By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
SIKESTON, Mo. – Following a two-week layoff, the University of Tennessee at Martin rodeo teams were back in action this weekend at Three Rivers College, each accounting for top-three performances in the team standings.
The Skyhawk women’s team collected their second straight runner-up finish, securing 205 points to place second in the nine-team women’s field. UT Martin registered 445 points to tie East Mississippi Community College for third place on the men’s side.
Cole Walker earned points for the Skyhawks in calf roping, splitting fourth in the opening go with a time of 11.7 seconds.
In breakaway roping, Sage Thomas split sixth in the first round with a time of 3.4 seconds.
Jack Smithson was a standout for UT Martin in saddle bronc riding, nearly sweeping top honors in all three phases. His 135 average and 58 points in the opening round were the best in the field while his 77-point ride in the short go ranked second.
A trio of Skyhawk cowboys racked up points in the steer wrestling event. Logan Neal’s short go effort of 7.3 seconds was the best time in the field while his 25.5 average ranked second. Cannon Smith set the tone with 4.5 seconds in the first round, which topped the field. Smith also added to UT Martin’s score with the fourth-best average. Will McCraw’s time of 8.6 seconds in the first go ranked third while his average was good enough for sixth place.
The Skyhawk women’s squad performed extremely well in goat tying behind the pair of Jasmin Bakri and Grace Bryant. A graduate student out of Knoxville, Tenn., Bakri generated the best average (15.9) and first-round time (7.9) while also scoring points in the second round (fifth with a time of 8.0 seconds flat). Meanwhile, Bryant also secured points in all three phases, splitting third in the opening go with a time of 8.5 seconds. The Pendleton, SC native additionally finished fifth in average (16.7) and sixth in the short round (8.2).
Capping off the successful weekend for UT Martin was Allie Maxwell and Ali Covey, who each took part in barrel racing. Maxwell came away with second-place finishes in average (33.27) and in the short round (16.4). Covey placed fifth across the board as she was responsible for times of 33.59 in average, 16.81 in the opening round and 16.78 in the short go.
The Skyhawk rodeo schedule resumes in three weeks when they travel to Magnolia, Ark. for a Nov. 3-5 event hosted by Southern Arkansas.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information