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By UWA sports information

Led by Lauren Booty and Taycie Matthews, the University of West Alabama women’s rodeo team captured the 2024 College National Finals Rodeo Title and earned the team’s second national title in as many seasons for the program. 

Earning back-to-back national championships in the CNFR, it is the third championship in UWA Athletics history. The 1971 football is also on the list after securing the NAIA championship. 

Entering the short go round, the Tigers were 45 points behind Tarleton State. After the festivities concluded on Saturday night, UWA scored 460 points to secure back-to-back national titles with a 250-point margin. 

The men’s squad finished the championship in a tie for 13th place with a 325 score. 

On the docket for the championship round were five Tigers competing for individual championships: Lauren Booty and Ashley Henderson (breakaway roping), Taycie Matthews and Jaylie Matthews (barrel racing) and Blayne Saine (tie down roping). 

Taycie, who secured the national championship in the barrel racing in 2023, became a two-time national champion on Saturday night. In the short go, she secured a 13.66 and her 55.32 average over the four rounds was the lowest mark at the finals. 

Earning the national championship in back-to-back years, she posted a 55.53 average in the event last season. 

Booty ran a 2.6 in the final go on Saturday night to finish as a reserve national champion with a 10.4.

Also earning a reserve national champion is Saine with a 38 average over the four rounds. After posting runs of 9.5, 9.5 and 9.4, he ran a 9.6 in the short go on Saturday. 

Henderson took bronze in the breakaway roping with a 2.9 on Saturday night to finish the rodeo with an 11.5. 

Jaylie also ran the barrel racing and finished fourth overall with a 56.93 average. However, she finished third in the short go with a 14.06.