MURRAY, Ky. - The back-to-back National Championship winning West Alabama Women's Rodeo team ended their Fall season on a high note on Saturday night as the Tigers won the Murray State Rodeo while the Men's team placed second.
UWA's Women's squad picked up their third win of the season in their fifth overall competition this weekend, after accumulating 325 points. For the Men's team, they placed second with 435 points, beating six other schools but falling short of MVC who won the event with 710 points.
"I'm really proud of the way our teams competed this semester," said head coach Daniel Poole. "They are truly believing in what they are capable of doing."
Women's Rodeo
In an overall dominating team performance, it was a balanced effort across the board for the Tigers as multiple athletes contributed to their winning score of 325 points. Without Ashley Henderson competing, UWA leaned on their depth to pull out another victory. Sydney Poole was everywhere for West Alabama as the junior combined for 110 points in the Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing events. Individually, Joanna Hammett arguably had the best single-event performance. Hammett shined in the Goat Tying event, registering a 15.3 average to secure a team-high 110 points. Teammate, Meah Pinter also competed in the Goat Tying Event, accumulating 70 points while Kayla Earnhardt turned in 35 points to bring West Alabama's total to 215 in that event alone.
The Tigers' performance in the Goat Tying event propelled them over the field as they bring another Rodeo win back to Livingston, moving them back to the number one spot in the Ozark Region.
Men's Rodeo
Off the strength of Tanner Brown, Cooper Cowan, and Harrison McGriff, West Alabama's Men's Rodeo team ended their Fall season with another stellar performance. Brown continued his brilliant 2024-25 season, by recording an event-high 160 points in the Calf Roping Event with an average of 20. Tyler Lovering, Grey Wells, Clarke Gordon, and Kota Wilhite all joined Brown in the event, with the quartet combing for 155 points. For Cowan, he shined brighter than any other athlete in the Team Roping event as the senior recorded an event-high 155 points on a 13.3 average while McGriff did the same in the Bull Riding, turning in a score of 130. Senior Andrews Wilder also performed well for the Tigers as senior put together an average of 10.2 in the Steer Wrestling event, contributing 70 points.
After their second-place performance this weekend, the West Alabama Men remain in the two spot in the Ozark Region to end the Fall Season.
"The most important thing is that we use this break as a chance to find various ways to get those extra edges, while also helping each other to do the same," coach Poole continued. "This is one of the most talented group of rodeo athletes that I've ever had the pleasure to coach. They are mountain movers, not hill climbers."
West Alabama will now take the next three months off, before returning on March 6 for the Arkansas Tech Rodeo.
