20-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE RODEO ATHLETE ALEJANDRA FRANCO DIES AFTER TRAGIC INJURY IN TEXAS

Alejandra “Ale” Franco, a 20-year-old Tarleton State University rodeo athlete, has died after suffering serious injuries during a college rodeo competition in Alpine, Texas.

Franco was competing with the Tarleton State Rodeo Team on Thursday night, September 24, at the S.A.L.E. Arena at Sul Ross State University when she was seriously injured.

Sul Ross State University Rodeo confirmed the devastating news the following day, saying Franco had died from injuries sustained during the performance. The university did not initially release details about exactly what happened or the nature of her injuries.

Franco was a sophomore at Tarleton State University and competed as a breakaway roper. She was also known for her involvement in rodeo and equestrian activities before joining the university team.

The young athlete had recently celebrated her 20th birthday in August.

REMEMBERED FOR HER SMILE AND KINDNESS

Following her death, Franco’s teammates, coaches and friends remembered her as much more than an accomplished athlete.

Tarleton State head rodeo coach Mark Eakin described her as a “tremendous person” and an “outstanding competitor.” He said Franco was a cherished member of the university community and a leader on campus who had a remarkable ability to make people around her feel welcomed and loved.

Her friends similarly remembered her infectious smile, contagious laugh and positive personality.

Friends told local media that Franco had a way of making strangers feel like friends. They recalled her dancing without music, laughing often and bringing happiness to the people around her.

One friend described her as a “light” to those who knew her, while others said her smile could brighten an entire room.

Her friends also recalled that Franco had been especially excited because her father had traveled to watch her compete at the rodeo.

HER FAMILY SHARES AN EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE

Franco’s father, Alejandro, publicly paid tribute to his daughter after learning of her death.

He described Ale as an exceptionally happy, positive and kind person and wrote about how deeply her loss had affected him.

His tribute reflected the close relationship between father and daughter and the enormous impact she had on her family.

For those who knew Franco, the loss was particularly difficult because of her age and the fact that she had been actively pursuing her education and rodeo career.

RODEO COMMUNITY HONORS ALEJANDRA

Although the tragedy occurred during the competition, Sul Ross State University announced that the weekend’s rodeo events would continue as scheduled.

Counselors were made available to support athletes and others affected by Franco’s passing.

The rodeo community also organized a visible tribute. Purple ribbons were distributed at the arena, and competitors and others involved in the event wore purple in Franco’s honor. A moment of silence was also held during the weekend.

Her friends later embraced the phrase “Live Like Ale,” encouraging people to remember Franco by celebrating life, showing kindness and appreciating every moment.

Friends said the phrase reflected the way Franco had lived — with positivity, warmth and a willingness to make other people feel welcome.

TARLETON STATE TEAM COMPETES IN HER HONOR

Despite the loss, members of the Tarleton State Rodeo Team returned to competition over the weekend.

The team competed while wearing purple ribbons provided by the Sul Ross rodeo community as a tribute to Franco.

On September 29, Tarleton State announced that its women’s rodeo team won the team championship, while Tarleton athletes also earned four individual championships during the weekend.

Coach Mark Eakin said the team was grateful for the support shown by the wider rodeo community and that the athletes found strength in competing in Franco’s honor.

The results included championships in several rodeo disciplines, with Tarleton athletes also placing highly across events including breakaway roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, saddle bronc riding, goat tying and team roping.

DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY RELEASED

Several reports have described the incident as involving Franco and her horse during the rodeo, with one report citing her coach’s description of an incident in the roping box.

However, university officials have not released a complete official account of what happened or detailed the injuries Franco sustained.

For that reason, the exact sequence of events leading to her death remains unclear based on publicly available official information.

The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association also expressed condolences to Franco’s family, teammates, Tarleton State University and the wider rodeo community.

A YOUNG LIFE REMEMBERED

Alejandra Franco’s death has left her family, friends, teammates and the college rodeo community mourning a young athlete whose life was centered around education, competition and her love of rodeo.

At Tarleton State, she is being remembered not only for what she accomplished in the arena but also for the relationships she built outside it.

Her friends say they now hope to carry forward the positive spirit she showed throughout her life.

For those closest to Alejandra, “Live Like Ale” has become more than a phrase — it is a way of keeping her memory alive.

She was 20 years old.