Sunday, June 14
Casper, Wyo.
UT Martin
at
78th Annual College National Finals Rodeo
Southworth Caps Off Strong Week With Third-Place Finish At College National Finals Rodeo
6/20/2026 11:26:00 PM | Rodeo
CASPER, Wyo. – Clint Southworth represented the University of Tennessee at Martin quite well this week as the Skyhawk graduate placed third in tie down roping at the 78th Annual College National Finals Rodeo held at the Ford Wyoming Center.
Making his second career CNFR appearance, Southworth became the first UT Martin contestant to generate a top-three national finish since Cole Walker placed second in all-around cowboy in 2023. Southworth also turned in the Skyhawks' best tie down roping CNFR finish since Clark Adcock finished as reserve national champion with a 37.5 average in 2014.
Southworth combined for a 42.0 average over four rides this week, which trailed only Bismarck State's Tyler Hansen (38.3) and Eastern New Mexico's Cutter Pareo (39.5) for the best score in the 44-man tie down roping field.
Southworth's week started during the Monday slack round with a time of 8.8 seconds in the first go, ranking second in the standings. He followed that with 10.0 seconds flat in Tuesday's slack round, topping the entire field in average through two rounds. Competing for the third time in as many days, he dialed up a 12.4 in the third go during Wednesday's performance round and had to wait two days before officially clinching a spot in the 12-man finals this evening.
The two-time Ozark Region tie down roping champion from Bagdad, Ky. concluded his week with a time of 10.8 seconds during tonight's short round. Overall, Southworth accounted for 190 combined points in the 2026 CNFR – bringing his season tally up to 950 aggregate points for UT Martin head coach Chase Thrasher.
Tonight's result marks the end of the 2025-26 Skyhawk rodeo season as the program transitions into a new era. In late April, Thrasher announced his intent to resign following the CNFR to pursue other interests before 1998 UT Martin alum Ken Mason was tabbed as the sixth head coach in program history on May 6. Mason, the 2011 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Coach of the Year, won 15 combined Ozark Region championships with eight men's top-five team finishes, five women's top-10 placements, five individual national champions and six individual reserve national champions in 21 seasons at Missouri Valley College.
Making his second career CNFR appearance, Southworth became the first UT Martin contestant to generate a top-three national finish since Cole Walker placed second in all-around cowboy in 2023. Southworth also turned in the Skyhawks' best tie down roping CNFR finish since Clark Adcock finished as reserve national champion with a 37.5 average in 2014.
Southworth combined for a 42.0 average over four rides this week, which trailed only Bismarck State's Tyler Hansen (38.3) and Eastern New Mexico's Cutter Pareo (39.5) for the best score in the 44-man tie down roping field.
Southworth's week started during the Monday slack round with a time of 8.8 seconds in the first go, ranking second in the standings. He followed that with 10.0 seconds flat in Tuesday's slack round, topping the entire field in average through two rounds. Competing for the third time in as many days, he dialed up a 12.4 in the third go during Wednesday's performance round and had to wait two days before officially clinching a spot in the 12-man finals this evening.
The two-time Ozark Region tie down roping champion from Bagdad, Ky. concluded his week with a time of 10.8 seconds during tonight's short round. Overall, Southworth accounted for 190 combined points in the 2026 CNFR – bringing his season tally up to 950 aggregate points for UT Martin head coach Chase Thrasher.
Tonight's result marks the end of the 2025-26 Skyhawk rodeo season as the program transitions into a new era. In late April, Thrasher announced his intent to resign following the CNFR to pursue other interests before 1998 UT Martin alum Ken Mason was tabbed as the sixth head coach in program history on May 6. Mason, the 2011 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Coach of the Year, won 15 combined Ozark Region championships with eight men's top-five team finishes, five women's top-10 placements, five individual national champions and six individual reserve national champions in 21 seasons at Missouri Valley College.
Players Mentioned
CR, TR
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