MONTICELLO, Ark. – For the second time in the last five rodeos, the University of Tennessee at Martin cowgirls came back home with first-place accolades as the Skyhawks piled up 260 points en route to a victory at Arkansas-Monticello.
The result was the UT Martin women’s sixth top-three finish in nine rodeos in 2023-24, also including a first-place effort at Murray State on Nov. 16-18. The Skyhawks edged out Southern Arkansas by 20 points for the top spot in the standings.
Anna Wilder pieced together a dominant effort in breakaway roping as the freshman out of Millington, Tenn. had the best time in the opening round (2.6). She placed second in average (5.8) after a third-place finish in the short go (3.2).
In goat tying, Emma Kate Wilder garnered the best time in the short go (7.3) before placing second with a 15.4 average time.
A trio of UT Martin cowgirls accumulated points in barrel racing, headed by Allie Sherman’s first-place performance in average (26.83) and in the second round (13.28). Ryanne Frecker won the first go with a time of 13.11 before finishing sixth in both the second round (14.19) and in average (27.3). Madde Shelton additionally tacked on points with a time of 13.51 seconds in the opening go (fifth place).
On the men’s side, the Skyhawks finished in ninth place with a total of 110 points. Clint Southworth was responsible for all of those points as the senior from Bagdad, Ky. placed second in calf roping average (24.5) after finishing third in the short go (11.9) and fifth in the opening round (12.6).
UT Martin closes out the regular season next week as it travels to Senatobia, Miss. for a rodeo hosted by Northwest Mississippi Community College. The event will take place from Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27.
