Texas Tech's Meat Judging Team opened the defense of its 2020 national championship and pursuit of the program's 16th national title overall with a solid victory Sunday (Oct. 2) at the 2021 American Meat Science Association Eastern National Meet held at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

The Eastern National meet is the first of three meets for the Meat Judging Team in October and its first competition of the fall championship season. The team once again set the tone early in the season that it is favored to win the championship yet again.

“We were very blessed by this win, and the credit goes to the hard work and effort of each member of the team, the coaches, and God who gave us safe travels and a great performance,” said Mark Miller, coach of the Meat Judging Team and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Distinguished Chair in Meat Sciences. “I look forward to the remaining three contests as they will be a challenge to win. I love the positive attitude and close family atmosphere this team exhibits each day."

Texas Tech outlasted nearby rival West Texas A&M University for the overall crown, scoring 4,130 points to just 4,078 for the Buffaloes. That was also well ahead of third-place Kansas State University with 4,041 points, Texas Tech University System component school Angelo State University in fourth place with 3,999 points and Big 12 Conference rival Oklahoma State University with 3,940.

Texas Tech established its dominance was established by capturing first place in five of the eight judging categories and second in two others. Texas Tech took home first place in overall beef, beef grading, pork judging, total placing and reasons/questions while finishing second in beef judging and specifications and third in lamb judging.

Marion native Caleb Kunde led the individual charge for Texas Tech, finishing first with a total of 1,047 points, just one point ahead of teammate Preston Twilligear from Hondo in second. Kunde earned first place in overall beef and specifications and was fourth in beef grading, while Twilligear won the total placing category, finished second in specifications and third in beef judging.

Another native of Hondo, Cassie Bendele brought home first place in beef judging and fifth place in reasons/questions, and Jake Bagby from Stephenville earned second place in lamb judging.

Texas Tech also had two individuals who finished in the top 10 in the alternate category. Kylan Swinney from Deming, New Mexico finished fourth with 1,031 points and Grace Carver from Flower Mound was ninth with 1,013 points.

Other members of the Meat Judging Team are:

• Bryce Black from Prosper
• Kindle Catching from Howe
• Arliss Corliss from Estancia, New Mexico
• Morgan Elsworth from Spring Branch
• Grayson Harrell from Crandall
• Skylar Hough-Anderson from Canton
• Shelby Kinsey from Lockhart
• Grace Parker from Slaton
• Hannah Pearson from Oconto, Nebraska
• Laurell Pfeiffer from Hondo
• Paige Perryman from Lubbock
• Rance Smith from Royse City
• Cade Snethen from Otterbein, Indiana
• Reid Swinney from Deming, New Mexico
• Dayton Wood from Cumby 

Along with Miller, coaches for this year's team are Taylor Schertz from Krum and Conner McKinzie from Stephenville. "I’m extremely proud and honored to be here at Texas Tech and to have the opportunity to coach with Taylor and Conner,” Miller said. “This is an amazing and wonderful family of students on this year's team.”

CONTACT: Chance Brooks, Interim Chair and Professor, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or chance.brooks@ttu.edu

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