LIVINGSTON, Ala. - After a sensational start to the 2024-25 campaign, the University of West Alabama Men's and Women's Rodeo team get back on the road this weekend, traveling to Monticello, Arkansas for the University of Arkansas Monticello's home Rodeo.

The Rodeo is set to begin on Thursday, with the event concluding on Saturday night.

"The last few weekends have instilled the confidence in us that we have what it takes," said head coach Daniel Poole. "However, the season is long and we've just started. We need to continue focusing on one moment at a time."

#19 Men's Rodeo (First in Ozark Region)
West Alabama's Men's squad enters this weekend's Rodeo off the heels of first and second place finishes to kick off the new campaign. The Tigers have a lot of depth on their roster, which has led them to their early season success, but Stone Reeves and Kota Wilhite have both had standout performances thus far. Reeves and Wilhite have excelled in the Tie Down Roping event as Reeves won the event at the Viking Stampede two weekends ago with a 20.4 average while Wilhite shined at the UWA Rodeo Showdown last weekend, accumulating an 18.8 average in the event. The West Alabama Tie Down Roping duo has combined for 460 points in the event through two Rodeos as they look to add to that total this weekend in Arkansas.

UWA's depth on the men's side features athletes such as Cooper Cowan, Greyson Wells, Evan Bourdon, Tanner Brown, etc. Cowan enters this weekend's action after recording 90 points with a 19.2 average in the Team Roping Event at the UWA Rodeo Showdown. The senior has now accumulated 260 total points in that event this season as he added those 90 points that he earned last weekend to the event-high 170 that he recorded in the season opener at the Viking Stampede. As for Wells, he's also stellar in the Team Roping event, bringing a season-high of 110 points into this weekend's Rodeo while Bourdon carries a season-high 100 points in the Steer Wrestling event.

Similar to Reeves and Wilhite, Brown is a strong contender in the Tie Down Roping as he recorded 120 points to begin the year, two weekends ago. Brown didn't compete in the Tie Down Roping this past weekend but instead was featured in the Team Roping where he chipped in 80 points. 

Women's Rodeo (Second in Ozark Region)
After a fifth-place finish to start the year at the Viking Stampede, the West Alabama Women bounced back, by winning their home Rodeo this past weekend. The Tigers accumulated a team score of 280 which stood 20 points higher than second-place, Missouri Valley College. 

Ashley Henderson made a statement last weekend, registering an event-high 180 points in the Breakaway Roping. Henderson has now garnered 260 total points in the event through a pair of Rodeos and plays a vital role in the success for the Tigers. It's not all Henderson for UWA though, as West Alabama features a plethora of talented athletes on their roster. Sarah Curl and Katelyn Carney have excelled thus far as Curl enters Arkansas Monticello's Rodeo after recording 140 points in the Goat Tying event last weekend at the UWA Rodeo Showdown. Carney is another standout on the Tigers' roster as the freshman kicked off her collegiate career with an event-high 180 points in the Barrel Racing Event. 

Outside of Henderson, Curl, and Carney, Ashley Teems, Sydney Poole, Joanna Hammett are also pillars on this West Alabama team and they will be active in various events as the Tigers seek their second straight win this weekend.

The Arkansas Monticello Rodeo is set to begin on Thursday, with the event concluding on Saturday.