Both University of Wyoming teams failed to pick up ground on Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) leaders at last weekend's Colorado State University rodeo.
The Cowboys finished nearly 300 points behind front-running Gillette College, taking fourth overall, while the Cowgirls placed a distant fifth in the women's competition.
With just two rodeos remaining, the UW clubs are in danger of not qualifying as a team for this summer's College National Finals Rodeo in Casper. Only the top two teams in the CRMR receive automatic bids to the year-end rodeo.
The Cowboys, sitting in third place in the region, are 677 points from the second place position, while the Cowgirls are in fourth, nearly 1,000 points from gaining the runner-up spot.
Defending regional champion Gillette College won the CSU rodeo with 645 points, while the Cowboys scored 355.
Clayton Van Aken, a Descanso, Calif., freshman, and partner Kade Merritt, Eaton, Colo., sophomore, were the top individuals again for the Cowboys, placing third in the team roping average.
Gillette senior Merritt Smith returned to score points for the team in the saddle bronc riding competition. He split with Central Wyoming College's Wyatt Thurston for the short go round's top ride and wound up with third place in the average.
The final 30 team points came from Thomas Smith of Eden, who was sixth in the steer wrestling average.
UW's Cameron Weddle placed in two separate events, but he was not selected for the six-man UW team. The Milaca Minn., senior split the runner-up position in steer wrestling and was sixth in the tie down roping average.
Only two women scored points for the Cowgirls.
Wheatland senior Dana Weiser won the goat tying short go round and placed third overall. Teammate Kaycee Nelson, a Buffalo, S.D., sophomore, added breakaway roping points after placing third in the opening round.
Two other UW Cowgirls also placed, but their points did not count in the team's overall production.
Bellvue, Colo., sophomore Cayla Allen placed fourth in the goat tying average and scored breakaway roping points to win the all-around title. Jori Lorenzi, Laramie sophomore, was the breakaway roping runner-up.
Defending regional champion Gillette College won the CSU rodeo with 315 points, while the Cowgirls scored 145.
CRMR teams are off this weekend. The next rodeo is April 15-17, for the annual Ropin' and Riggin' Days hosted by Casper College.
Men's team scores -- Gillette College 645; Casper College 460; Eastern Wyoming College 445; University of Wyoming 350; Lamar Community College 300; Chadron State College 295; Central Wyoming College 240; Northeastern Junior College 225; Colorado State University 195; Laramie County Community College 155.
Saddle bronc riding -- Wyatt Thurston, CWC, 145; Cole Elshere, GC, 144; Merritt Smith, UW, 143; Travis Darling, CC, 139; Hardan Kraupie, CSC, 129.
Bareback bronc riding -- Chance Madsen, CC, 159; Casey Breuer, GC, 150; Shane Stevens, SC, 128; Spencer Brown, Otero Community College, 123; Justin Moldaschel, CC, 74.
Bull riding -- Nathan Schaper, GC, 145; Kris Newman, CC, 71; split, Justin Ellis, CSC, and Rance Maddocks, GC, 70; Jacob Buller, CWC, 69.
Tie-down roping -- Riley Pruitt, EWC, 17.5; Tyler Schnaufer, LCC, 18.8; Joey Dickens, CSU, 19.1; Riley Krassin, CC, 22.0; Shay Carroll, NEJC, 22.8.
Steer wrestling -- Riley Krassin, CC, 9.4; split, Cameron Weddle, UW, and Tyler Miles, NJC, 9.8; Miles Spickelmier, CSC, 10.0; Tyrel Bonnet, CSC, 20.3.
Team roping -- Tyler Schnaufer, LCC/Shay Carroll, NCJ, 11.9; Tyler Wortman, EWC/Dane Kissack, GC, 12.7; Kade Merritt/Clayton VanAken, UW, 12.9; Canler Sterkel/Dillon Evenson, LCCC, 15.8; Kyle Dickens/Joey Dickens, CSU, 16.8.
Women's team scores -- Gillette 315; Central Wyoming College 188.33; Chadron State 180; Laramie County Community College 160; University of Wyoming 145; Lamar CC 95; Colorado State University 60; tie, Eastern Wyoming College and Casper College 45; Sheridan College 38.33.
Barrel racing -- Chelsea Moore, GC, 27.94; Tori Bonham, LCCC, 28.38; Raegen Scott, GC, 28.46; Sarah Taylor, 28.51; Kendra Timm, CC, 28.85.
Breakaway roping -- Kelsey Scott, CSC, 5.9; Jori Lorenzi, UW, 6.7; Chelsie Willhoite, LCC, 6.9; split, Amanda Mason, CC, and Cecelia Opela, EWC, 7.2.
Goat tying -- Split, Jordan Thurston, GC, and Traci Hinman, CWC, 12.1; Dana Weiser, UW, 12.5; Cayla Allen, UW, 12.6; Calli Krassin, CC, 12.8.
