Lady Texans capture 2016 WJCAC conference title

The South Plains College women's rodeo team captured the 2016 Western Junior College Athletic Conference championship after compiling 1,032 total points this season, with four Lady Texans earning All-Conference honors for South Plains.

Head coach Kerry Doster was named the Women's Coach of the Year in the WJCAC, and believes the work ethic and fortitude both groups showed throughout the year was the main reason for their success in 2016.

"I think KC and I were just fortunate enough to have some good girls, who were really resilient and worked hard, and did a really good job for us as far as winning the conference," Doster said. "We've had a little bit of success, and we're just going to try and keep building on that, and hopefully it takes the women's team to nationals next year."

Teryn Tate, a sophomore from Clovis, New Mexico, was named first team All-Conference in the women's breakaway roping competition, while Sierra White earned honorable mention honors in breakaway roping for the Lady Texans.

Kortney McReynolds, a sophomore out of Ruidoso, New Mexico, captured first team All-Conference honors in the women's goat tying competition. Shay Spitz, who will be competing at nationals on June 11 in Casper, Wyoming, earned honorable mention honors in women's barrel racing.

The Texans were also the beneficiary of two athletes being recognized by the conference for their efforts this season. Coy Surrett, a sophomore from Buhl, Idaho, was named honorable mention in men's steer wrestling, while Colton Hancock earned honorable mention honors in tie down roping.

"I think this just shows what our program stands for," Doster said. "In our sport, we go against four-year colleges, where other sports just play within their conference. We don't have that, and it just shows how strong South Plains College is within our conference. I hope with the kids we have coming in, we can build off the success we've had within the conference, and hopefully take it within the region, and to the national level."