SWTX Rodeo Reloaded: Seven Qualifiers Eye Another National Title Run
By Sugar Almand, SWTX Rodeo Coach
Uvalde, TX, June 9, 2026 - After a stellar season seven Southwest Texas College Cowboys are once again Casper, Wyoming bound for the College National Finals Rodeo held June 14-20.
Over 400 contestants from more than 100 universities and colleges compete each year at the CNFR after qualifying throughout the season at the regional level.
Coach Joey Almand, voted 2026 Southern Region Coach of the Year, leads a strong set of qualifiers to the prestigious National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association season culmination.
Coach Almand and SWTX team members brought home 5 National titles and honors last year for Uvalde.
“We had an outstanding CNFR last year and naturally we’d love to top that. It won’t be easy to match what we were able to do last summer, but with the group we’ve qualified, it’s absolutely possible.”
Leading the qualifiers are sophomore Cort Boyd of Centerville, Texas and freshman Coleman Canton of Navasota, Texas. Boyd won the Southern Region All Around Cowboy title as the reserve champion tie down roper and finished fourth in the team roping as a header. Canton was the reserve champion All Around Cowboy and won the regional tie down roping title after also finishing 12th in the team roping as a header.
Both Boyd and Canton will subsequently compete in both tie down roping and team roping at the CNFR. “By competing in two events up there, Cort and Coleman have the opportunity to put a lot of points on the board for us in the men’s team contest,” explained coach Almand.
After qualifying for the CNFR last year and a reserve round win, barrel racer Natalia Ramirez from Laredo is once again Casper bound as the reserve regional champion barrel racer. “Natalia’s been to this stage before and if she can keep her barrels up, I think she and her great horse have an opportunity at a National title. The set up really fits her horse and having already competed there, she should be comfortable and confident in her ability,” said coach Almand.
Freshman Cade Sandstrom from Pleasanton was the regional reserve champion team roping Heeler and makes his first CNFR trip. “I have a lot of confidence in Cade,” said coach Almand. “For his age he’s mentally mature and not afraid to take his shot. He heels like a seasoned competitor and is confident enough to be fast on the trigger. That’s what it takes up there.” Sandstrom will be heeling for Sam Houston freshman header Walker Smith in Casper.
Freshman Jaydon Warner of Tropic, Utah won the region’s Heel Horse of the Year title and finished third overall in the team roping as a heeler. “Jaydon rides great horses and really works at his craft,” explained coach Almand. “He’s a fierce competitor and really talented. He’ll be roping with Cort in Casper which helps our chances at a men’s team title. They need to be steady and consistent, and you’ll see them in the final round.”
Freshman Casper Ringelstein qualified fifth in the heading and will be roping with Will Smith of Sam Houston. “The team roping qualification process is complicated,” said coach Almand. “During that process normal teams can end up roping with different partners at the CNFR. Casper and Cade roped together regionally this year but after the process, find themselves roping with the Smith brothers from Sam Houston State. Of course we’d prefer that they’d be able to rope together, but the partners they’re required to rope with are great runs respectfully. Casper is a great cowboy and a smart roper. I expect him to handle this set up like a veteran. He’s going to be able to really set his runs up and give his heeler every opportunity to get on the scoreboard.”
Freshman bull rider Casey McGinnis from Pleasanton rounds out the SWTX CNFR qualifiers. “Bull riding is a tough event, especially in Casper,” said coach Almand. “But having a qualifier at the other end of the arena could really help our team chances if Casey can draw the right bulls. If he can, he could really be a game changer for us up there.”
Each contestant gets three runs or rides during the CNFR, and the top twelve advance to Saturday night’s championship round where the national champions are crowned.
Follow the social media pages of SWTX Rodeo and SWTX College for behind the scenes stories and updates. The main performances and championship round can be watched live on the ESPN3 app.