UWA Rodeo finishes third at Showdown

UWA rodeoLIVINGSTON — Riding the success of saddle bronc and bareback riders, the University of West Alabama men’s rodeo team finished second in the Annual UWA Rodeo Showdown at Don C. Hines Complex.

Andy Phillips won the saddle bronc riding with 170 total points and Chris Smith was second in the average in bareback riding with 135 points. Blade Elliott scored 85 to follow Smith.

Tennessee-Martin won the men’s side of the rodeo with 720 points, followed by UWA with 510 and Missouri Valley College with 503. Southern Arkansas won the women’s rodeo with 330 points, followed by East Mississippi Community College at 235 and Murray State with 165.

“We competed well for our first second-place finish this year,” UWA head coach Alex Caudle said. “We are not far from winning one. As soon as we can put something together to add to what the horse riders are doing, we will be right there.

“Cheree Cooper stepped up to be fifth in the goat tying average to get the women on the board this time,” Caudle said. “We are moving in the right direction with the women’s team. It’s just a matter of time for us there.”

Zachary Wilson and Scooter Scarbrough finished fourth in team roping to round out West Alabama’s effort at its annual event.

West Alabama has a month off before finishing the fall Ozark Region rodeo season Nov. 21-23 at the Trojan Stampede, hosted by Troy University at the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association Complex.