A tragic loss at the rodeo
The Tarleton State University community is grieving the loss of one of their own this weekend. Alejandra “Ale” Franco, a 20-year-old student-athlete on the school's rodeo team, passed away Thursday night following a freak accident while competing in Alpine, Texas.
Franco was participating in the Sul Ross State University NIRA College Rodeo when the incident occurred. According to team head coach Mark Eakin, she was in the roping box with her horse when the accident happened. While specifics of the event remain private, the impact of her passing has been felt far beyond the arena.
A light on campus
Beyond her talent in the rodeo ring, Franco was a major part of the heartbeat at Tarleton State. Based on the Stephenville campus, she served as a Tarleton Transition Mentor—essentially a guide for new students—where she was known for her kindness and leadership.
University President Dr. James Hurley shared a heartfelt tribute, noting how Franco's "friendly smile" and positive energy made her a constant light on campus. Her father, Alejandro Franco, also shared a raw, heartbreaking letter to his daughter on social media, writing that she was "the best thing that ever happened" to him and promising to honor her legacy by living with the same kindness she showed others.
The rodeo community rallies
Outside of her university life, Franco was an accomplished equestrian with the Mexican-based team Escaramuza Charra El Gran Chaparral.
Friends and teammates have since started the hashtag #LiveLikeAle to celebrate the life she lived. During Friday night’s rodeo event, the atmosphere was heavy as attendees wore purple ribbons in honor of Tarleton State’s colors. An announcer at the arena summed up the collective grief, telling the crowd, "If one of us hurts, we all hurt."
Why it matters
This loss is devastating for the tight-knit college rodeo community. Ale Franco’s death serves as a painful reminder of the inherent risks in equestrian sports, while her legacy as a mentor proves how much one person can influence an entire campus community.
