UT Martin Rodeo News THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT MARTIN September, 2014 Fast forward four years later and both predictions were spot on. Last NATIONAL CHAMPIONS month, the UT Martin men’s team disproved traditional rodeo wisdom “MAKING HISTORY” and became the first team east of Privately, both John Luthi and “We’ve taken some very talented the Mississippi River to claim a Nelson Davis had visions of the teams to the CNFR and this was national championship. UT Martin University of Tennessee at Martin another good group.” accumulated 755 overall points at men’s rodeo team taking home “I knew when the seniors were the CNFR in Casper, Wyo., edging top honors at the 2014 College freshmen,” said Davis, UT Martin out Tarleton State University (730 National Finals Rodeo. When those rodeo assistant coach and athletic points). thoughts occurred though may have trainer who has been a part of the Not only did the UT Martin team served as a surprise. program since 1988. “That bunch make geographical history but all “I never told anybody but I thought carried us for four years and we of its six finals participants (and this group could go and have the had two guys that qualified for the one cowgirl) were born and raised experience and opportunity to finals as freshmen, sophomores and on the east side of the Mississippi win our first title when they were juniors that just barely got shut out River. freshmen,” said Luthi, UT Martin’s this year and didn’t get to make the “I feel rodeo in this part of the head rodeo coach since 1997. trip.” country is finally getting the credit All photos from CNFR credited to Hubbell it deserves,” Luthi said. “When I first came to the Ozark region, we weren’t looked at as being a very tough region. I feel like with the coaches that we have in the region, our competitiveness has escalated in a big way. It’s a neat deal to do something that nobody has ever done.” Davis was also glad to dispel the unfair notion. “Being the first team east of the Mississippi River to win is a major deal because we’ve been told for years that we couldn’t compete,” Davis said. “They used to say if you had a kid around here that could rope, they thought they had to go Top row: Tanner Phipps, John Alley, Clark Adcock, Tyler Waltz. to Oklahoma or Texas. You’re not Bottom row: Coach Luthi, Will Lummus, Nealey Dalton, Colt Kitaif, cont. on page 2 and Coach Davis. 1 National Champions cont. men’s team while Nealey supposed to have cowboys Dalton (barrel racing) also this side of the Mississippi qualified for the CNFR River. But for the last from the women’s squad. several years, we’ve “They weren’t intimidated had national individual at all with the stage,” champions from our Luthi said. “There wasn’t region.” really a situation all week While the final margin that I didn’t feel like they of victory wound up did all they could do. being just 25 points, UT When Tyler and Clark Martin’s cowboys took a won the first round, that lead after Day 2 of the was a great start. As the seven-day event and did week went on, I knew we not concede the top spot were doing well but we in the standings. Will had to finish. I could tell Tyler Waltz winning the first round at the College Finals with an 82 point ride on “Wrangler Valley”. Lummus (steer wrestling they were loose, relaxed and ready when we went and calf roping), Tyler from Luthi’s wife Diane outings. But what made into the short round on Waltz (bareback riding), and daughter Katelyn, this title so special was Saturday.” Clark Adcock (calf roping, who both spent the week the contributions from team roping), Tanner Luthi and Davis did not in Casper for the first each and every cowboy Phipps (bareback riding), spend much time dwelling time in nearly eight years. throughout the season. on the points or place in John Alley (team roping), It was actually Katelyn “It wasn’t only the guys the standings. They were Colt Kitaif (bareback who was the first to that went to the finals that given periodic updates riding) represented the inform her father that helped us do that, it was UT Martin had won the the team all year long,” team championship, as Luthi said. “Everybody on she pulled up the final the team had an impact standings on her smart on us being able to win phone. just by doing their part in “They were calculating the region. It was a great points and figuring out team effort – everybody stuff all week and I just came together and was left that to them,” Luthi supportive and helpful said with a chuckle. “I was with each other.” tickled that they both got “Every kid we took out to be there to share that there got points so it was a moment with me.” true team championship,” Overall, UT Martin Davis said. “Even after competed in 10 rodeos they knew they were out in 2013-14 and finished of it as an individual, they first in eight of them. still buckled down to get The other two finishes those team points to help were second place us win when they could’ve Colt Kitaif rides “Hot Valley”Mary for 76 Francis points inGorsuch the 3rd round of the CNFR. cont. on page 3 2 gotten disgusted and said 41st consecutive CNFR ‘I’m done’. They just kept appearance. coming and competing Davis was on the hard every round.” seven-person search Of course, some of the committee to hire Luthi credit has to be deflected at UT Martin. After Luthi to Luthi. One year after emerged as the clear-cut garnering National Coach top candidate for the job, of the Year honors by the Davis and a few other National Intercollegiate members of the rodeo’s Rodeo Association, booster club personally the humble Luthi drove to Fort Scott, Kan. saved his best coaching on their own dime to help performance for 2014, Luthi make the move from the same year he notched Fort Scott Community Tanner Phipps sticks it on “Jason’s Pride” for 77 his 13th Ozark Region College to UT Martin. points in the second round at the CNFR. He placed 5th in this round. championship in 17 years “From Day One – this and led the program to its is what we have been completed before he left working towards,” for Wyoming, both he and Davis said. “It’s still Davis will return to the hard to believe – just all state later this month to of the hard work, the attend the National High hardheadedness, the School Finals Rodeo in perseverance, the people Rock Springs to identify that came before us – this potential UT Martin is the culmination of that. cowboys and cowgirls for We thought Coach Luthi 2015-16 and beyond. was the man to help save Luthi’s 2014-15 signing our program and keep class has already brought it going strong. I fully along a buzz while the believe that if we hadn’t Clark Adcock making another 8 second run at the team will bring back CNFR in the tie down roping. hired him, we wouldn’t be several veteran returners. talking about a national “We lost some really good championship right now. kids but we also have There’s no one else like some good kids coming in him. He would be the last and some really talented one to take any credit for individuals coming back,” anything but he lives it.” Luthi said. “I’m not going If you assume the UT to make any predictions Martin coaching staff but I know we have a is going to sit back good group. The biggest and enjoy the 2014 thing is if we can do our national championship, part with the talent we you’ve got another have, there shouldn’t be think coming. Although a limit to what we can Will Lummus placing in the 3rd round of the steer Luthi concedes that the accomplish.” wrestling at the CNFR with a 4.2. 2014-15 recruiting was cont. on page 4 3 John Alley and Clark Adcock roping a quick 6.2 to Nealey Dalton competing at the 2014 College place in the second round of the College Finals. National Finals. cont. from page 4 “We don’t plan to sit college finals before so River to win the national in that situation, God back and rest on this we’re looking for them to rodeo title, it also is the must have just thought it championship,” Davis step up. We’re looking for first-ever national team was our turn. I’m really said. “Next year, we have this to carry over all the championship for any UT appreciative of all the the guys who have been way across the board. It’s Martin athletic program. support that we get from there before and also guys hard to get to the top and “I’m thankful to be able the university, the booster that got left home this it’s harder to stay there to be a part of bringing club and the community. year that are hungry to but UT Martin rodeo has home a national title This wouldn’t have been go that are coming back. never considered ourselves to UT Martin,” Luthi possible without all of We’ve signed some guys having to rebuild, just said.