MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Northwest had 11 students compete in the final rodeo event of the fall season this past weekend at Southern Arkansas University.

Northwest got off to a rough start on Thursday evening and Friday morning when John Mark Johnson was bucked off his horse and Kennith Scott bucked off his bull. Garner Holcomb had an excellent start at catching his steer in steer wrestling but the steer wouldn't cooperate and it took too much time to get him rolled over.

Holcomb and Morgan Mills were looking good in team roping until they received a 10-second penalty for breaking the barrier and another five-second penalty with catching only one leg.

"I feel confident they would have placed in the top 10 to make the short-go if not for the penalties," head coach Shelli Benton said.

On the women's side, Klarissa Neff just missed her calf in breakaway roping. During Friday slack, every barrel racer had good, clean runs but just not fast enough to make the short-go. Kelsey Phillips was just shy of the short-go, placing 12th in barrels.

Friday night was a turnaround for Johnson with a qualifying ride of 57 points.

"SAU didn't start out good by bucking off my first horse but I finished good with my ride on Friday night," Johnson said. "I feel good about my spot in the region standing and look forward to next semester in hopes to make it all the way to nationals."

Alex Lockhart and Kelby Wall did not cover their animals during the Friday night performance, getting bucked off before the eight-second buzzer. Saturday night was good to Lockhart, however, with the sophomore riding his bareback horse for a 64-point performance.

The men's rodeo team is sitting sixth in the region with several team members placing in the top 10 in their respective events.

Johnson is fourth and Lockhart is fifth in bareback with hopes in moving into a national qualifying spot next semester. Holcomb and Mills are in ninth place in team roping.

Northwest will open the spring semester February 23-25 in Meridian in an event hosted by EMCC.