ARTICLES BY MICHAEL BAUER | ODESSA AMERICAN

Odessa College Bull Riders Trinity Bear and Hayden Welsh will represent Odessa College at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, WY next Week. The CNFR will take place June 15-21 at the Wyoming Ford Center. 

Bear, a sophomore from Canada talked about what it means to qualify for this year's CNFR after coming up short last year.

"For me, it feels pretty good," Bear said. "I came here last year, trying to try to make the national finals. So it was pretty important to make it this year for me … It's pretty special. You try your hardest to make it. Right? And once you do, it feels really good. So I feel happy about that."

After missing out last year, Bear talked about some of things that changed for him this year that helped lead to his national qualifier.

"I think my mindset changed," Bear said. "I think I'm just more focused on what I need to do instead of focusing on what I haven't done. So just take it day by day and just relax."

Qualifying for nationals in rodeo at the JUCO level is usually easier said than done. It's another matter when competing in one of the toughest regions in the country.

"I think it definitely helps," Bear said. "My mindset and my confidence level is a lot better than someone that had the easier region and I think that's I think my confidence will go up because of that."

Hayden Welsh needed only one season to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo and he won't have to travel far to it, either.

The freshman bull rider at Odessa College from Gillette, Wyo. punched his ticket to the finals after qualifying at the regional meet at Tarleton State last month and will compete at nationals on June 15 in Casper, Wyo.

"It's a blessing," Welsh said. "It's been a season of hard work and trial and errors. Halfway through the season, I went home for Christmas and was sitting about fourth or fifth in the region. I found myself with a good relationship with the lord again and he had a switch of plans for me. I started doing everything for him and I ended up having a blessed season."

Welsh finished as the co-champion, putting up 615 points to qualify. 

As far as getting to nationals from his home town, Welsh will only have to drive a little over an hour from Gillette to Casper.

He's looking forward to having a lot of his friends and family in the stands, supporting him.

"That's a blessing right there," Welsh said. "I'm only an hour and-a-half from home. All my friends and family are going to be there to support me. It's going to feel good being back home and having them in the cheering section."

2025 COLLEGE NATIONAL FINALS RODEO HOMEPAGE: https://cnfr.com/