Getting to Compete

As many sports competitions were halted for the fall semester because of COVID restrictions, SAU’s Fishing and Rodeo Teams took advantage of the opportunity they had to continue to compete even during this time of social distancing.

After four fall rodeos, the Men’s Team was ranked fifth in the Ozark region, and the Women’s Team was ranked third. There are five more events scheduled for the spring semester with the College National Finals scheduled for June 13-19, 2021.

Individual accolades for men’s team included:

• Tie-down Calf Roping: Booker McCutchen 2nd

• Steer Wrestling: Chris England 8th

• Team Roping: Strand Barricklow 6th header Logan Graham 9th header Latham Dickson 6th heeler

Individual accolades for women’s team included:

• Barrel Racing: Shiloh Marchand 2nd

• Breakaway Roping: Harley Lynn 2nd Allie McMahen 3rd Anna Dietrich 7th Chloe Cox 11th

• Goat Tying: Shelbi Rice 3rd Anna Dietrich 6th Jordan Neeley 7th

Photos by Jessica Williamson

The SAU Rodeo team welcomed competition to campus during Homecoming Week as they hosted the National Intercollegiate Rodeo. Fans enjoyed three nights of exciting rodeo competition with schools from several states in the Ozark Region of the NIRA.

The SAU Fishing Team is

Making History

SAU has a young fishing team this year with only two seniors, Dalton Keith and Dalton Rissinger, but the team fished the Arkansas Collegiate Series tournament trail during the fall semester. The first tournament of the year was at Lake Hamilton, which did not produce the results the team wanted, so they made changes. The second tournament was on Lake Greeson, and the changes paid off with the team having better results and finishing in 6th place with the team of Isaac Whittington and Caleb Thompson.

The third tournament of the year was the turning point of the program. The team competed at Bull Shoals and not only won the whole tournament but also won big bass. The team of Isaac Whittington and Caleb Thompson fished out of the school boat and brought home the first tournament win ever in school history. The final tournament of the fall semester was held on Lake Millwood where the team of Dalton Keith and Dalton Rissinger finished in 7th place but brought home the big bass for the tournament.

The team will compete in the FLW tournament series in the spring. Team members are Dalton Rissinger, Dalton Keith, Isaac Whittington, Caleb Thompson, Chase Hampton, Blake Stringfellow, Zac Bryant, Shane Collins, and Ty Ragan. Sponsors/coaches are Chris and Jeanne Boswell and Jim and Jennifer Ford.

(Above) Caleb Thompson and Isaac Whittington

(Top Left) From left to right: Blake Stringfellow, Ty Ragan, Shane Foster, Dalton Rissinger, Isaac Whittington, Caleb Thompson, Dalton Keith

(Top Middle) Dalton Keith and Dalton Rissinger

(Top Right) Isaac Whittington and Caleb Thompson

(Below) Driving: Isaac Whittington and Caleb Thompson

Contributed Photos