CNFR National Championship
TREASURE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE WINS FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT CNFR
Sam Saunders won the Team Roping National Championship, the first title in TVCC history
ONTARIO, Ore. (June 25, 2026) — Treasure Valley Community College is proud to celebrate the success of its rodeo team, which recently returned from the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) with the first national champion in school history, Sam Saunders in team roping!
Saunders, along with partner Marcus Marriott from Blue Mountain Community College, had a time of 4.4 seconds to earn the title, finishing with a four-run time of 23.1 seconds throughout the week in Casper, Wyoming.
Saunders, a freshman heeler from Homedale, Idaho, also won the Team Roping Rookie of the Year.
“I’m still in shock a little bit of everything that happened, but I feel so proud that I was able to help bring a national title home to TVCC,” Saunders said. “I’m grateful to my teammates, my roping partner, my family and everyone who helped me get here, and I’m excited to celebrate this win with all of you.”
CNFR is not categorized based on institution size, and all colleges and universities compete in the same division. National champions in other events included athletes from Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, and others.
The men’s team finished eighth in the team standings, and the women’s team finished 14th.
Both rodeo teams, led by coach Drew Pearson, are among the most storied programs in the northwest since its in inception in 1963.
Pearson this year won the Northwest Region Rodeo Coach of the Year from the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association for the eighth time in his career. He was also nominated to continue as the NIRA national faculty director.
“I could not be more proud of this year’s rodeo team,” Pearson said. “These men and women worked so hard all season long, and we proved we are one of the top programs in the country. And for Sam Saunders to win a national title as a freshman is nothing short of astounding.”
Other top national finishes from TVCC at CNFR include:
- Brock Cooper, third in bull riding
- Tommy Jack Rose, fourth in all-around and seventh in tie-down roping
- Arlee Morrison, fifth in breakaway roping
- Mossy Waite, eighth in bull riding
- Tucker Taylor, 12th in bull riding
- Caseyn Pearson, winner of the Smarty Sportsmanship Award
ABOUT TREASURE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Treasure Valley Community College provides accessible, affordable, and high-quality education that empowers students and strengthens communities across rural Eastern Oregon, Southwest Idaho, and beyond. Since 1962, we have provided a supportive, personalized learning environment where students can reach their goals while contributing to the region’s economic development. We connect students with direct career pathways, offer opportunities to build in-demand skills, and partner with local employers to align education with real-world workforce needs. Everything we do is guided by the belief that education should be within reach for everyone—and that every student deserves the opportunity to thrive.
CONTACT
Public Information Officer Justin Emerson
jemerson@tvcc.cc | 541-881-5582