Photo by: UT Martin University Relations
UT Martin Travels To Missouri Valley College For 2025-26 Season Opener
9/16/2025 8:35:00 AM | Rodeo
MARTIN, Tenn. – The 2025-26 University of Tennessee at Martin rodeo season starts up this week as the Skyhawks head to Missouri Valley College for its Ozark Region opener on Thursday, Sept. 18 through Saturday, Sept. 20.
A total of five rodeos make up the Skyhawks' fall schedule as the full regional dates for the spring semester have yet to be revealed. Following this week's season opener, UT Martin will compete at West Alabama on Sept. 25-27 before back-to-back outings in the Natural State (Southern Arkansas on Oct. 9-11 and Arkansas-Monticello on Oct. 16-18). A quick trip to Murray State on Nov. 20-22 puts the finishing touches on the Skyhawks' fall slate.
The 58th Annual UT Martin Spring College Rodeo is set for April 9-11 as the Skyhawks will also take part in four other regional events before the 78th Annual College National Finals Rodeo will once again take place in Casper, Wyo. in June.
The 2025-26 UT Martin roster includes 47 total student-athletes, nearly split evenly between the women's team (24) and men's squad (23). The Skyhawk men's team returns 13 cowboys and welcomes in 10 newcomers while the women's squad includes 14 returners and 10 cowgirls who are set to make their UT Martin debuts.
Both of the Skyhawks' 2025 CNFR participants will don the orange vests once again this season as Caden Ussery and Anna Wilder lead their respective teams. Two more UT Martin CNFR participants from 2024 are also back as Leah Pitts returns for the women's squad while Clint Southworth returns to the program after a year off. Savannah Moran – a 2022 CNFR participant – also provides national championship experience for the Skyhawk women's squad.
"I'm probably more excited for both teams this year than I've ever been – we have more depth coming in," said UT Martin head coach Chase Thrasher, who enters his fourth season as head coach. "On the men's side, we have more roughstock riders this year – in the past, I've only had one or two a year but now we have six bull riders and one saddle bronc rider, including newcomer Luke Stanley who made the CNFR the past two years at Northwest Mississippi. I've felt like the last several years, we've had a really strong women's team but just didn't have the luck that we needed a lot of times."
Six returners on the men's squad ranked in the top-15 in the Ozark Region last season in their respective statistical categories. That list includes Ussery, who finished third in calf roping (580 points), fifth in team roping heeler (410) and fifth in all-around points (990). Bentley Anthony also ranked sixth in calf roping (320), 10th in team roping header (200) and 11th in all-around (520). Caleb Dunn earned 258 points in team roping heeler (ninth), 170 points in calf roping (13th) and 428 points in all-around (14th) while Noah Beshears' 258 points in team roping header were good enough for ninth regionally. Jace Stigall (10th in team roping heeler with 200 points) and Cooper Stone (15th in calf roping with 165 points) also headline an impressive list of returning Skyhawk cowboys, who placed fifth in the region with 2,718 points last season.
Wilder ranked amongst the best cowgirls in the Ozark Region in four events in 2024-25 as she was second in all-around (679.66 points), fourth in breakaway roping (281), fifth in barrel racing (370) and 14th in goat tying (185). The returning duo of Ryanne Frecker (280 points) and Moran (265) ranked eighth and 11th, respectively, regionally in barrel racing as UT Martin women's team finished third in the standings with 1,798.65 points.
A total of five rodeos make up the Skyhawks' fall schedule as the full regional dates for the spring semester have yet to be revealed. Following this week's season opener, UT Martin will compete at West Alabama on Sept. 25-27 before back-to-back outings in the Natural State (Southern Arkansas on Oct. 9-11 and Arkansas-Monticello on Oct. 16-18). A quick trip to Murray State on Nov. 20-22 puts the finishing touches on the Skyhawks' fall slate.
The 58th Annual UT Martin Spring College Rodeo is set for April 9-11 as the Skyhawks will also take part in four other regional events before the 78th Annual College National Finals Rodeo will once again take place in Casper, Wyo. in June.
The 2025-26 UT Martin roster includes 47 total student-athletes, nearly split evenly between the women's team (24) and men's squad (23). The Skyhawk men's team returns 13 cowboys and welcomes in 10 newcomers while the women's squad includes 14 returners and 10 cowgirls who are set to make their UT Martin debuts.
Both of the Skyhawks' 2025 CNFR participants will don the orange vests once again this season as Caden Ussery and Anna Wilder lead their respective teams. Two more UT Martin CNFR participants from 2024 are also back as Leah Pitts returns for the women's squad while Clint Southworth returns to the program after a year off. Savannah Moran – a 2022 CNFR participant – also provides national championship experience for the Skyhawk women's squad.
"I'm probably more excited for both teams this year than I've ever been – we have more depth coming in," said UT Martin head coach Chase Thrasher, who enters his fourth season as head coach. "On the men's side, we have more roughstock riders this year – in the past, I've only had one or two a year but now we have six bull riders and one saddle bronc rider, including newcomer Luke Stanley who made the CNFR the past two years at Northwest Mississippi. I've felt like the last several years, we've had a really strong women's team but just didn't have the luck that we needed a lot of times."
Six returners on the men's squad ranked in the top-15 in the Ozark Region last season in their respective statistical categories. That list includes Ussery, who finished third in calf roping (580 points), fifth in team roping heeler (410) and fifth in all-around points (990). Bentley Anthony also ranked sixth in calf roping (320), 10th in team roping header (200) and 11th in all-around (520). Caleb Dunn earned 258 points in team roping heeler (ninth), 170 points in calf roping (13th) and 428 points in all-around (14th) while Noah Beshears' 258 points in team roping header were good enough for ninth regionally. Jace Stigall (10th in team roping heeler with 200 points) and Cooper Stone (15th in calf roping with 165 points) also headline an impressive list of returning Skyhawk cowboys, who placed fifth in the region with 2,718 points last season.
Wilder ranked amongst the best cowgirls in the Ozark Region in four events in 2024-25 as she was second in all-around (679.66 points), fourth in breakaway roping (281), fifth in barrel racing (370) and 14th in goat tying (185). The returning duo of Ryanne Frecker (280 points) and Moran (265) ranked eighth and 11th, respectively, regionally in barrel racing as UT Martin women's team finished third in the standings with 1,798.65 points.
Players Mentioned
CR, TR
/ Rodeo
TR, CR
/ Rodeo
TR, CR
/ Rodeo
GBR
/ Rodeo
GBR, BA
/ Rodeo
BA
/ Rodeo
CR, TR
/ Rodeo
BR
/ Rodeo
TR, CR
/ Rodeo
CR, TR
/ Rodeo
CR
/ Rodeo
BA, GT, GBR, TR
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