2022 Nebraska College Rodeo Named Region Rodeo of the Year, Two Qualify for College National Finals

2021-2022 UNL Rodeo Team (photo by Lana Hebda)
2021-2022 UNL Rodeo Team (photo by Lana Hebda)

Two members of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Rodeo team qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) after competing at the 63rd Annual Nebraska Cornhusker College Rodeo on May 6-7. The rodeo was voted the Great Plains Region Rodeo of the Year by the coaches and captains of all regional teams.

CNFR qualifiers include Jillian Zaun in barrel racing and Grant Lindsley in team roping. Zaun was named Great Plains year-end barrel racing champion, while Lindsley finished third in the year-end team roping standings. The CNFR will be held June 12-18 in Casper, Wyoming.

"We're really proud of Jillian and Grant," head coach Marshal Peterson said. "Qualifying is such a great accomplishment and we're excited to see them compete in Wyoming next month."

In the barrel race, Zaun clocked a 15.73 to top the field at Nebraska's rodeo.

Lindsley and Tee Whited won the team roping event with an average of 23.5 seconds. The duo turned in a 9.6 in the long go, before catching in 13.9 in the short go. Jayden Fleischman also competed in the team roping, catching in 17.4 in the long go.

Lindsley also competed in tie-down roping, finishing in seventh place in the average (31.8) with times of 14 and 17.8 seconds.

The Region Rodeo of the Year award is believed to be a first for the event. It was previously voted Most Improved by the region in 2009.

"Earning that award is a tremendous honor," Peterson said. "Our students started planning last fall and worked really hard to bring this event to life. We couldn't have done it without support from the Department of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, along with the staff at the Lancaster Event Center, our sponsors, and our rodeo team and club. We made every decision in hopes of making this a special event for our competitors and fans. To have the teams vote for us is very rewarding. We're looking forward to making things even better moving forward."

Other Great Plains Region institutions include University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Mid-Plains Community College (Neb.), Iowa Central Community College, Dickinson State University (N.D.), Iowa State University, South Dakota State University, and Black Hills State University (S.D.).