The UTM rodeo team wrapped up the fall portion of its schedule with 655 points and first place in the Ozark Region rodeo at Murray State this past weekend.

“It wasn’t great, but it was good,” said John Luthi, the Skyhawks’ head rodeo coach.

“Overall we are competing hard. We just need to make some adjustments.”

Missouri Valley College finished second in the men’s team standings with 580 points, while Arkansas-Monticello was third with 365 points.

Three UTM cowboys finished among the top six in the bare back average. Matt Bright was second with 145 points on two, while Jeff Fuehring was fourth with 142 points and Russ Ratkowski was fifth with 141 points.

UTM’s Whit Ashe turned in a 75-point ride in the second round and finished third.

David Stone finished third in the calf roping long go with a time of 10.1 for UTM.

In the saddle bronc, UTM’s Ty Atchison turned in a 79-point ride to finish second in the average, while Ashe was third with his 64-point ride. Atchison won the second round, while Ashe won the first round. UTM cowboys Cody Miller and Boyd Quinley finished second and third, respectively, in the steer wrestling average. Miller went 11.7 on two, while Quinley went 12.2 on two.

UTM’s Brent Menz turned in a 6.4 run n the steer wrestling long go and finished third.

“Some of the freshmen have stepped it up and showed they will continue to make an impact,” Luthi said referring to Menz and Miller.

In the team roping Atchison teamed with Troy’s Ben Mayworth to finished second in the long go with a time of 6.4, while Menz and Miller teamed up to finished with a 6.9 and fourth in the long go.

On the women’s side, UTM finished seventh with 80 points, while Troy claimed first in the points standings with 370 points. Missouri Valley College was third with 325 points.

UTM’s Brittany Duff finished fourth in the breakaway long go with a time of 3.7

Nikki Bacon won the goat tying long go for UTM with her 8.3 run. In the barrel racing, UTM’s Jodanna Davis turned in a run of 14.79 to finish fourth in the long go.

The women’s team is currently ranked fifth overall in the region with 580 points. The rival Murray State women’s team is right behind the Skyhawks in sixth place with 440 points.

“I do not think our men and women are satisfied with where we are at this time in our season,” Luthi said. “They will continue to work hard and make improvements.”

The UTM rodeo teams return to action March 30 when they compete at Pine Bluff, Ark. The rodeo will be hosted by Arkansas-Monticello. The annual UTM rodeo is set for Thursday-Saturday, April 6-8, at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex on campus in Martin.