UT Martin Duo Qualifies For 77th Annual College National Finals Rodeo Next Month
5/8/2025 8:03:00 AM | Rodeo
MARTIN, Tenn. – Following a pair of outstanding individual seasons, Caden Ussery and Anna Wilder have each earned an opportunity to compete against the best of the best as they will represent the University of Tennessee at Martin at the 2025 College National Finals Rodeo. This year's event once again takes place in Casper, Wyo. and is scheduled for June 15-21.
The 77th Annual CNFR field is set as the 2024-25 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association regular season was officially wrapped up last Saturday. The tandem of Ussery and Wilder are part of a field of 400-plus cowboys and cowgirls from over 100 universities and colleges thanks to top-three Ozark Region finishes in their respective events.
Both Ussery and Wilder will make their CNFR debuts after standout campaigns under third-year Skyhawk head coach Chase Thrasher. Those three will travel 1,250 miles to the Ford Wyoming Center with the hopes of capturing an individual national championship.
A junior from Huntersville, NC, Ussery accumulated 580 points in tie down roping – a number that ranked third regionally and just outside the top-25 nationally. He helped the UT Martin men's team place in the top-four in half of the 10 Ozark Region rodeos in 2024-25, including a victory at Arkansas Tech on March 6-8.
Wilder placed second in the Ozark Region in all-around as the sophomore out of Millington, Tenn. compiled 679.66 points this season. She was a key contributor to a Skyhawk cowgirl squad that finished in the top-four in seven regional rodeos this season, including a pair of wins (at Southern Arkansas on Oct. 10-12 and at East Mississippi on March 13-14).
The CNFR is where the NIRA crowns individual event champions in saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying. National team championships are also awarded to both men's and women's teams as the top two teams and best three participants from each of the above events across the 11 NIRA regions automatically qualify for CNFR entry.
For more information on the 2025 edition of the CNFR, click on the link above.
The 77th Annual CNFR field is set as the 2024-25 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association regular season was officially wrapped up last Saturday. The tandem of Ussery and Wilder are part of a field of 400-plus cowboys and cowgirls from over 100 universities and colleges thanks to top-three Ozark Region finishes in their respective events.
Both Ussery and Wilder will make their CNFR debuts after standout campaigns under third-year Skyhawk head coach Chase Thrasher. Those three will travel 1,250 miles to the Ford Wyoming Center with the hopes of capturing an individual national championship.
A junior from Huntersville, NC, Ussery accumulated 580 points in tie down roping – a number that ranked third regionally and just outside the top-25 nationally. He helped the UT Martin men's team place in the top-four in half of the 10 Ozark Region rodeos in 2024-25, including a victory at Arkansas Tech on March 6-8.
Wilder placed second in the Ozark Region in all-around as the sophomore out of Millington, Tenn. compiled 679.66 points this season. She was a key contributor to a Skyhawk cowgirl squad that finished in the top-four in seven regional rodeos this season, including a pair of wins (at Southern Arkansas on Oct. 10-12 and at East Mississippi on March 13-14).
The CNFR is where the NIRA crowns individual event champions in saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying. National team championships are also awarded to both men's and women's teams as the top two teams and best three participants from each of the above events across the 11 NIRA regions automatically qualify for CNFR entry.
For more information on the 2025 edition of the CNFR, click on the link above.
Players Mentioned
CR
/ Rodeo
GT, TR, BA, GBR
/ RodeoSkyhawk Sports Talk - Season 2, Episode 32
Monday, April 14
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 2, Episode 26
Thursday, April 10
"Hawks for the Holidays"
Saturday, December 23
UT Martin Skyhawk Top Moments of 2018-2019: #12 Rodeo Hosts 51st Annual UTM Rodeo
Thursday, June 20