EMCC ties for fifth at UWA Rodeo Showdown; Lion cowboy Dalton Thames wins bull riding event

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The East Mississippi Community College men's rodeo team tied for fifth place at the University of West Alabama Rodeo Showdown held this past weekend at the Don C. Hines Rodeo Complex.  The three-day event concluded Saturday night on the UWA campus.

Having tied host UWA with 150 team points, all of EMCC's scoring that counted toward the men's team standings was recorded by Tristan Martin.  Coming off back-to-back, first-place steer wrestling finishes to begin this year's Ozark Region rodeo slate, Martin followed with a runner-up showing in the event at UWA with an average score of 12.6 seconds.  The McNeese State transfer also added 20 points in the tie down roping competition.

Highlighting the weekend for East Mississippi was Dalton Thames claiming the bull riding title as well as earning 150 individual points for his first-place effort.  The Robertsdale, Alabama native topped the field with a score of 133 and was the lone cowboy to post a qualifying ride in the finals.

In team roping for the Lions, Jake Wells paired with UT Martin's Patrick Houchins to collect third-place honors and 100 individual points apiece with an average score of 21.6 seconds.

EMCC's Wyatt McCann and Rivers Irby also advanced to Saturday's championship round in the tie down roping event.

Missouri Valley College captured both team titles at West Alabama, scoring 670 points in the men's competition and 510 points on the women's side.  Southern Arkansas University claimed runner-up honors in both team competitions this past weekend.   

Coach Morgan Goodrich's East Mississippi rodeo teams will continue Ozark Region action Oct. 12-14 at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.