UT Martin Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will always remember 2009 as the year of championships. Two teams, men’s basketball and softball, made noise in the Ohio Valley Conference en route to postseason tournaments, while equestrian and rodeo continue to shine in the national arena.

Men’s Basketball

The Skyhawk men’s basketball team claimed its first OVC regular season championship with a 14-4 worksheet. The team earned the top seed in the conference tournament, but suffered a semifinal loss to eventual champion Morehead State. Despite the loss, the Skyhawks were invited to participate in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Skyhawks suffered an 87-82 loss to Southeastern Conference host Auburn.

Senior Lester Hudson was named the OVC’s Player of the Year and the league’s Male Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season. He averaged 27.5 points per game and was the nation’s second-leading scorer.

Softball

On the softball diamond, head coach Donley Canary’s team made the best of a fourth-place regular-season finish. The Skyhawks advanced to the OVC tournament at Jacksonville, Ala., and battled back to win five consecutive games and the tournament title. The team dropped its opening game in the tournament and played its way to the title via the loser’s bracket.

By winning the OVC Tournament, the Skyhawks claimed their first berth ever in the NCAA Tournament. The Skyhawks earned a trip to Louisville, Ky., where they played perennial power Arizona and Purdue in the regional tournament.

Jenny Bain was named the OVC’s Freshman of the Year, while Megan Williams and Laura Roberts earned all-conference honors. Senior pitcher Kara Harper was named the OVC Tournament MVP, while Savannah Roberts, Laurie Lindow and Megan Van Arsdale picked up OVC All-Tournament accolades. En route to the tournament title, Canary earned his 250th career win.

Equestrian

For the third consecutive year, UT Martin women's equestrian team qualified for the Varsity Equestrian National Championship, and for the third consecutive season the team proved it deserved to be among the nation's top-ranked teams.

The UT Martin Hunter Seat team, seeded ninth, defeated No. 8 Kansas State 3-1 in Equitation over Fences. Kansas State won the Equitation on the Flat 3-1. The competition was tied 4-4, but Kansas State won the event by virtue of the raw score tiebreaker, 890-845.

UT Martin's Western team, No. 12, suffered an 8-0 loss to No. 5 Kansas State. UT Martin was shut out in both the Horsemanship and Reining events.

Caroline Cramer and Lauren Eichstadt competed as individuals in the VENC.

Rodeo

The UT Martin rodeo team finished ninth in the 2009 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo. UT Martin finished with 375 points, while Western Texas College claimed the title with 820 points.
UT Martin entered the championship short round with 315 points and two bull riders, Jeff Askey and Brent Menz, among the top 12. Askey, from Beech Creek, Pa., finished fifth in the nation. He won the first round with an 83-point ride and was second in the second round with an 82-point ride. Menz, from Delta, Mo., split third and fourth in the second round when he recorded an 80.5 ride. He finished tied for 10th in the nation.

UT Martin has advanced to the CNFR for the past 12 years under the direction of head coach John Luthi. The team enjoyed its best finish at the CNFR last year when it claimed third in the nation. The team has also finished among the top 10 teams in the nation three out of the past four years.