University of Tennessee at Martin Rodeo opens spring schedule this week at East Mississippi

Jack Smithson/Rodeo | University of Tennessee at Martin

By NW Tennessee News Reports

Mar 16, 2023

The University of Tennessee at Martin rodeo squads will take part in their first official competition of the spring this week when they make the trip to Meridian, Miss. for a rodeo hosted by East Mississippi Community College on Thursday, March 16 through Saturday, March 18.

This week's spring opener is the first of five Ozark Region rodeos remaining on the 2022-23 schedule before the 75th annual College National Finals Rodeo takes place once again in Casper, Wyo. from June 11-17. After this weekend, the Skyhawks will pay a visit to Pearl River (March 23-25) and Arkansas-Monticello (April 6-8) before hosting the 55th annual UT Martin Spring College Rodeo on April 13-15. The regular season concludes on April 27-29 with a trip to Northwest Mississippi.

Both Skyhawk rodeo teams are coming off productive fall semesters. The men's squad piled up 2,155 points to rank second in the Ozark Region and 21st nationally while the women's team accumulated 810 points, which is the third-highest tally in the Ozark Region standings. Each team boasted a trio of top-three finishes during the course of the five-rodeo fall slate as the women's squad collected a pair of runner-up placements and the men claimed one second-place effort.

On the men's side, seven different UT Martin cowboys rank in the top-15 in the Ozark Region in their respective events. Jack Smithson's 710 points in saddle bronc riding rank atop the region and are good enough for third place on the national scale. The graduate from Springfield, Tenn. also ranks 12th in team roping heeler with 120 points.

Reigning CNFR all-around cowboy national champion Cole Walker ranks in the top-15 in three different events, including tie down roping (145 points, 10th), team roping heeler (120, 12th) and steer wrestling (70, 15th).

Cannon Smith (eighth in steer wrestling with 140 points, 13th in team roping header with 70 points) and Jesse Keysaer (10th in steer wrestling with 130 points, 11th in team roping header with 120 points) also rank in the top-15 regionally in multiple events.

Logan Neal has pieced together the second-most points (300) in steer wrestling while Will McCraw (11th with 120 points in team roping header) and Clint Southworth (12th with 140 points in tie down roping) also appear in the Ozark Region top-15.

Six separate Skyhawk cowgirls rank in the top-12 in the Ozark Region in three different events, led by Emma Kate Wilder. The junior out of Millington, Tenn. is the only UT Martin women's team member to rank in multiple categories as she is 10th in goat tying with 145 points and 12th in breakaway roping with 120 points.

Allie Maxwell (270 points in barrel racing) and Brianna Pugh (185 points in breakaway roping) each rank third in their respective events. That duo joins Jasmin Bakri (fifth with 245 points in goat tying) as UT Martin cowgirls who currently rank in the top-five in the Ozark Region through the conclusion of the fall campaign.

Sage Thomas has generated 150 points in breakaway roping while Grace Bryant has earned 175 points in goat tying for the Skyhawks, both ranking eighth regionally in their respective events.