By Ryne Rickman
MARTIN, Tenn. – The Ozark Region has finalized its point totals from the 2021-22 season and the University of Tennessee at Martin men’s squad will once again vie for a national championship at the College National Finals Rodeo (CHFR), June 12-18, 2022 at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyoming.
Once the votes and season-ending results were tallied, the Ozark Region tabbed John Luthi as its 2021-22 Coach of the Year. After overseeing the powerhouse UT Martin rodeo programs for the past 25 seasons, Luthi announced his intent to retire following this season’s end.
By virtue of their second-place finish in the Ozark Region, the Skyhawk cowboys received an automatic berth into the CNFR. Currently ranked 13th nationally, the UT Martin men’s team accrued 5,145 points over ten rodeos this season and will make their 47th appearance in the last 48 years at the CNFR.
Also clinching an automatic bid into the CNFR were UT Martin’s Jack Smithson and Jesse Keysaer. Smithson placed second in the Ozark Region with 1,015 points in saddle bronc riding (ranking seventh nationally), while Keysaer’s 875 points in steer wrestling bought him second place in the regional rankings and sixth nationally. All participants who rank in the top-three of their respective events in regional competition automatically earn a berth into the CNFR.
Completing UT Martin’s lineup at the 74th annual CNFR will be Cole Walker (510 points in tiedown roping and 550 points in team roping heeler), Will McCraw (550 points in team roping header) and Stetson Bierman (490 points in bareback riding), who has not competed since breaking his arm during a professional rodeo this winter. If Bierman is not cleared to compete, McCraw will take part in the tiedown roping event (335 points this season) in his place.
The CNFR is where the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association crowns individual event champions in saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying. National team championships are also awarded to both men’s and women’s teams. The top two teams and best three participants from each event in the 11 regions gain automatic entry into the CNFR, which will feature more than 400 cowboys and cowgirls from over 100 universities and colleges across the NIRA ranks. Find more information about the CNFR at: https://cnfr.com/
MARTIN, Tenn. – The Ozark Region has finalized its point totals from the 2021-22 season and the University of Tennessee at Martin men’s squad will once again vie for a national championship at the College National Finals Rodeo (CHFR), June 12-18, 2022 at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyoming.
Once the votes and season-ending results were tallied, the Ozark Region tabbed John Luthi as its 2021-22 Coach of the Year. After overseeing the powerhouse UT Martin rodeo programs for the past 25 seasons, Luthi announced his intent to retire following this season’s end.
By virtue of their second-place finish in the Ozark Region, the Skyhawk cowboys received an automatic berth into the CNFR. Currently ranked 13th nationally, the UT Martin men’s team accrued 5,145 points over ten rodeos this season and will make their 47th appearance in the last 48 years at the CNFR.
Also clinching an automatic bid into the CNFR were UT Martin’s Jack Smithson and Jesse Keysaer. Smithson placed second in the Ozark Region with 1,015 points in saddle bronc riding (ranking seventh nationally), while Keysaer’s 875 points in steer wrestling bought him second place in the regional rankings and sixth nationally. All participants who rank in the top-three of their respective events in regional competition automatically earn a berth into the CNFR.
Completing UT Martin’s lineup at the 74th annual CNFR will be Cole Walker (510 points in tiedown roping and 550 points in team roping heeler), Will McCraw (550 points in team roping header) and Stetson Bierman (490 points in bareback riding), who has not competed since breaking his arm during a professional rodeo this winter. If Bierman is not cleared to compete, McCraw will take part in the tiedown roping event (335 points this season) in his place.
The CNFR is where the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association crowns individual event champions in saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying. National team championships are also awarded to both men’s and women’s teams. The top two teams and best three participants from each event in the 11 regions gain automatic entry into the CNFR, which will feature more than 400 cowboys and cowgirls from over 100 universities and colleges across the NIRA ranks. Find more information about the CNFR at: https://cnfr.com/
