PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico's College "Daze" Rodeo is this weekend at the Lewis Cooper Arena. Before the 2025-26 season begins, please take a look at the Three Barrel Preview:

1.) New Leadership – The most notable change for Eastern New Mexico rodeo is the addition of head coach John Sharp and assistant coach Shacie Marr. Albert Flinn is continuing in his role as an assistant for the program. 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. Eastern is Sharp's fourth institution where he has coached or participated in rodeo within the region. 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. Another new change for ENMU rodeo is the new region of competition. Eastern will now compete in the Caprock region with Texas Tech, South Plains, Frank Phillips, West Texas A&M, Clarendon, New Mexico Junior College, Howard, Odessa, and Western Texas part of the group of institutions. All ten teams in the region will host a rodeo during the 2025-26 campaign.




2.) Meeting the Team – In total, ten student-athletes are back for Eastern New Mexico this season. Seven members of the women's team participated in collegiate rodeo a year ago. The most notable returner for Eastern women is Shaeden Marr who is back after having a successful summer with wins in Socorro, N.M. and Monte Vista, Colo. Walker Dennis is back for ENMU after making it back to a couple short go's in the 2025-26 season. Eastern also boasts four new women's team members and seven new men's student-athletes. Head coach John Sharp has brought in a pair of graduate student transfers from his alma mater, Texas Tech. Jacob Walters joins the men's squad and has gone to several CNFR's in his time in collegiate rodeo. Mackinzee Dermody is also joining the team and has done well in several events in her time at TTU.

3.) Ready for Action – The best place to be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m. is Lewis Cooper Arena in Portales, N.M. Each performance will include the best-of-the-best in bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie down roping, team roping, goat tying, breakaway roping, and barrel racing. Tickets for a single day are $10. Students are $5. Military, first responders, and ENMU students are free. Eastern New Mexico will have entries in steer wrestling, goat tying, and tie down roping during Thursday and Friday performance rounds. ENMU will also have some entries in team roping and barrels on Thursday night. Fans can expect local food trucks at the rodeo. For those unable to make it to Lewis Cooper Arena on either night, please watch the live stream on ENMU Athletics Youtube.