Texas Tech University's wool judging team successfully finished its season with a decisive victory on Tuesday (March 13) at the Houston Livestock Show's Intercollegiate Wool Judging Contest. Tech's red team finished first and posted a total score of 2,201 points; 24 points ahead of its nearest competitor.

The Red Raider's black team scored 2,163 points, and finished third overall. The team won the placing and reasons divisions and finished third in the grading division. Other top finishers included Angelo State University, Colorado State University and Texas A&M University who finished second, fourth and fifth overall, respectively.

"We had a successful year with some narrow defeats," said Aaron Jennings, the team's coach and a graduate student in Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences. "Winning Houston was a true testament to this team's talent and work ethic. I fully expect these students to continue to have great success in the Texas Tech judging program."

Individually, five of the top-ten individuals were from Texas Tech. Colton Coker, a freshman from Roby, placed second. He was followed closely by teammate Ward Kerr, a freshman from Mertzon, who placed third. Kassandra Ognoskie, a freshman from Orting, Wash., placed seventh; Tayler Green, a freshman from Ropesville, placed ninth; and Austin Langemeier, a freshman from Marion, placed tenth.

Other team members included:

• Brittany Blum, a freshman from Howe
• Kylan Carson, a freshman from Olton
• Tyler Neuman, a freshman from Hondo
• Bailey Joe Pennington, a freshman from Sonora
• Marlynke Vanderlei, a freshman from Amherst
• Rex West, a freshman from Paris
• Christy Woerner, a freshman from Fredericksburg
• William Wunderlich, a freshman from Fredericksburg
• Lukas Ziegler, a freshman from New Windsor, Md.

The team was coached by Jennings and Brittany Thompson, an undergraduate student in the department. This was the final contest for the team comprising all freshman students. Previously, the team competed at the National Western in Denver, Colo., where it was narrowly defeated and finished third overall. The team earned second-place honors at the San Antonio Stock Show's competition in February.

Written by Moriah Beyers

CONTACT: Moriah Beyers, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2805 ext. 248, or moriah.beyers@ttu.edu

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