General 6/18/2023 12:08:00 AM

NATIONAL CHAMPS!

Tiger Wranglers Win Women’s National Title at CNFR

CASPER, Wyo. – West Alabama Tiger Wranglers Taycie Matthews and JT Ellison won individual event national titles at the 2023 College National Finals Rodeo Saturday night at the Ford Wyoming Center, with Matthews' barrel racing victory helping lead West Alabama to the women's team national championship.

The team national title for the UWA Women Wranglers is the first team national championship in West Alabama Rodeo history and is the second national title in UWA history in any sport. The 1971 football team won the NAIA national championship.

The West Alabama women claimed the national crown by scoring 698.3 points, followed by Montana State with 593.3, Wyoming with 382.5, Southwest Oklahoma State with 340 and Texas A&M with 325 to round out the top five of a 32-team field. The UWA men were 31^st in a 58-team field.

"This is exciting time for our team, school and town," UWA head coach Daniel Poole said. "These ladies worked so unbelievably hard to get to this point.

"It took an army to accomplish this," Poole said, "but it needs to be said that none of it would have been possible without Coach (Lucas) Brown, Coach (Ryder) Ladner and those other 10 ladies cheering us on from home."

Ellison took home the men's title in steer wrestling, while Matthews won two of four Goes to capture the top spot in intercollegiate barrel racing. Both Matthews and Ellison posted the best aggregate times for the week in their respective events.

Matthews and Ellison's individual national championships are the second and third in Tiger Wrangler history. Zach Wilson was the 2013 tie down national champion.

"I have watched JT for four years pour his heart and soul into it," Poole said. "That is why he is national champion. It's a special moment watching his hard work pay off."

Taycie Matthews posted a 55.53 for the average after a 13.94 run in the Short Go on Saturday, scoring 380 points for the Tigers over the week.

Ellison's weekly steer wrestling average was 26.0 after posting a 6.7 in Saturday's Short Go. Ellison scored 130 points to outdistance Bradley Hesnor (125) from McNeese State for the win.

Raven Clagg was at 56.93 in the average and scored 155 points in barrel racing for UWA, including posting a 14.30 in the Short Go to leave her fourth in the overall standings. Jaylie Matthews horse clipped a gate in the barrel Short Go, leaving her without a Saturday night score, but still good enough for 12^th place and 160 points.

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Players Mentioned

JT Ellison: Steer Wrestling, Tie Down Roping, Team Roping; 5' 10"; Graduate Student

Raven Clagg: Barrel Racing, Breakaway Roping, & Goat Tying; 5' 0"; Graduate Student

Jaylie Matthews: Barrel Racing; 5' 3"; Junior

Taycie Matthews: Barrel Racing; 5' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

JT Ellison
: 5' 10"; Graduate Student
: Steer Wrestling, Tie Down Roping, Team Roping

Raven Clagg
: 5' 0"; Graduate Student
: Barrel Racing, Breakaway Roping, & Goat Tying

Jaylie Matthews
: 5' 3"; Junior
: Barrel Racing

Taycie Matthews
: 5' 3"; Junior
: Barrel Racing