Thursday, September 17
Marshall, Mo.
UT Martin
at
Missouri Valley College
Photo by: UT Martin University Relations
Skyhawk Rodeo Teams Begin Ken Mason Era Tomorrow At Missouri Valley College
9/16/2026 8:10:00 AM | Rodeo
MARTIN, Tenn. – The highly anticipated University of Tennessee at Martin 2026-27 rodeo season starts tomorrow as the Skyhawks travel to Marshall, Mo. for a rodeo hosted by Missouri Valley College on Thursday, Sept. 17 through Saturday, Sept. 19.
This week marks the first UT Martin rodeo under new head coach Ken Mason, who officially took over as the sixth all-time leader of the program on July 1. The 1998 Skyhawk graduate returns to Missouri Valley College this week after guiding the men's and women's teams to a combined 19 Ozark Region titles, three reserve national team championships and five individual national champions from 2005-26.
UT Martin returns 29 student-athletes from a year ago, including 14 cowboys and 15 cowgirls. Four different Skyhawk men's returners ranked in the top-15 in the Ozark Region in their various events in 2025-26, including Cooper Stone (fifth with 325 points in team roping heeler, seventh with 280 points in tie down roping, eighth with 605 points in all-around cowboy), Owen Larrick (sixth with 365 points in tie down roping), Daniel Wilder (eighth with 300 points in steer wrestling, 11th with 505 points in all-around cowboy) and Bentley Anthony (ninth with 575 points in all-around cowboy, 11th with 250 points in steer wrestling, 15th with 185 points in tie down roping). On the women's side, Kylie Jo Castor (fifth with 420 points in barrel racing), Bekah Legan (seventh with 235 points in breakaway roping) and Drew Thomas (10th with 200 points in breakaway roping) each ranked in the top-15 regionally in their respective events.
Mason recruited 31 newcomers to the 2026-27 roster, a list that includes 15 men's additions and 16 fresh faces on the women's squad. Of the 31 newcomers, 14 competed at the collegiate level last season with a dozen of those bringing Ozark Region experience (10 of whom competed under Mason at Missouri Valley College). Judd Pope (third nationally with regional-high 1,335 points in saddle bronc riding, eighth nationally and regional-best 2,135 points in all-around cowboy, fifth in region with 800 points in bareback riding), Collin Roland (12th nationally and third in Ozark Region with 1,040 points in bareback riding), Creek Caldwell (13th nationally and third regionally with 1,070 points in saddle bronc riding), Tate Williams (fifth regionally with 370 points in tie down roping), Ethan Archer (sixth regionally with 120 points in saddle bronc riding), Owen Prince (seventh regionally with 290 points in bareback riding), Kade Parrish (eighth regionally with 205 points in bareback riding), Kate Brisbane (fourth regionally with 497.5 points in goat tying) and Hailey Donald (eighth regionally with 320 points in goat tying) each bring valuable collegiate experience to UT Martin.
"I couldn't be more excited for the season to start," Mason said. "We've been practicing roping calves and tying goats at 5:30 in the morning and there's been more enthusiasm and drive at that time of the day than there is in the afternoon. UT Martin already had a talented roster with several timed-event kids and a really good women's roster then we brought in some roughstock guys that are super competitive. It's going to be a well-rounded balanced team."
This week is the first of five fall rodeos for the Skyhawks as they will also travel to West Alabama (Sept. 24-26), Arkansas-Monticello (Oct. 1-3), Missouri State-West Plains (inaugural event held on Oct. 8-10) and Murray State (Nov. 19-21). The full spring schedule will be unveiled at a later date although the 59th Annual UT Martin Spring College Rodeo is confirmed for April 8-10 at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex. The 79th Annual College National Finals Rodeo will take place on June 13-19 and is once again set for Casper, Wyo.
This week marks the first UT Martin rodeo under new head coach Ken Mason, who officially took over as the sixth all-time leader of the program on July 1. The 1998 Skyhawk graduate returns to Missouri Valley College this week after guiding the men's and women's teams to a combined 19 Ozark Region titles, three reserve national team championships and five individual national champions from 2005-26.
UT Martin returns 29 student-athletes from a year ago, including 14 cowboys and 15 cowgirls. Four different Skyhawk men's returners ranked in the top-15 in the Ozark Region in their various events in 2025-26, including Cooper Stone (fifth with 325 points in team roping heeler, seventh with 280 points in tie down roping, eighth with 605 points in all-around cowboy), Owen Larrick (sixth with 365 points in tie down roping), Daniel Wilder (eighth with 300 points in steer wrestling, 11th with 505 points in all-around cowboy) and Bentley Anthony (ninth with 575 points in all-around cowboy, 11th with 250 points in steer wrestling, 15th with 185 points in tie down roping). On the women's side, Kylie Jo Castor (fifth with 420 points in barrel racing), Bekah Legan (seventh with 235 points in breakaway roping) and Drew Thomas (10th with 200 points in breakaway roping) each ranked in the top-15 regionally in their respective events.
Mason recruited 31 newcomers to the 2026-27 roster, a list that includes 15 men's additions and 16 fresh faces on the women's squad. Of the 31 newcomers, 14 competed at the collegiate level last season with a dozen of those bringing Ozark Region experience (10 of whom competed under Mason at Missouri Valley College). Judd Pope (third nationally with regional-high 1,335 points in saddle bronc riding, eighth nationally and regional-best 2,135 points in all-around cowboy, fifth in region with 800 points in bareback riding), Collin Roland (12th nationally and third in Ozark Region with 1,040 points in bareback riding), Creek Caldwell (13th nationally and third regionally with 1,070 points in saddle bronc riding), Tate Williams (fifth regionally with 370 points in tie down roping), Ethan Archer (sixth regionally with 120 points in saddle bronc riding), Owen Prince (seventh regionally with 290 points in bareback riding), Kade Parrish (eighth regionally with 205 points in bareback riding), Kate Brisbane (fourth regionally with 497.5 points in goat tying) and Hailey Donald (eighth regionally with 320 points in goat tying) each bring valuable collegiate experience to UT Martin.
"I couldn't be more excited for the season to start," Mason said. "We've been practicing roping calves and tying goats at 5:30 in the morning and there's been more enthusiasm and drive at that time of the day than there is in the afternoon. UT Martin already had a talented roster with several timed-event kids and a really good women's roster then we brought in some roughstock guys that are super competitive. It's going to be a well-rounded balanced team."
This week is the first of five fall rodeos for the Skyhawks as they will also travel to West Alabama (Sept. 24-26), Arkansas-Monticello (Oct. 1-3), Missouri State-West Plains (inaugural event held on Oct. 8-10) and Murray State (Nov. 19-21). The full spring schedule will be unveiled at a later date although the 59th Annual UT Martin Spring College Rodeo is confirmed for April 8-10 at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex. The 79th Annual College National Finals Rodeo will take place on June 13-19 and is once again set for Casper, Wyo.
Players Mentioned
TR, CR, SW
/ Rodeo
SB
/ RodeoBA, GT
/ RodeoSB
/ Rodeo
GBR
/ RodeoGT, BA, GBR
/ Rodeo
CR, TR
/ Rodeo
BA, GT, TR
/ RodeoBB
/ RodeoBB, SB
/ RodeoBB
/ RodeoBB, TR
/ Rodeo
CR, TR
/ Rodeo
GBR, BA
/ Rodeo
CR, SW, TR
/ RodeoCR, TR
/ RodeoTuesday, September 15
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