LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Rodeo Team heads to West Plains, Missouri for this weekend's Rodeo at Missouri State-West Plains.
West Alabama Rodeo comes into the weekend after the Women's team placed third at Arkansas Monticello's rodeo with 270 points while the men placed fourth with 325 points.
With three Rodeos under their belt, both the men's and women's program lead the Ozark Region while ranking in the top-11 nationally.
WOMEN'S RODEO: No. 6 in the Country | No. 1 in the Ozark Region
The Tigers come into this weekend's event after putting together a dominant start to the campaign. West Alabama has recorded 1,085 points which leads the Ozark Region by a wide margin. Mattie Chabert and Brooklyn Balch are the team's points leaders as they continue to impress in their first season with UWA.
Chabert leads the way as the freshman leads the Ozark and ranks second in the country in the Goat Tying event with 450 points. Chabert has also showcased her skills in the Barrel Racing and Breakaway Roping, combining for 220 points in those events. The freshman is one of the top Cowgirls in the country to begin the season and she'll continue to display her skills this weekend in West Plains, MO.
Balch has stared in the Barrel Racing event as she currently ranks second in the Region with 215 points. Balch has advanced to the Championship Round in the event in all three Rodeos thus far and enters the weekend after securing 100 points her last time out.
While Chabert and Balch have led the way, Claire Gordon has also impressed. Gordon has accumulated 155 points in the Breakaway Roping thus far which is the second most in the Ozark. On top of this, Meah Pinter has registered 100 points in the event and enters this week's action after advancing to the Championship Round in the Team Roping last week.
MEN'S RODEO: No. 11 in the Country | No. 1 in the Ozark Region
Standing at No. 11 in the nation and No. 1 in the Ozark Region, UWA comes into the weekend's action with 1,610 total points on the year thus far. Caden Ussery and Teigan Orr lead a group of supremely talented wranglers for the Tigers.
Ussery is currently second in the Ozark Region standings in the All-Around category with 445 points. Ussery thrives in the Tie Down and Team Roping events. The graduate is second in the Region with 295 points in the Tie Down Roping while ranking fourth in the Team Roping as a Heeler with 150 points. Ussery enters the weekend after advancing to the Short Round in both events, earning 145 points this past Saturday night.
While Ussery ranks second in the Region, Orr is right behind him in third with 420 total points on the campaign. Orr lifts West Alabama's efforts in the Steer Wrestling, residing second in the Region with 250 points thus far. The graduate also competes in the Team Roping and stands third in the region with 170 points.
Ussery and Orr are combining for 865 points to lead the way, while the Team Roping duo of Carson Cameron and Austin Brooks currently lead the Region with 305 points in the event. Cameron and Brooks are coming off an 180-points outing last weekend in Arkansas and enter the weekend with real momentum behind them.
Cameron, Brooks, Ussery, Joiner Peoples, Sam McBride, Christian Gonzalez, Cooper and Pearson all reached the Championship Rounds last weekend as the men's squad looks to continue their strong start in West Plains.
This weekend's rodeo is set to begin on Thursday in West Plains, Missouri.
