The UTM Rodeo was not only a hit in Martin with record-breaking attendance but also a hit among the entire region.
The 45th Annual Rodeo held at Ned Ray McWherter Agricultural Pavilion, April 11-13 has been named the Ozark Region Rodeo of the Year.
The UTM men’s team fell short of first place by a little under 100 points; Missouri Valley College secured the win in the men’s division with a total of 645 points. The UTM men’s team racked up a total of 545 points during the weekend. The University of West Alabama took home the championship in the women’s division with a combined total of 275 points; the UTM women’s team trailed closely behind with 220 combined points.
Although the men’s team took second at the rodeo, they will be advancing to the College National Finals Rodeo, which will be held June 9-15 in Casper, Wyo.
Jordan Thrasher, Ben Walker and Lane Mitchell represented UTM in the tie-down competition. Thrasher led with a 19.6 average placing him second overall. Mitchell held the number one spot at the end of the first go, allowing him to receive fifth overall, while Walker secured his place in third at the end of the first go.
With a combined score of 144 points, Tyler Waltz received second overall in the bareback competition. In the saddle bronc competition, Ty Hughston finished first overall, while Allen Foster received fourth overall.
Clay Mitchell and Robert Joyce were the leaders on the board in steer wrestling. Joyce finished second in the event. Will Lummus and Austin Duckett also competed in steer wrestling and both contributed to the overall points accumulated during the weekend for UTM.
In the women’s division, Micayla Gray and Natalie Fisher finished fifth and sixth respectively in the break-away roping event. In the goat-tying event, Gray split fourth and fifth in the first go; this gave her a total score of 7.2.
With a time of 13:59 in the barrel racing competition, Mary Francis Gorsuch finished first in the short go and second place overall. Nealey Dalton had a time of 13:72 in the short go securing her a second place in the short go. Dalton placed fourth overall in the barrel racing competition for the weekend.
Clay Mitchell and Lane Mitchell finished first in team roping. Lummus paired with East Mississippi Community College’s Eli Shumaker; they finished second overall. Walker teamed with the University of Troy’s Zach Mabrey to secure an overall third place win. Jacob Dagenhart also earned points for UTM in the first go with the third best score.
The teams were not the only ones to bring home awards this weekend; for the first time in his 17-year career at UTM, Rodeo Head Coach John Luthi was named the Ozark Region Coach of the Year.
The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Standings are available at http://www.collegerodeo.com/Rodeos/National_Standings.asp.
