By Staff
From Combined Reports
Nov. 2, 2001
PHILADELPHIA The University of West Alabama men and women took first place in last weekend's third annual Warrior Showdown Rodeo held at the Neshoba County Coliseum.
The UWA men edged longtime rival Tennessee-Martin 450-370, while the women defeated second-place host East Central Community college by 55 points (235-180).
Jake Littlefield led the men's team, finishing second in bull riding (146 points) after a first-place finish in the short go. He also captured first in the bareback short go, and finished third in average with 140 points.
Will Pearson continued his solid senior campaign, taking home a second-place finish in calf roping, following a second-place finish in the short go (10.4). Teammate Wilbur Durrance turned in a time of 10.9 in the calf roping short go, good for a second-place finish.
Pearson also contributed in the steer wrestling competition, placing fourth and first in the respective rounds, and earning first-place overall honors with a combined time of 11.5. Josh Hunt swept the saddle bronc event, earning first-place finishes in both rounds and winning the overall average.
On the women's side for UWA, senior Ericka Register led the way, finishing first in the goat tying average (14.8), after a first-place finish in the short go. She also earned a first-place overall finish in barrel racing (31.58), after capturing second-place finishes in each of the two rounds. Junior Kelly McGee also contributed a fourth-place finish in breakaway roping, following a fourth-place finish in the short go.
East Central Community College rodeo team member Lindsey Shaw of Perkinston won top honors in the Break Away short go and average categories and led the ECCC women to a second-place finish in the third annual Warrior Showdown Rodeo held at Neshoba County Coliseum October 25-27 in Philadelphia.
Also placing in the women's competition for East Central were Natalie Tillman of Union, who finished second in the Break Away long go, and Adria Cremen of Noxapater, who successfully competed in Barrel Racing, as she placed second in the average, third in the long go and third in the short go.
The ECCC women had 180 total points and finished runner-up to the University of West Alabama, which had 235 points. Other top finishers were University of Tennessee-Martin, 110; Missouri Valley College, 100; Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, 75; Northwest Mississippi Community College, 70; Murray State, 60; and University of Arkansas at Monticello, 20.
In men's competition, Warrior Chris Byrd of Noxapater placed fourth in the short go and in the average in the calf-roping event. He also teamed with an Arkansas State University team member to win honors in team roping first place in the short go and a third-place finish in the average.
West Alabama returns to action on Nov. 15-17 when they travel to the Murray State Rodeo in Murray, Ky.