The UTM cowboys and cowgirls traveled to Philadelphia, Miss., Oct. 30-Nov. 1, where they competed at the East Central Community College rodeo and returned home victorious with a first place finish.

UTM’s cowboys dominated the bareback riding taking home first, second and fourth. The long go was won by Scotty NeSmith. Josh Shackleford won third and Whit Ashe was fourth.

Shackleford won the short go with a 74 point ride, NeSmith won second with a 70 point ride and Ashe was fourth. The average was close but Shackleford with 137 points edged out teammate NeSmith by one point to win the average, Ashe won fourth.

“The bareback carried us this weekend, and that's a blessing,” said John Luthi, UTM head rodeo coach.

Curtis Griffin made his mark and moved up in the steer wrestling. Griffin placed second in the long go to come back to the short go and throw the fastest steer of the weekend in 4 seconds flat. This allowed him to win the average with a combined time of 8.1 seconds. This win has moved him into second in the regional steer wrestling standings.

Zak Danison and his team roping partner Quentin Vickers claimed a fourth place finish in the long go in the team roping. The women’s team did not place in the team standings for the weekend. This moved them to third in the regional standings. Barrel Racer Audrey Lipsky was successful for the weekend.

She won the short go with a 16.11 seconds run around the clover leaf pattern. She was second in the average with a combined time of 32.75 seconds. The placing for the weekend has moved her into fourth place in the region.

“Our women are still close,” Luthi said. “We are just 40 points out of first place and a lot can happen.”

The team still has one rodeo left in the fall season. They will travel to Murray State University Nov. 20-22.