Life, liberty and the pursuit of rodeo
Enderli cashes in on WC bachelor’s program
By Misty Browning
Cash Enderli could have rodeoed at just about any college or university, but his love of the sport and those traditions steeped in the “Cutting Horse Capital” brought him from Liberty, Texas, to Weatherford College.
“There were two or three colleges that I was interested in, but mainly Weatherford College,” Enderli explained. “I’m a calf roper and team roper, and I’ve been on a horse for as long as I can remember. My dad enjoyed it, and that’s what he grew up doing.
“As soon as I could get into a saddle, that’s what I’ve been doing. I enjoy roping and rodeoing a whole lot more than other sports. I was stuck on Weatherford because I liked the area. There was a lot more roping, and that’s where I wanted to be.”
Instead of moving to a four-year university after finishing his associate degree, Enderli continued his education at WC, where he will complete his Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree in Organizational Leadership.
And he’s not alone in his decision. He is one of several rodeo team members at WC who are staying for their bachelor’s degrees so they can keep rodeoing with Coach Johnny Emmons.
Unlike WC’s other sports, the rodeo program competes against universities and community colleges as part of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Now, rodeo athletes can stay in Weatherford and not transfer to Tarleton or Texas Tech to compete against WC, and that makes rodeo coach Johnny Emmons ecstatic.
“It is awesome that WC now offers some bachelor’s programs that allow us to have students on our team for four years,” Johnny said. “Cash made the College National Finals Rodeo in 2022 and is currently ranked 23rd in the PRCA world standings. So having a guy like that, with his experience and success over the last couple of years, should be very positive for our team this year. He is an outstanding young man, and we are very proud of him.”
Only a few years ago, the idea of a bachelor’s degree program at WC was just an idea. In May of this year, the first group of graduates received their Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science in Organizational Leadership diplomas, and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has been producing graduates for three years.
Although a bachelor’s degree is out of reach for many due to cost, WC is helping students achieve their dreams while studying at a smaller campus. That environment was one of the deciding factors for Enderli’s stay in Weatherford.
“I decided to stay at Weatherford because it was smaller, and I was comfortable there,” he said. “When I first started attending school, I didn’t think I would go for more than two years. Now, I’m in my fifth year. My dream job would be to rodeo for a living, but I’m happy to have a degree so that I can go out and get a real job and be a step ahead of those who don’t.”
Dr. Philip Mathew, WC’s organizational leadership program director, is excited for all his students who have decided to stay at Weatherford College. His goal in the program is to prepare students who will be leaders in their field and have a transformative impact on the world.
“We need leaders at every level prepared to respond to the complex organizational and societal challenges we face. As President Farmer says, ‘to improve the human condition,’” Philip explained. “A significant advantage our students have in completing their bachelor’s degree at Weatherford College is accessible faculty and personalized attention throughout the educational journey.
“We are proud to have Cash in this program. He is a true student-athlete—working hard to achieve his goals in the classroom, being dedicated and disciplined with his time, and competing for WC. We are here to support his development as a leadership scholar and rodeo professional.”
With Enderli finishing up his time at WC this year, he reminisces on some of his favorite things, including his time spent in student housing and the recent campus growth.
“I was five hours from my house, so the dorms were a chance to get away, grow and learn without your parents while meeting new friends,” he said. “When I first moved in, I didn’t know anyone in the dorms. It took about a week, and we were all buddies. I’ve also enjoyed watching the campus grow. They put new turf on the baseball field and built the Emerging Technologies Building. It’s been cool to be a part of that and watch the changes.”