Texas Tech meat judging team walks away with national championship title
Texas Tech's powerhouse meat judging team took first place this weekend, claiming the national championship title at the American Meat Science Association's International Meat Judging Contest held Nov. 13 in Dakota City, Neb.
The team won the contest by a 20-point margin, with an overall team score of 4,176 points. The Red Raiders also took home team awards in the beef judging, beef grading, overall beef and reasons divisions. Rounding out the 'Top 5' teams were Colorado State University, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University and Texas A&M University.
"This team committed themselves to being the best," said Mark Miller, a Texas Tech professor and San Antonio Livestock Show Distinguished Chair in Meat Science. "They were unselfish and weren't worried about their individual achievements. This resulted in one of the most consistent finishes I have ever seen in a meat judging contest."
Individually, Jerra McMath, a senior from Estancia, N.M., placed fourth overall in the competition, followed by teammate Travis Begely, a junior from Plainview, in fifth place. Also, Zach Smith, a junior from Sweetwater, finished seventh overall and Dakotah Williams, a junior from Glenrose, placed tenth.
Texas Tech also boasted high individual in the alternate division, Drew Cashman, a junior from New Windsor, MD, won the division. He was tied with teammate Cody Helms, a senior from Cleburne, who finished second.
Five other Red Raiders joined them in the top ten of the alternate division. Amanda White, a senior from Garden City, Kan.; Andrea Nordman, a senior from Florence; Craig Russell, a senior from Visalia, Calif.; Faith Jurek, a junior from Goldthwaite; and Natalee Smith, a senior from Albemarle, NC, finished third, fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.
Additional team members included Blaine Corliss, a senior from Estancia, N.M., Mandy-Jo Laurent, a junior from Nacogdoches, Cody Sultenfuss, a junior from Little-River Academy, and Kaitlyn True, a junior from Plainview. The team is coached by graduate student Shanna Ward and Miller.
Team members Begley, McMath and Smith were named 2011 First Team All American Team Members. Williams was named a 2011 Second Team All American Team Member. The members of the All American Teams are selected based upon scholastic achievement and competition performance. The prestigious 'Rachel Hamilton Spirit Award' was given to Sultenfuss in recognition of the commitment, dedication and teamwork he displayed during his meat judging career.
Texas Tech boasts a total of nine national championships in intercollegiate meat judging (1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009 and 2011). Since 2000, the Red Raiders have dominated meat judging competitions winning more than 55 percent of all national contests. During the past four years, they've won 22 out of the past 28 competitions.
Written by Kelsey Fletcher
CONTACT: Mark Miller, Professor of Meat Science and Muscle Biology, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at (806) 732-2805, ext. 231 or mfmrraider@aol.com
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