West Texas A&M Ranch Horse Team Claims Second Consecutive National Championship
West Texas A&M University has surged ahead at the National Intercollegiate Ranch & Stock Horse Association competition, securing its second straight team championship and sweeping all major individual categories in a stunning victory at the Amarillo National Center April 13 to 15.
The Buffaloes crushed teams from Texas Tech, Texas A&M, New Mexico State, and others, firmly establishing their dominance in Division I competition and rewriting the record books, according to coach Dr. Lance Baker, professor of animal science.
“This team has done what no other has—winning the Division 1 team title and sweeping all individual categories along with outstanding rider and freshman awards,” Dr. Baker said.
Three Riders Named National Champions in Blistering Performances
West Texas A&M’s Parker Ralston, a sophomore agribusiness student from Colorado, clinched the nonprofessional division and earned the prestigious Kris Wilson Top Hand Award for the top rider overall.
Freshmen Marin McCarthy and Avery Turner, both equine industry majors, took home titles in the limited nonprofessional and novice divisions respectively. Turner also earned the Outstanding Freshman Award, sponsored by the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.
Altogether, 19 Buffaloes competed in multiple events spanning ranch reining, stock horse pleasure, ranch trail, and cow work — sweeping through two go-rounds with remarkable consistency and skill.
Thirteen additional team members scored placements across the divisions, showing depth across agribusiness and equine programs from Texas, Colorado, California, and beyond. Their teamwork earned them exclusive use of a fully equipped Hughes Trailer for the upcoming year, a prized trophy symbolizing their unmatched success.
A Model of Dedication and Excellence with Broader Impact
The victory highlights West Texas A&M’s commitment to student-athlete excellence, self-reliance, and leadership ingrained in the university’s WT 125 strategic plan and powered by their record-breaking $200 million+ One West fundraising campaign.
With an enrollment of over 9,000 on its sprawling Texas Panhandle campus, West Texas A&M continues raising its profile nationally as a Carnegie-designated research university and NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference member.
For South Carolina readers and sports fans nationwide, this win underlines the rising prestige and competitive spirit of universities expanding their influence beyond traditional athletic programs to specialized agricultural and ranching sports.
West Texas A&M’s back-to-back titles confirm a new powerhouse in college rodeo and ranch horse competition, promising more thrilling contests and top-tier athlete development in years ahead.
