Fall 2025 Rush!

To start this new fall semester, the Saddle Tramps hosted four events for potential

new members. On the first day of rush, the first event was at Main Event, where everyone

enjoyed bowling, arcade games, and food while potential new members learned about Texas

Tech and what it means to be a Saddle Tramp. The second event was a traditional wrapping

of Riding into the Sunset, or as we call it, Will Rogers and Soapsuds. This is where the

potential new members got to experience what we do firsthand for Texas Tech and how we

support the football team during home football games.

On the second day of rush, the event was Axe Throwing at Raider Axe Throwing. This

place was unique, where you could throw pretty much anything with a sharp point at a target.

We saw more potential new members on the second day than on the first day due to the

move-in schedules of the incoming first-year students and transfers.

Finally, the last event of the main rush schedule was the Bid-Night dinner. This was

when potential new members got to meet most of the active body and had the opportunity

to ask any last-minute questions before the potential new members went back to their dorm

or house to wait for a bid. Tramps accepted 13 new members from the main rush to become

the new wave of Tramps. These new members come from different backgrounds: Tristan

Soliz, from Snyder, Texas, is a former blue-collar worker and retired Navy veteran. Tristan will

be studying Sports Management as a sophomore. Cooper Duce is from Lubbock, Texas. He

is currently a first-year plants and soil sciences major. Cooper loves to better himself and

wants to pursue a career in the chemical agriculture industry. Caleb Akins is also from

Lubbock, Texas. He is currently a first-year political science major. Coincidentally, Cooper

and Caleb have been childhood friends for years, and most of the active body thought they

were twins. Hunter Cole is from Prosper, Texas. He is currently a third-year accounting

major. Hunter was previously an Eagle Scout and loves to participate in service projects as

a chance to help other people.

Thatcher Barlett is from Richardson, Texas. He is currently a first-year energy

commerce major. Thatcher has a business mind, as he was a part of DECA in high school

and ran his own startups with a multi-million dollar budget. Quinn Hilliard is from Lubbock,

Texas. He is a first-year pre-dental major. Quinn has grown up as a Red Raider fan and has

wanted to join the Saddle Tramps since middle school. Jesse Fernandez is from Wichita

Falls, Texas. He is a first-year mechanical engineering major. Jesse has a very outgoing

personality, as he wants to join clubs or organizations to reap the opportunities at Texas Tech.

Aaron Chavira is from Lubbock, Texas. He is a first-year construction engineering major.Aaron, as a fun little fact, was the Texas Tech ball boy for the men’s baseball team from six to

ten years old.

Ty Magee is from Milano, Texas. He is a first-year computer engineering major. Ty is a

massive fan of the Red Raiders and wanted to give back to the school in the best way he

could. Mason Northern is from Fort Worth, Texas. He is a first-year secondary math

education major with a minor in coaching. Mason was involved in multiple sports and is

excited to have been allowed to become a Saddle Tramp. Kevin Orozco is from Frisco, Texas.

He is a first-year kinesiology major intending to go to grad school. Kevin is open-minded and

wants to explore what we do as Saddle Tramps. Jonathan Harris is from Lampasas, Texas.

He is a first-year wildlife biology major. Jonathan is eager to learn more about the deep

traditions we have at Texas Tech and how being a Saddle Tramp can help him do that. Luke

Riley is from Houston, Texas. He is a second-year business management major. Luke heard

about Saddle Tramps from his brother and cousin, current actives Joe Riley and Caden

Carroll, and wants to give it a shot.

These members are only the beginning of the Fall 2025 class, as we have an informal

rush on August 27th for the incoming first-year students who missed out on the main rush.

In Advisor news, long-time Saddle Tramp Advisor Chris Snead has left the Ex-

Students’ Association, which was recently absorbed by the University, but he has agreed to

stay on as a non-faculty/staff Advisor.