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LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama rodeo teams are gearing up for the 2024 College National Finals Rodeo starting on Monday, June 10 and running through Friday, June 15 from the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyoming. 

The sessions begin with slack rounds on Monday and Tuesday morning. Nightly shows start on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. MDT / 8 p.m. CDT. Live Coverage is available on our website, uwaathletics.com/live, including links to watch the nightly performances on ESPN+. Draws are also available by clicking here or at the top of the story. 

Both UWA rodeo teams are back in the national championship for the first time since 2002. 

"We have a legit shot of winning it all on both sides, and it helps that we have an older team that we're taking to Wyoming. We have a lot of experience, and we're excited to get it going," said head coach Daniel Poole. 

Along with the success in the arena, the Tigers excelled in the classroom as well with a 3.1 grade point average for the spring and 3.3 for the spring term.

"It's outstanding. We want to win and get a degree," said Poole. "We practice seven months out of the year and take care of their horses on a regular basis. This is an all-day, every-day job, and to do that and pull off that GPA is fairly impressive."

MEN'S PREVIEW
The men's team secured the region reserve championship and qualified for the national finals. They will enter the postseason 21st in the country. This will be the first time the men's wranglers have been to the finals since the 2002 season. 

After being middle of the pack after the first half of the season, when the team returned for the spring, the program began to climb the leaderboard. In the five shows that happened during the spring semester, the Tigers secured second or third place four times.

In the last show of the year at Northwest Mississippi Community College, despite the Rangers winning the April rodeo, West Alabama's 580 points was just enough to hold off Northwest by 60 points to earn the automatic bid to the championship. 

Despite overcoming challenges throughout the course of the semester, the final weekend of the regular season in Senatobia was when the team came together. 

"You have to make it all the way to the end, but the team came together. You compete all year and it comes down to one rodeo. With the help of the coaches and our team, we were able to finish on a strong note," said Cooper Cowan, who earned the Ozark Region Championship in the team roping. 

"I was the last man on our team to run at Northwest, and it got pretty nerve racking at the end to make a good run and we did. It was an awesome opportunity to secure our spot at the college finals," said Clarke Gordon. 

Blayne Saine, who earned a share of the calf roping championship in the region, finished 11th in the country in the event. 

"Coming into it not knowing you are sitting in first place and have to win is difficult, but you have to trust your horse, hope you get a good draw and practice all year to get to that point for it to all work out," said Saine. 

Also competing for the men's team is Clay Livengood and Tyler Lovering in the tie-down, Gordon in the team roping and Kota Wilhite in the calf roping. 

"I've been working with a new horse, Marty. I started riding him last summer taking him to some amateur shows. We were seeing success except in the college circuit. I wanted to stick with him. My horse and I learned a lot this year, and I'm excited to be a part of the finals," said Livengood.

WOMEN'S PREVIEW
After coming off the 2023 national championship in the CNFR, the Tigers are poised to repeat in 2024. 

Appearing in three straight rodeo finals and the fourth since 2006, West Alabama secured its third straight Ozark Region Championship after securing six first place finishes in 10 events in 2024.

Ranked eighth in the nation, this experienced team is bringing back two from the 2023 squad and added one who won an individual national championship. 

The two returning for the Tigers are Jaylie Matthews and Taycie Matthews in the barrel racing. Jaylie finished tops in the region and sixth in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, while Taycie finished second regionally and ninth nationally. 

"We're going to do the best we can, and we're excited to be back in the finals for UWA," said Jaylie. 

"I'm hoping to have smooth and clean runs, and it's all in God's hands," said Taycie. 

Joanna Hammett, who qualified and scored at the national finals in 2022, is looking to make some noise at the 2024 finals. She is 14th in the nation in the goat tying and was a reserve champion in the region. 

"After having a rough go last season, I remember that nerves were tough for me at the beginning of the year. Jaylie [Matthews] had a conversation with me and reminded me that it's all in God's plan and whatever happens will happen," said Hammett. 

"Going into the second half of the year, I told myself to make a go of it. I ended up making eight out of the 10 short goes to help me get to the end of the season."

Another transfer that has helped the Tigers in 2023-24 is Lauren Booty. The transfer from Pearl River Community College finished as the reserve champion in the all around and will compete in the breakaway roping and goat tying. 

Looking to join this squad after watching UWA win it all last year is a dream come true for Lauren, and she was willing to help in whatever facet the team needed her to do when she joined the team this past fall.

"I was ticked to join the team. When Coach Poole asked me what events I wanted to do and I told him that I can do whatever you need," said Booty. 

Lauren competes in the breakaway roping, goat tying, team roping and barrel racing at UWA.

Along with the other wranglers, Ashley Henderson will also participate in the breakaway roping after winning the region title for the second time in her career after snagging the award while a member of the Pearl River Community College team in 2022. Back in the national spotlight after facing some injuries with her horse in 2023, Henderson is elated to be making the trip back to Wyoming this season.

"It took a clutch win at Arkansas Monticello to secure the title in ideal conditions. I went into that rodeo know that it was meant to be. I was happy to be in the position that I was after Monticello. At Senatobia, finishing in third was a goal of mine, and I'm blessed to be making this drive and being back in the finals," said Henderson. 

Fans can follow action starting on Monday with slack rounds. Performance sessions begin Tuesday at 7 p.m. MDT / 8 p.m. CDT. Click HERE for the schedule of events for the week.