A Winning Turn: BIMS Student Wins Collegiate Barrel Racing Championship

While trusting a roughly 1,000-pound animal at full speed may seem daunting to many, Devin Young’s bond with her horse, Tequila, helped carry them to a national collegiate barrel racing title.

Before every run, Devin Young leans toward her 12-year-old sorrel gelding, “Jettin’ to Doc’s Bar,” better known as “Tequila,” and says, “If anybody can do it, it’s you.”

This summer, that trust carried Young and Tequila through the weeklong College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming, where the pair captured the women’s barrel racing national championship, leading Young to become the first Texas A&M Rodeo Team athlete to win an individual national title since 2024.

Three Turns To A Title

The CNFR is the highest level of competition in collegiate rodeo, bringing together the nation’s top athletes after a season of regional qualifying rodeos. Young advanced to the championship round after placing in every preliminary round, putting her one final run away from a national title. 

“I felt like I needed to back up what I had done in the other three rounds,” said Young, a sophomore biomedical sciences (BIMS) major at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS). “I knew that Tequila was completely capable of winning another round and I had full confidence in him to do so; we just needed to make a clean run.”

Young and Tequila completed their final run in 13.80 seconds and finished with the fastest combined time across four runs, earning them the national championship title.

“It seemed like I had tunnel vision before the run, with the goal to win in mind,” Young said. “After the run, I was overcome with gratitude for Tequila, Texas A&M University, and my team.”

The championship capped a standout collegiate debut. Competing as a freshman during the 2025-26 season, Young also helped lead the Aggies to the women’s team championship and was named Women’s Rookie of the Year.

A Formula For Success

A native of Smithville, Texas, Young grew up in a family rooted in rodeo and cattle ranching, where horses and livestock were part of everyday life. 

“Being a great rider and competitor does not come from riding one horse your whole life,” she said. “The diversity in riding different horses is what makes a great competitor.”

When it came time to choose a university, Texas A&M offered everything Young was looking for, both academically and in the rodeo arena.

“Texas A&M University has always been a ‘no-brainer’ for me,” she said. “My family has always loved the school, it is close to home, and the curriculum is unmatched. And, of course, their rodeo team is gaining traction and is very student oriented, which I love.”

At Texas A&M, she found a way to combine her passion for animals with her interest in science through the BIMS program.

“I wanted to study biomedical sciences because I have always loved understanding how the world works beyond surface-level means,” Young said. “My major allows me to look into so many different perspectives of the world. The complexity of our lives truly amazes me.”

Coursework in the BIMS program, including classes in biology and animal science, has been among the most impactful parts of her academic experience.

“As someone who works with horses, these courses have become especially interesting because they allow me to understand my equine athletes in a way that goes beyond a surface-level understanding or what I could learn through years of experience alone,” Young said. “I’ve learned the complexity of not only horses, but the world through these courses.”

After earning her biomedical sciences degree, Young plans to pursue a career as a pharmacist at the Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy.

The Perfect Blend

The demands of collegiate rodeo extend beyond competition days, requiring Young to manage the responsibilities of a student-athlete throughout the year.

“A typical rodeo season at Texas A&M University involves the 10 qualifying rodeos scattered throughout the spring and fall semesters,” she said. “Aside from the competition, we have meetings monthly to discuss upcoming events and what that month will look like for us.”

Away from the arena, her daily routine revolves around caring for the horses that travel with her to rodeos while staying on top of her coursework.

“My mornings and evenings are devoted to feeding, grooming, training, exercising, and taking care of my horses,” Young said. “My days and nights are devoted to my schoolwork and studying.”

Balancing both commitments has required discipline.

“I find that during the spring and fall semesters, I only have time for my education and rodeo, but I am very content with that, as both are so important to me and my future,” Young said.

Behind her success in the arena and classroom is a network of people who have helped her pursue both goals.

“My parents have been such a huge part of my success; their support is unwavering and I am very grateful to have them,” Young said. “My coaches on the rodeo team have also been very supportive and helpful in guiding me through my first year as a collegiate student-athlete.”

That same support extends into the classroom, where Young has worked with her advisors and professors to navigate the demands of the BIMS program.

“My advisors help me curate schedules that work best given the rodeos I compete at and the complexity of the BIMS major,” Young said. “My professors have all been very understanding and supportive of my involvement with the rodeo team, which has truly been so helpful and reassuring.”

A Winning Spirit

While Young’s success has been shaped by the support of her family, coaches, and professors, the partnership at the center of her journey has been the one she shares with Tequila. 

That partnership was recognized at the CNFR, where Tequila earned Women’s Horse of the Year and Barrel Horse of the Year honors.

“I think we are so successful because of our time spent together,” Young said. “We both know what the other is thinking and how to handle each other. I can look at an arena and know what he will do before making a run, so I usually make a plan beforehand to make the best run given the circumstances.”

That partnership has carried Young through some of her biggest accomplishments.

“He makes my dreams come true every day, and I am so, so grateful to get the opportunity to compete with him and have him in my life,” she said.

As Young continues her journey through BIMS and collegiate rodeo, she will continue trusting the partnership that has carried her through every turn — both in the arena and beyond.