LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Men's and Women's Rodeo teams are set to begin their 2025-26 season in Marshall, Missouri this week for the Missouri Valley College Rodeo.

This week's Rodeo is set to begin on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. before concluding on Saturday night. 

"This is one of my favorite rodeos of the year," said head coach Daniel Poole. "Everyone is fresh & hungry. The key factor is that we control that energy & trust in our training." 

MEN'S RODEO
West Alabama's Men's team returns their top wranglers in Tanner Brown, Kota Wilhite, Clarke Gordon, and Stone Reeves for the 2025-26 campaign. Brown enters his final year of eligibility after being crowned the All-Around, Tie Down Roping, and Team Roping Champion last season. Brown will headline the Tigers' Men's squad heading into the weekend while his Team Roping partner in Clarke is also back. Gordon and Brown held the No. 1 spot in the country in Team Roping for majority of last season and will look to continue that momentum into the new campaign.

As for Wilhite, he's also back for his final year after a standout 2024-25 in the Tie Down Roping event while Reeves is set for his sophomore season after a stellar freshman year, particularly in the Tie Down Roping event. 

Newcomers Austin Brooks, Sam McBride, Logan Crook, and Eli Day are ready to make their UWA debut, competing in various events this weekend.

WOMEN'S TEAM
As for the Women's Team, Sydney Poole returns for her senior year after solidifying herself as one of the best in the country this past season. Poole comes into the new year as the reigning All-Around Champion along with her Horse, Pac-Man, being the reigning Horse of the Year. Poole is dynamic and arguably the most versatile athlete on the Tigers' roster as she competes strongly in the Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing events. Along with Poole, Katelyn Carney returns for her sophomore season after making the CNFR this past Summer as a Barrel Racer. 

With the Women's team losing Joanna Hammett and Ashley Henderson, coach Poole went out and secured reinforcements in Madison Murphy, Morgan Ward, Erin McLaughlin, Aubrey Mills, Andi Norwood, Avery Pilgrim, Allie Sherman, and Darby Toole. Toole, Sherman, and McLaughlin are impact transfers while the rest of the newcomers are freshman who are slated to make their collegiate debuts.

"We have a lot of upper classmen on our Men's & Women's Team, along with many talented transfers & freshmen," Coach Poole continued. "I pray that our team recognizes that we have one of the best teams in the region, while also understanding that we won't compete to our standards if we don't remain focused. Controlled aggression is the key." 

Missouri Valley College's Home Rodeo is set to begin on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in Marshall, Missouri.