SIKESTON, Mo. – The West Alabama women's rodeo team has been on a tear to start the season. With wins already at the Viking Stampede and the UWA Showdown, the Tigers added a third-straight win at the Three Rivers Community College event this past Thursday through Saturday in Missouri. The men placed fifth and tallied several strong performances as well.
"We had a lot make it back to the championship round, which I was pleased about," head coach Daniel Poole said. "We were able to capitalize in some areas, but made some mental errors in others. I feel like we are getting stronger with every rodeo and that this two week break will be a great chance to tweak some things."
The women tallied 505 points to win going away by over 300 points. The men collected 330 points.
When it comes to leading the way for UWA, it all starts with another impressive performance by Heather McLaughlin. Behind a 165-point total in the breakaway roping, she picked up another first-place finish on the season. McLaughlin wasn't finished. In the goat tying, it was a close pack at the top, but again she held the top mark with 130 points for another title.
Joanna Hammett also entered in the goat tying coming in sixth with 55 points.
Taycie Matthews provided the third title of the event for the Tigers in the barrel racing. She won going away by 70 points totaling 180 points for the first-place result. Jaylie Matthews and Gabbie Hayes also entered in the event for the Tigers. Matthews tallied 30 points to place seventh, while Hayes came away with 10 points to come in eighth.
On the men's side, Tyler Lovering, Greyson Wells and Blayne Saine were near the top in calf roping. Lovering was just a few points back of the top spot coming in runner-up with 115 points. Wells collected 95 points to come in third, while teammate Saine was right behind with 90 points to come in fifth.
It was another win for the Tigers in the bull riding. Harrison McGriff powered to the title with 145 points.
JT Ellison and Garrett Guillot were among the leaders in the steer wrestling. Ellison was pushing for a top finish and ended up in the top-three with 105 points to place third. Guillot tallied 70 points to come in fifth.
Clarke Gordon competed in the team roping with PRCC's Blake Lyons as they combined for 40 points to place sixth.
UWA will return to action on Nov. 3-5 when they travel to Arkansas to compete in the Southern Arkansas Showdown in Magnolia.
