The UTM rodeo teams opened up their 2006-07 Ozark Region Schedule this past week by winning both the men and women’s team titles at the Missouri Valley College rodeo in Marshall.

The men claimed the team title with 715 points, while the women collected 340 points en route to the win.

Troy University was second with 610 points on the men’s side, while Missouri Valley was third with 340 points.

On the women’s side West Alabama was second with 290 points, while Missouri Valley was third with 215 points.

“We had a lot of people compete well in this first rodeo,” said John Luthi, UTM’s head rodeo coach. “We also had a lot of people score points.”

UT Martin cowboys dominated the bareback competition. Matt Bright won the average, while Russ Ratkowski was second in the average. Whit Ashe finished fifth in the average.

Boyd Quinley scored points for UTM by finishing third in the first go of the calf roping. Quinley turned in a 10.9 run.

Ty Atchison won the saddle bronc average for UTM. Atchison turned in a 69-point ride in the first round and then won the second round with an 85-point ride.

Newcomer Brad Bates finished second in the saddle bronc. He had a 75-point ride in the first round and a 73-point ride in the second go. Ashe was sixth in the saddle bronc. He turned in 75-point ride in the first round.

Atchison added to UTM’s point tally with his fourth-place finish in the steer wrestling average. He turned in a total time of 11.4 on two runs.

In the team roping average, Quinley and newcomer John Beckwith finished sixth. The team turned in a 13.9 in the first run and a 15.9 in the second go.

Ashe and Brent Menz enjoyed some success in the bull riding. Ashe had a 74-point ride in the first round, while Menz turned in a 72-point ride.

On the women’s side, Brittany Duff finished sixth in the breakaway roping. She finished fourth in the first go with a 3.6 run.

Nikki Bacon finished second in the goat tying for UTM, while Lauren Glasco was fourth in the goat tying average. Bacon had an 8.6 run in the first go and came back with a 9.0 run in the second run. Glasco went 19.6 on both runs.

UTM dominated the barrel racing competition as Nicole Todd won the average and Kristin Wiseman finished second. Samantha Davis was fourth, while Kacy Burchett was fifth and Nikki Gordon was sixth.

Overall, Luthi was pleased with the first rodeo of the season. Both the veterans and newcomers contributed to the success.

“We need to work on the little things because this is going to be a battle all year,” Luthi said. “There are a lot of good teams in this region.”

UTM will return to action Thursday, Oct. 5 when it competes in the Southern Arkansas rodeo at Magnolia.