Both University of Wyoming teams did enough last weekend at the Laramie County Community
College (LCCC) rodeo to remain among the top five teams in their respective divisions
at the conclusion of the fall schedule.
Despite placing only fifth Sunday at the Shawn Dubie Memorial Rodeo in Cheyenne, the
Cowboys are sitting a solid third in the overall Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR)
standings going into the spring season next March. The Pokes have 1,628.3 points through
five events, leaving them in contention for the CRMR title. Defending region champion
Gillette College has 2,095 points while Casper College is a close second, 95 points
behind the Pronghorns.
The top two men's and women's teams advance to the College National Finals Rodeo next
summer at the Casper Events Center.
The Cowboys received scoring from only three team members at the LCCC rodeo, with
the best finish coming from saddle bronc rider Merritt Smith. The Gillette senior
rode a pair of broncs to a total of 136 points to finish second in the average.
Team roping partners Kade Merritt of Eaton, Colo., and Clayton Van Aken of Descanso,
Calif., tied for first in the opening round and failed to stop the clock in the short
go, but still wound up with 55 points each. Even though they did not place in the
average, their total points boosted the UW duo to atop the CRMR overall team roping
standings.
Three UW Cowboys also placed in the average in their respective events, but their
points did not count in the team's standings. Moorcroft senior Miles Duffy won the
short go of the steer wrestling competition that propelled him to first in the average.
Fremont County roping partners Chance Nicholls of Riverton and Dahl Nicholls of Kinnear
were second in the average.
The host Golden Eagles won the rodeo, taking the top spot for the first time this
season with 550 points, followed by Gillette College with 410. The all-around title
went to Casper College's Riley Krassin.
The UW Cowgirls split fourth place with Northeastern (Colo.) Junior College with 150
points at Cheyenne. Overall regional leader CWC won the three-day rodeo with 455 points,
while last season's champion Gillette College scored 275.
UW's women are currently fifth in the region with 565 points, compared to CWC's 1,640
points. Defending CRMR champion Gillette College is just 30 points behind the Lady
Rustlers.
The bulk of UW's scoring at the LCCC rodeo came from Laramie's Ilene Choal, who was
third in barrel racing. The final team points came from Lander's Heather Bregar in
goat tying. The sophomore split fourth in the average with UW's Dana Weiser, but the
Wheatland senior was not among the four selected for the Cowgirls' team.
Two other UW Cowgirls placed in the average of their respective events, but their
points did not count in the overall production. Laramie sophomore Jori Lorenzi split
sixth in the goat tying average and Riverton freshman Devin Nicholls took third in
the breakaway roping average. The all-around title went to CWC's Jacalyn Walker.
Listed are the team scores and the top six individuals in the average from the LCCC
rodeo:
Women's team scores -- Central Wyoming College (CWC), 455; Gillette College (GC),
275; Chadron State College (CSC), 270; University of Wyoming (UW) and Northeastern
Junior College (NJC), both 150; Eastern Wyoming College (EWC), 115; Casper College
(CC), 110.
Goat tying -- Lacey Tech, CWC, 13.1; Jacalyn Walker, CWC, 13.4; Shelby Winchell, EWC,
14.2; Dana Weiser, UW, 14.6; Heather Bregar, UW, 14.6; Megan Belus, CC, and Jori Lorenzi,
UW, both 14.7.
Breakaway roping -- Chelsea Moore, GC, 5; Devin Nicholls, UW, 6.4; Jacalyn Walker,
CWC, 5.7; Marcy Henderson, CSC, 16.2. On two.
Barrel racing -- Kaylee Gallino, CSC, 33.47; Amy Tierney, NJC, 33.57; Ilene Choal,
UW, 33.83; Chelsea Moore, GC, 33.85; Philicia Hupp, LCCC, 33.88; Stephanie Newman,
EWC, 33.95.
Men's team scores -- Laramie County Community College (LCCC), 550; Gillette College
(GC), 410; Casper College (CC), 385;Central Wyoming College (CWC), 310; University
of Wyoming (UW), 245; Chadron State College (CSC), 235; Northeastern Junior College
(NJC), 215; Colorado State University and Sheridan College (SC), both 195; Otero Community
College (OCC), 185; Eastern Wyoming College (EWC), 165; Lamar Community College (LCC),
100; Mesa College (MC) 40.
Bareback riding -- Justin Moldaschel, CC, 153; Casey Breuer, GC, 151; Shane Stevens,
SC, 143;
Chance Madsen, CC, 135; Spencer Brown, OCC, 113. On two.
Saddle bronc riding -- Wyatt Thurston, CWC, 146; Merritt Smith, UW, 136; Chancy Miller,
GC, 134; Ty Hiatt, SC, 127; Andrew Harris, NJC, 125. On two.
Bull riding -- Loncey Johnson, LCCC, 155; Justin Ellis, CSC, 147; Taylor Miller, GC,
144; J.D. Harrell, CC, 137. On two.
Tie down roping -- Joey Dickens, CSU, 18.3; Dane Kissack, GC, 19; Troy Wilcox, EWC,
20.4; Mitch McAdow, NJC, 20.8; Jake Gill, GC, Shay Carroll, NJC, both 21.1.
Steer wrestling -- Miles Duffy, UW, 8.3; Jim Roedeske, OCC, 8.7; Jake Kraupie, CSC,
9.2; Payson Munns, CWC, 9.3; Riley Krassin, CC, 9.6; Eric Martin, CSU, 10.5.
Team roping -- Canler Sterkel/Dillon Evenson, LCCC, 13.2; Chance Nicholls/Dahl Nicholls,
UW, 13.8; Dillon Skeeters/Ivan Spence, NJC, 16.3; Jesse Struman/Trevor Kahl, CSC,
17.7; Donny Scantling, GC/Riley Pruitt, EWC, 19.7; Brandon Lippert/Cody McCluskey,
NJC, 23.6.
