Texas Tech Sweeps Houston Livestock Show's Three Judging Categories
March 18, 2013
Livestock and Wool teams join Meat team to sweep all three judging events for the second time.
The livestock team took first place, had three of the top ten high individuals and was first in the cattle and reasons divisions.
Texas Tech University’s meat judging team had already walked away with first place honors March 3 at the Houston Livestock Show’s Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest, the ninth consecutive year the Red Raiders have won the competition in Houston.
Then last week the Livestock Judging Team and the Wool Judging Team took similar honors, making it only the second time in school history that the three teams swept all of the judging at the annual event, the first time in 2008.
“All three teams have put in many long hours of practice and travel, have worked so hard preparing for their competitions, and have performed well throughout the year,” said Leslie Thompson, chair of the Department of Animal and Food Science. “We knew going into Houston all three teams had the capability to win there, but so many things can happen, you just never know. It is truly a thrill to have a Red Raider ‘three-sweep,’ for the Livestock, Meats and Wool Judging Teams all to be crowned champions at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo this year. They are an outstanding group of students academically, as well as, being tough competitors. I am so proud of these kids. They have represented the Texas Tech in an outstanding manner.”
The livestock team took first place with a score of 4,819, had three of the top ten high individuals and was first in the cattle and reasons divisions. They are coached by Ryan Rathmann and graduate student Brady Ragland.
Livestock team members include:
- Nick Rieke, a junior from LaOtto, Ind., first-high individual
- Lane Halfmann, a junior from Garden City, third-high individual
- Jordan Richburg, a junior from Deltona, Fla., ninth-high individual
- Logan Mason, a junior from Lazbuddie, high Individual, Alternate Division
- Caetlyn Avant, a junior from Copeville
- Dan Crownover, a junior from Italy
- Blake Davis, a junior from Paragould, Ark.
- Bo Hutto, a junior from Hondo
- Emily Jackson, a junior from Waco
- Valerie Manning, a junior from Mabank
- Tanner Martin, a junior from Roscoe
- Kaitlyn Meyer, a junior from Temple
- Kevin Murnin, a junior from Miles City, Mont.
- Stephanie Neuhaus, a junior from Dora, N.M.
- Matt Savage, a junior from Seminole
- Isaac Wenzel, a junior from Hamilton
Texas Tech’s wool judging won with a score of 2,260 and had five of the top ten high individuals. The team is coached by Aaron Jennings, an instructor in the Department of Animal and Food Science and undergraduate Brittany Thompson.
Texas Tech’s wool judging won with a score of 2,260 and had five of the top ten high individuals.
Wool Judging team members include:
- Laramie Priest, a freshman from Lorena, high individual
- Colton Fritz, a freshman from Fredericksburg, second-high individual
- Cade Hall, a freshman from Artesia, N.M., fifth-high individual
- Victoria Andrews, a freshman from Pflugerville, seventh-high individual
- Reggie Halfmann, a freshman from Garden City, ninth-high individual
- Drew Dunlap, a freshman from Plainview
- SyAnn Foster, a freshman from Lockney
- Deshea Hanagan, a freshman from Artesia, N.M.
- Garrett Lam, a freshman from Burkburnett
- Taylor Stockton, a freshman from Lubbock
- Hayden Thorp, a freshman from Mertzon
- Chad Vander Linden, a sophomore from Muscatine, Iowa
- Calvin Welper, a freshman from Shallowater
- Tylee Jo Williams, a freshman from Memphis
Houston is the last contest of the spring semester for the livestock and meat judging teams and the last contest for the wool judging team, which does not compete in the fall.
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