By Ryne Rickman
SENATOBIA, Miss. – The University of Tennessee at Martin rodeo teams put the finishing touches on the 2020-21 regular season at Northwest Mississippi Community College, April 22-24, 2021.
The UT Martin 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 UT Martin’s top scorer in bareback riding. The junior from Hidalgo, Ill. 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, placing 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). 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 placed him fourth, and 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 UT Martin duo of Tyler Pruitt and Jack Smithson accumulated points in saddle bronc riding. Pruitt’s 65-point effort in the short round was the second-best score in the field. 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), with his 13.8 average placinghim third in the standings. Jesse Keysaer 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; 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; her 13.8 average split fourth.
In team roping, Thrasher and Cole Walker accumulated points in the first round and in average. Their 5.5 in the opening go ranked third, and that time carried over into the average for fifth place.
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 notched points for UT Martin as she split sixth.
Next month, UT Martin will make the trip to Casper, Wyo. for the 73rd annual College National Finals Rodeo, June 11-19, 2021.
SENATOBIA, Miss. – The University of Tennessee at Martin rodeo teams put the finishing touches on the 2020-21 regular season at Northwest Mississippi Community College, April 22-24, 2021.
The UT Martin 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 UT Martin’s top scorer in bareback riding. The junior from Hidalgo, Ill. 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, placing 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). 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 placed him fourth, and 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 UT Martin duo of Tyler Pruitt and Jack Smithson accumulated points in saddle bronc riding. Pruitt’s 65-point effort in the short round was the second-best score in the field. 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), with his 13.8 average placinghim third in the standings. Jesse Keysaer 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; 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; her 13.8 average split fourth.
In team roping, Thrasher and Cole Walker accumulated points in the first round and in average. Their 5.5 in the opening go ranked third, and that time carried over into the average for fifth place.
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 notched points for UT Martin as she split sixth.
Next month, UT Martin will make the trip to Casper, Wyo. for the 73rd annual College National Finals Rodeo, June 11-19, 2021.
