Eastern New Mexico University is preparing for its College "Daze" Rodeo, scheduled to take place this weekend at the Lewis Cooper Arena in Portales. The event marks the start of the 2025-26 collegiate rodeo season and introduces several changes for the university's rodeo program.
The team welcomes new leadership with John Sharp taking over as head coach and Shacie Marr joining as assistant coach. Albert Flinn will continue his role as an assistant. Sharp previously served as an assistant at Howard College and worked as a graduate assistant at Texas Tech, where he also competed as a student-athlete. He began his collegiate rodeo career at New Mexico Junior College, making Eastern New Mexico his fourth institution in the region where he has coached or participated in rodeo. Marr returns to ENMU after completing her student-athlete career, which included qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming.
Another change this season is Eastern New Mexico's move to compete in the Caprock region alongside institutions such as Texas Tech, South Plains, Frank Phillips, West Texas A&M, Clarendon, New Mexico Junior College, Howard, Odessa, and Western Texas. Each of these ten teams will host a rodeo during the campaign.
The team roster includes ten returning student-athletes from last season. Seven members of the women's team are back, including Shaeden Marr who had summer wins in Socorro, New Mexico and Monte Vista, Colorado. Walker Dennis also returns after advancing to short go rounds last season. The women's team adds four new members while seven new men join the squad this year. Head coach John Sharp has recruited two graduate transfers from Texas Tech: Jacob Walters joins with multiple CNFR appearances during his collegiate career; Mackinzee Dermody also brings experience from several events at TTU.
Rodeo performances are set for Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m., featuring events such as bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie down roping, team roping, goat tying, breakaway roping, and barrel racing. Single-day tickets are $10; students pay $5; military personnel, first responders and ENMU students receive free admission. Eastern New Mexico will have entries in several events across Thursday and Friday performance rounds including steer wrestling and goat tying. Team roping and barrel racing entries are scheduled for Thursday night.
Local food trucks will be present at the arena during the event. Those unable to attend can watch live via ENMU Athletics Youtube channel.
"Sharp came to ENMU after one season as an assistant for Howard College. Prior to his time at HC, he worked as a graduate assistant for Texas Tech where he also competed as a student-athlete. Sharp is quite familiar with the region as he began his collegiate career at New Mexico Junior College," according to information provided by Eastern New Mexico University.
"Marr is back with ENMU rodeo after a decorative career for the green and silver. She recently concluded her student-athlete career after making it to the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyo," said university officials.
