By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARSHALL, Mo. – The 2021-22 University of Tennessee at Martin rodeo season started this weekend as the Skyhawks topped the women’s standings while coming in second place on the men’s side.
The UT Martin women accumulated 383.33 points, which were 63.33 points ahead of second-place East Mississippi Community College. The Skyhawk cowboys earned 715 points, trailing only host Missouri Valley College (915).
A pair of UT Martin cowboys picked up points in bareback riding, led by Stetson Bierman. The senior from Hidalgo, Ill. placed fourth across the board, collecting a 145 average, 75 in the first round and 70 in the short go. Job Dunlavey (67) also tacked on a fifth-place effort in the second round in his Skyhawk debut.
Cole Walker established himself as one of the top performers in calf roping, topping the field in average (19.4) and in the short round (9.2). That came after his first-round time of 10.2 seconds ranked fourth in the event.
In breakaway roping, UT Martin received a huge boost out of Brianna Pugh and Grace Bryant. The cowgirl duo accrued identical scores in all three phases – splitting first in average (6.1), placing third in the short go (3.0) and splitting third in the first round (3.1).
Jack Smithson represented the Skyhawk men in saddle bronc riding, finishing second with a 147 average, splitting second with a 74 in the first go and placing third with a 73 in the short round.
Two UT Martin cowboys managed points in the steer wrestling event, paced by Jesse Keysaer’s third-place effort (6.0) in the short round and a fourth-place finish (16.2) in average. Walker was responsible for points in his second event of the weekend, placing fifth with a time of 9.9 seconds in the opening round.
Kailey Schmidt was one of three Skyhawk cowgirls to garner points in goat tying, splitting third in the first round (6.9) before taking fourth place in average (14.4) and fifth place in the second go (7.5). Emma Kate Wilder shined in her collegiate debut, finishing third in average (13.9), third in the short go (6.7) and splitting sixth in the opening round (7.2). Jasmin Bakri additionally captured points by placing sixth in the short round (7.6) and splitting sixth in the opening go (7.2).
A total of four UT Martin cowboys notched points in team roping. Will McCraw joined forces with Walker for the best time in the first round (5.3) while also finishing third in average (16.9) and fifth in the short go (11.6). Justin Sailors and Cody Hogan finished with the second-best time in average (16.2) while placing third in the short round (8.5) and splitting sixth in the opening go (7.7).
In barrel racing, Shayne Mallory contributed points in all three phases. The senior out of Miller, Mo. was responsible for a 30.49 average (third), a time of 15.18 seconds in the short round (third) and 15.31 seconds in the opening go (splitting sixth).
Wyatt Hart earned the most points in the bull riding event, leading the field in average (153) and in the short round (78). His score of 75 in the opening go was good enough for third place.
The second of 10 regular season Ozark Region rodeos take place next week as UT Martin travels to Livingston, Ala. for an event hosted by West Alabama on Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.
Graphic Courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information