West Texas A&M University’s Ranch Horse Team just secured its second straight national championship at the fiercely contested National Intercollegiate Ranch & Stock Horse Association event held April 13 to 15 at the Amarillo National Center on the Tri-State Fairgrounds.
The dominant WTAMU squad not only defended its 2025 crown but made history by sweeping every individual category, an unprecedented feat for any Division I team at the competition. This extraordinary victory solidifies WTAMU’s reputation as the country’s top collegiate ranch horse program.
Coach Dr. Lance Baker, a professor of animal science in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, praised the team’s unwavering dedication. “Few things are more gratifying than a group of student athletes who buy into the vision and sacrifice everything to achieve a goal like this,” Baker said. “They have done what no other team has — winning the Division 1 team title while sweeping all individual awards and capturing the outstanding rider and freshman honors.”
Historic Team Sweep Dominates National Stage
The team’s 19 WTAMU riders took on fierce competition from top-ranked programs like Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, North Central Texas College, and New Mexico State University in four challenging classes: ranch reining, stock horse pleasure, ranch trail, and cow work.
WT students competed across three divisions — novice, limited nonprofessional, and nonprofessional — with standout performances from several key players.
Parker Ralston, a sophomore agribusiness major from Collbran, Colorado, triumphed in the nonprofessional division and earned the prestigious Kris Wilson Top Hand Award, given to the best rider across the entire event. Freshmen Marin McCarthy (equine industry and business major, Aledo, Texas) and Avery Turner (equine industry and business major, Gilmer, Texas) won the limited nonprofessional and novice divisions respectively, with Turner also named Outstanding Freshman, sponsored by the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.
More Rising Stars Shine Bright
Additional highlight finishes included:
- Nonprofessional Division: Cutter McLaughlin (3rd), Ashley Wortham (5th), Bayleigh Leathers (9th)
- Limited Nonprofessional Division: Kailey Robers (4th), Lela Chisholm (5th), Haylee Triplett (6th)
- Novice Division: Bella Ayers (3rd), Elizabeth Iandoli (6th), Tess Lewis (8th)
Riders hailed from across the country, including Massachusetts, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, and Washington — highlighting the program’s national draw.
Winning Brings Practical Rewards and University Pride
In addition to national titles and individual awards, the WTAMU team secured the use of an award trailer from Hughes Trailers in Canyon for a full year, a prized symbol of their achievement.
Coach Sidney Dunkel, instructor of animal science, also guided the team’s training efforts, underscoring the deep expertise supporting these student-athletes.
This championship win aligns perfectly with WT’s long-range strategic plan WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World, emphasizing student growth in courage, self-reliance, and teamwork—key qualities cultivated through competition like this.
West Texas A&M: A Rising Regional Research Leader
Founded in 1910 and part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990, West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, serves over 9,000 students across a sprawling 342-acre campus and a downtown Amarillo center. With nationwide recognition as a Research College and University by the Carnegie Foundation, WTAMU offers an extensive array of 66 undergraduate and 44 graduate degree programs, including doctoral degrees.
Its commitment to both athletics and academics continues to propel the Buffaloes, members of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference, to national prominence.
What’s Next?
With back-to-back national titles and a slate of exceptional young talent, the WTAMU Ranch Horse Team is poised to maintain its domination in upcoming contests. Fans and observers should watch for the Buffaloes at future National Intercollegiate Ranch & Stock Horse Association shows as they push the limits of what collegiate ranch horse teams can achieve.
As the team basks in its historic 2026 victory, WTAMU’s ranch horse program stands as a powerful example of how passion, teamwork, and perseverance can deliver unparalleled success on both a regional and national stage.
