

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M University's Ranch Horse Team hit the trifecta at a National Reined Cow Horse Association competition.

For the third consecutive year, the WT squad won the team championship, and its three riders also took home top individual honors.

"I am so proud of how these riders competed and represented their team and WT at the NRCHA world championship show," said Dr. Lance Baker, ranch horse team head coach and professor of animal science in the Department of Agricultural Sciences in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. "Their dedication and hard work, matched with their extremely talented horses, resulted in a big win for the team for the third year in a row."

Cutter McLaughlin, a senior agribusiness major from Amarillo, was individual champion in the non-pro division-his third championship title in four years.

Bella Bridges, a sophomore agricultural media and communication major from Brownsboro, won an individual championship in the limited non-pro division.

Elizabeth Iandoli, a freshman equine industry and business major from Carmel Valley, California, won a reserve champion title in the novice boxing division.

Their combined scores at the Feb. 22 contest in Fort Worth put the team more than 12 points over its closest competitor, Clarendon College. Also competing were teams from North Central Texas College, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, Laramie County Community College, Tarleton State University and the University of Arkansas.

The team next will compete March 5 and 6 at the Stock Hose of Texas contest in Bryan, then will defend its collegiate national championship April 12 to 15 at the National Intercollegiate Ranch & Stock Horse Collegiate National Championship in Amarillo.

Such team competition is one way in which WT creates in its students a commitment to being self-reliant, courageous, resourceful and part of something larger than one's self, as laid out in the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign, which is now winding down, has raised more than $175 million.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

Photo: West Texas A&M University Ranch Horse team members Cutter McLaughlin, from left, Elizabeth Iandoli and Bella Bridges took home a team championship and three individual wins at the National Reined Cow Horse Association competition in Fort Worth. Also pictured is coach Dr. Lance Baker.

-WT-