On the strength of four individual top 10 finishes, the Texas Tech University Meat Judging Team in the Department of Animal & Food Sciences earned its first competition victory of the spring at the American Meat Science Association Southwestern Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest on Sunday (Feb. 3) in Fort Worth.

After opening the spring with a third-place finish at the National Western Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest two weeks ago, Texas Tech surged to the lead in Cowtown, outpacing Big 12 Conference rival Kansas State University 4,163 to 4,114. Texas A&M University finished third with 4,107 points followed by Colorado State University (4,052) and Oklahoma State University (4,031).

Angelo State University, a part of the Texas Tech University System, finished sixth with 3,923 points.

Texas Tech's victory came thanks to its domination in beef. Texas Tech took first place in beef grading and overall beef and finished third in beef judging. It also finished first in specifications and was third in lamb judging.

"This team has been working very hard, and I am proud they had nine of the top 10 overall scores in the contest," said Mark Miller, coach of the Meat Judging Team and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Distinguished Chair in Meat Sciences. "That is truly impressive."

Pacing the Texas Tech team was Taylor Schertz. The native of Krum captured the top overall title after finishing in the top three in five of the eight categories to amass 1,059 points, including a win in pork judging and second-place finishes in both specification and total placing.

Jacie Henefey from D'Hanis, was close on Schertz's heels with 1,042 points to finish third overall. Henefey earned the win in specifications and also picked up a pair of second-place finishes in both beef grading and overall beef.

Grant Kitten from Slaton finished in eighth place while Conner McKinzie from Stephenville rounded out the list of Texas Tech's top 10 finishers with his 10th place finish.

Texas Tech also had the top seven finishers in the alternate division as well, led by Anna Carlock from Joshua, who scored 1067 points, just ahead of teammate Sherri Halsted from Aztec, New Mexico, who had 1066.

Other members of the Meat Judging Team are:

• Abram Chaparro from Clayton, New Mexico
• Wilse Corliss from Estancia, New Mexico
• Nicole Cox from Hutto
• Britt Dixon from Roswell, New Mexico
• Mackenley Ebner from Moulton
• Denise Guevara from Garden City, Kansas
• Maleea Harper from Amherst
• Newt Koemel from Albany
• Ty Largent from Redding, California
• Greg Matocha from La Grange
• Chance Mitchell from Artesia, New Mexico
• Anna Scott from Hazlehurst, Georgia
• Keith Shoemake from Spring Branch
• Tanner Thompson from Florence
• Zain Wade from Heber City, Utah
• Paige Williams from Austin

Coaches for this year's team are graduate students Tommy Fletcher and Cole Perkins.

CONTACT: Michael Orth, chairman, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-5653 or michael.orth@ttu.edu

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