MARSHALL, Mo. -- The University of West Alabama wranglers opened the season at the Missouri Valley College Rodeo this past weekend.

The Tiger men finished fourth, while the West Alabama women's team was second. Taking the men's event was Tennessee-Martin, while Troy placed second and Missouri Valley took third. Tennessee-Martin won the women's meet, with Missouri Valley placing third.

Senior Josh Napp placed first in steer wrestling (4.6), while senior Tyler Pearson was second (5.0).

Sophomore Lauren Hedrick had an outstanding weekend for the West Alabama women's team. She placed second in breakaway roping and won first in goat tying in earning the All-Around Cowgirl for the weekend.

Junior Natasha Parker was fourth in the breakaway roping event with 13.1 points. Junior Sydney Bailey was eighth in goat tying and freshman Deana Mixon placed 10th in the barrel racing event.

"We gad a solid start for our first rodeo on the women's side," Tigers head rodeo coach Jayson Scheonefeld said. "On the men's side we had two senior steer wrestlers with a good weekend and had some tough breaks with the rest of the men's team. We are looking forward to going to SAU this weekend for our second rodeo of the season."

The Tiger wranglers are in action Sept. 28-30 in Magnolia, Ark. for the Southern Arkansas University Rodeo.