Rodeo Teams Produce Champions, Coach of the Year in Ozark Region
Marshall, Mo., (May 1, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's rodeo teams finished their competition regular seasons last weekend, and the final Ozark Region standings have been released. The men's team captured an eighth-straight region title, and the women's team placed fifth. Head Coach Ken Mason was also named the Ozark Region Coach of the Year.
The men's team dominated the region standings, finishing with a total of 7,765 points to win an eighth-straight Ozark Region championship. Second place was West Alabama with 4,110 points on the season.
Leading the men's team was Senior Ty Pope (Waverly, Kan.), who claimed region titles in three separate categories. Pope won the men's all-around with a total of 2,940, more than doubling the second place finisher's total. Pope also finished first in the bareback riding standings, with 1,420 points, and added a first place finish in saddle bronc riding with 1,520 points.
In addition to Pope's title in bareback riding, four other members of the team finished in the top six of the event standings. Sophomore Kooper Heimburg (San Tan Valley, Ariz.) was the reserve champion with 1,165 points, followed by Senior Colton Eck (Redfield, Kan.) in third place with 1,145 points. Freshman Jason Wilson (Pownal, Vt.) was fifth overall with 560 points and Sophomore Hayden Leavell (Ozark, Ark.) was sixth with 440 points.
In saddle bronc riding, Senior Samuel Freeman (Cadiz, Ky.) was reserve champion with a season total of 1,305 points.
The women's team finished fifth in the Ozark Region standings, earning 1,501.66 points on the season. West Alabama won the region with 3,525 points, followed by Pearl River (Miss.) in second place with 2,215 points.
The women's team was led by Senior Betsy Roemer (Jonesboro, Ark.), who finished fourth in goat tying with 633.3 points. Sophomore Gabby Roberts (Harrison, Ark.) was tenth in the event with 190 points. In breakaway roping, Junior Kenlie Raby (Mt. Vernon, Ark.) was eighth with 255 points and Roemer added a No. 12 finish with 185 points. In barrel racing, Freshman Kalyani Das (Las Crases, N.M.) was tenth with 190 points.
Mason was named the Ozark Region Coach of the Year for guiding the program's to a first and fifth place finish during the 2023-24 competition season. In addition to the Ozark Region title, the men's rodeo team currently sits third in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association standings.
Up next for the rodeo teams is the 2024 College National Finals Rodeo, which takes place June 9-15 in Casper, Wyo.
Region Standings-Click Here
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Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.