EMCC Lions earn sixth-place men’s team finish at season-opening rodeo in Missouri
East Mississippi Community College opened the 2023-24 rodeo season with a sixth-place men’s team finish this past weekend at the Viking Stampede Rodeo hosted by Missouri Valley College. The fall-opening, three-day event concluded with Saturday’s championship round held at the Saline County Fairgrounds.
MARSHALL, Mo. — East Mississippi Community College opened the 2023-24 rodeo season with a sixth-place men's team finish this past weekend at the Viking Stampede Rodeo hosted by Missouri Valley College. The fall-opening, three-day event concluded with Saturday's championship round held at the Saline County Fairgrounds.
Reigning College National Finals Rodeo participant Tanner Brown paired with Northwest Mississippi's Laine Moore to claim first-place honors in the team roping competition. The former EMCC teammates rebounded with a winning time of 6.7 seconds during the second round to earn 120 points apiece for their respective teams.
The Lions' team roping tandem of Dylan Jones (Leake Academy) and Roper Stoots (Louisville HS) each collected 20 individual points for their 8.0-second showing in the first round.
EMCC's other 60 team points were earned by freshman Carson Powell with his winning opening-round effort of 10.0 seconds in the tie-down roping event. The native of Benton, Arkansas also advanced to Saturday's championship round in steer wrestling, though he did not score.
In addition, EMCC's Tyler Brooks (South Fulton, TN) qualified for Saturday's championship round in tie-down roping but did not register a score.
Home-standing Missouri Valley College out-distanced runner-up Northwest Mississippi CC, 855-405, to claim the men's team title in the fall opener. Paced by former EMCC barrel racing sisters Taycie and Jaylie Matthews, West Alabama captured the women's team title with 435 points. UT Martin and Pearl River CC followed with 250 and 240 team points, respectively. The EMCC women did not place in the final team scoring.
Head coach Morgan Goodrich's EMCC Lions continue their Ozark Region rodeo slate close to home this weekend (Sept. 28-30) at the UWA Rodeo Showdown in Livingston, Alabama. Hosted by the University of West Alabama at the Hines-Spree Rodeo Complex, the three-day event will take place Thursday through Saturday. A nightly 6 p.m. pre-show will take place prior to competition beginning at 7 p.m. each night.