The UTM men’s rodeo team finished just 10 points shy of first place while the women’s squad came in fourth place at the Murray State rodeo over the weekend.
The men’s team compiled 550 points in its quest to win its second consecutive rodeo to start the season. Meanwhile, the women’s team accumulated 170 points – 130 points behind the winner.
In calf roping, Ben Walker brought home first place in the average (19.1 seconds), earning fifth in the first go (10.1) and second in the short go (9.0). Clark Adcock compiled an average time of 19.5 seconds to place second, finishing with a time of 10.9 seconds in the first go (sixth) and a time of 8.6 seconds in the short go (first). John Alley gave UTM its third top-three finisher with an average time of 20.1 seconds (9.2 in the first go to lead all cowboys, 10.9 in the short go for fifth).
Savannah Warner finished first in the breakaway roping with an average of 5.5 seconds, splitting third, fourth and fifth in the first go (2.8) while placing first in the short go (2.7). Lauren Wagner also took part in the event, splitting third, fourth and fifth in the first go with a time of 2.8 seconds.
In steer wrestling, Clay Mitchell (14.5, fourth) and Tucker Kail (20.1, fifth) finished in back-to-back slots in average time. Mitchell placed sixth in the first go (8.7) and fourth in the short go (5.8) while Kail came in at a time of 7.0 in the short go. Austin Duckett (4.8 in the first go, first place) also represented UTM in the event.
The UTM duo of Alley and Adcock tallied an average time of 16.7 seconds to finish second after completing the best time in the short go (5.7 seconds).
A total of four UTM cowgirls competed in barrel racing. Nealey Dalton brought home a second place finish in the average (27.8 seconds) after placing third in the first go (13.93 seconds) and second in the short go (13.87 seconds). Katie Brown (28.23 seconds) finished in fourth in the average right behind Dalton, placing fourth in the short go with a time of 14.00 seconds. Dacia Horne (14.09 in the first go) and Mary Francis Gorsuch (14.08 in the short go) each finished sixth in their respective rides.
UTM will take next week off from official competition before returning to action on Oct. 17-19 at West Alabama.