POPLARVILLE, Miss. – It was a successful outing for the University of Tennessee at Martin rodeo teams at Pearl River Community College this weekend as both Skyhawk squads finished in the top-five of their respective standings.
The UT Martin women’s team earned 240 points and a third-place effort while the Skyhawk cowboys accrued 315 points and a fifth-place finish. This result marked the first time since the Sept. 21-23 season opener at Missouri Valley College that both the UT Martin cowboys and cowgirls finished in the top-five in the same rodeo.
Three Skyhawk cowboys were responsible for a large chunk of points in calf roping. That group was led by Clint Southworth, who placed second in average (22.8), second in the opening round (10.3) and fourth in the short go (12.5). Caden Ussery wasn’t too far behind, finishing third in average (23.4) and third in the short round (12.2) while splitting fourth in the opening go (11.2). Owen Larrick enjoyed a remarkable start, leading all competitors in the first round with a time of 9.8 seconds.
UT Martin’s Savannah Moran took part in breakaway roping and excelled early, leading the entire pack with a time of 2.5 seconds.
In goat tying, Emma Kate Wilder registered points in two phases. She was impressive throughout the event, posting a time of 8.6 seconds in the short go (ranking fourth) and 17.5 in average (sixth place).
The Wilder sisters (Emma Kate and Anna) joined Caleb Dunn and Nolan Gregory as Skyhawk representatives in team roping. Emma Kate and Anna ranked third in the opening round (8.1) before producing a sixth-place effort (8.1) in average. The team of Dunn/Gregory came through for a fifth-place finish in the first round (11.5).
Madde Shelton competed in barrel racing for the UT Martin cowgirls, coming in fifth place in both average (35.36) and in the short round (20.08).
The Skyhawks are off next week before returning home for the 59th Annual UT Martin Spring College Rodeo on April 11-13 at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex.
