Incoming freshman wins rodeo championship

Wyatt1 250Incoming Rice freshman Wyatt Imus won the Texas Youth Rodeo Association’s tie-down (calf-roping) championship June 18 in Gonzalez, Texas.

Imus, who grew up in New York City and moved to Brenham, Texas, last June, took to the sport at age 13 when working with kids at The Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer in Ribera, N.M. While living in New York, Imus traveled to Texas every other weekend for training and competed in middle school and high school events.

To qualify for the finals in the nearly 50-year-old YRA, a contestant must enter at least six of the 12 scheduled rodeos in the 2015-2016 season. Contestants then qualified for the finals by placing in the top 15 in each event. Imus entered six rodeos, participated in five and qualified in the top 10 in both calf roping and team roping.

Imus, who will be in the Class of 2020, said he plans to continue competing and will represent Rice in college rodeos beginning in September.

About David Ruth

David Ruth is director of national media relations in Rice University's Office of Public Affairs.