The UTM rodeo teams put the finishing touches on the 2020-21 regular season over the weekend, competing at Northwest Mississippi Community College.
The UTM men’s team placed second with 540 points while the women’s squad registered a fourth-place finish with 190 points. Missouri Valley College (840 points) and West Alabama (345 points) ranked atop the men’s and women’s standings, respectively.
Stetson Bierman was UTM’s top scorer in bareback riding as the junior from Hidalgo, Illinois, finished first in the opening round (75), second in average (147) and split third in the short go (72). Also coming away with points in the event was Bryce Sifford as he placed second in the first round (70), fifth in the short go (65) and fifth in average (138). Blake Leamon split third in the short go (72) and came in fourth in average (139) while Weston Hamilton’s 60 points in the short round ranked sixth in the field.
In calf roping, Chase Thrasher earned points in all three phases. His 19.2 average and 9.6 short go were good enough for fourth place while his time of 9.6 seconds in the opening round split fourth.
On the women’s side, Abbie Austin ranked fourth with a time of 2.5 seconds in the first go of breakaway roping.
The UTM duo of Tyler Pruitt and Jack Smithson both accumulated points in saddle bronc riding. Pruitt’s 65-point effort in the short round was the second-best score in the field while Smithson’s 59 points in the same go ranked third.
Robbie Van Holten led the way in steer wrestling, topping the field in the second round (5.3) before his 13.8 average placed him third in the standings. Jesse Keysaer additionally finished third in the short go (5.8) and fifth in average (15.2).
The women’s squad generated most of its scoring in goat tying. Kailey Schmidt’s time of 6.8 seconds in the second round was good enough for second place while her 13.7 average ranked third in the field. Grace Bryant’s 6.6 in the short go was the best time in the field while her 13.8 average split fourth.
In team roping, Thrasher and Cole Walker accumulated points in both the first round and in average. Their 5.5 in the opening go ranked third while that time also carried over into the average where it ranked fifth.
Casey Allen earned points in barrel racing as the senior out of Vandergrift, Pa. split third in the short round (13.75) and finished sixth in average (27.78). Schmidt’s first-round time of 13.95 seconds also notched points for UTM as she split sixth.
UTM now will wait almost two months until its next competition as it will make the trip to Casper, Wyoming, for the 73rd annual College National Finals Rodeo.
