Seven Qualify for College National Finals Rodeo

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern will be sending a total of seven competitors to the Collegiate National Finals Rodeo June 11-17 in Casper, Wyo., with Luke Thrash, Tyler Pruitt, Gus Franzen, Mason Couch, Caden Bunch, and Garrett Elmore representing the men's team while Bailey Witt will represent the women's squad.
 
The men advanced as a team after finishing second in the Central Plains region standings after posting top-three finishes in seven of the 10 rodeos during the season. The women's team just missed advancing after finishing third in the region after posting to-three finishes in six events.
 
Thrash, a sophomore, advances in the bareback riding and will be making his second-straight trip to the CNFR, making the finals in his first trip a year ago.
 
He would pick up event wins at Northwestern Oklahoma State and Kansas State and was second at Oklahoma State, Fort Scott CC and Garden City CC. He is also competing professionally while he competes collegiately and is in his first PRCA season and in contention for Rookie of the Year as he is ranked 11^th in the world standings in the Bareback Riding.
 
Pruitt, a senior, advances in the saddle bronc riding and is making his second appearance at the CNFR after advancing as a sophomore at Tennessee-Martin.
 
He finished third this year in the Central Plains Region among saddle bronc riders, posting five total top-five finishes which included an event win at NWOSU. He is also competing professionally on the PRCA.
 
Franzen, a senior, is advancing to his fourth CNFR in the steer wrestling after posting a second-place finish in the region this season. He posted top-five finishes in four competitions, including a title at the Southwestern Oklahoma State rodeo where he was also the All-Around champion.
 
He has twice advanced to the finals at the CNFR and is looking to improve on his eighth-place finish from last season.
 
Couch, a senior, is making his second trip to the CNFR in the steer wrestling after posting a trio of top-three finishes on the season and finishing third in the region. He was also third regionally a season ago and advanced to the finals where he finished sixth.
 
He is also a PRCA steer wrestler and is a past Prairie Circuit Qualifier.
 
Bunch, a freshman, advances to the CNFR in the bull riding and is the men's team's only first-time qualifier.
 
He posted four event victories in the bull riding on the season, wining at his home rodeo as well as NWOSU, FSCC, and GCCC. He is also competing professionally with the PBR and PRCA.
 
Garrett Elmore, a senior, rounds out the men's qualifiers and advances in the team roping as a header where he will rope with Western Oklahoma State's Jessen James.
 
He is a multiple-time qualifier in the All-Around out of the Central plains Region, including a reserve men's all-round regional championship a season ago. He advanced last season in the team roping and tie down roping, while this year he and his partner put up an event title at NWOSU.
 
Witt, a senior, represents the women's team and advances in the goat tying. She is a first-time CNFR qualifier after posting top-fie finishes in seven of 10 events on the season, including an event championship at Kansas State.
 
Her run on the season earned her a Central Plains Region championship in the goat tying this season, all while she is also competing professionally in the WPRA/PRCA in the breakaway and the barrel racing.