UW Cowboys Take EWC Rodeo Team Title

April 8, 2013

Led by its strong contingent of ropers, the University of Wyoming men’s rodeo team placed first at last weekend’s Lancer Rodeo at Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) in Torrington.

The win was especially meaningful for the Cowboys, who moved closer to EWC for first place in the overall Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) standings. UW took advantage of the host Lancers placing just fourth in their home rodeo; EWC has been the regional leader for much of the season.

The weekend win left UW just 203.3 points behind EWC in the regional standings, with 3,230 points, while Gillette College remained third with 3,125 points. Only the top two in the standings send full teams to this summer’s College National Finals Rodeo in Casper.

Led by the all-around performance of Tyler Schnaufer, a Pueblo, Colo., senior, the Cowboys notched 460 total points at EWC, edging Lamar Community College by just 40 points.

Schnaufer, the defending national champion header in team roping, scored nearly half the Cowboys’ team points. He won the tie down roping average after coming back from a mediocre opening round to win the short go, while recording the event’s best time in 21.4 seconds. He is the runner-up in the CRMR tie down roping standings, just 45 points back of Dane Kissack of Gillette College.

Schnaufer later combined with partner Clayton Van Aken, a junior from Descanso, Calif., to place third in the team roping average. The pair had a tough going in the initial round, but put together a solid short go time to secure 160 team points. The pair is second in the overall regional standings.

Van Aken added an additional 100 team points, placing third in the tie down average.

Schnaufer is now just 30 points back of EWC’s Troy Wilcox in the all-around standings, while Van Aken sits third.

The Cowboys’ final 80 team points came from junior bareback rider Justin Moldaschel from Stanton, Minn., who was fourth in the average.

The UW women’s tough luck continued for the third straight weekend when the Cowgirls failed to score at the EWC rodeo. Gillette College took the women’s title with 380 points and Central Wyoming College was second with 250.

The weekend showing cost the UW women second place in the overall CRMR standings. Northeastern Junior College continues to lead the pack with 2,370 points, while Gillette College overtook the Cowgirls for the runner-up spot with 2,300 points. UW is third with 1,962 points with just two rodeos remaining on the spring schedule.

The annual Ropin’ and Riggin’ Days Rodeo is April 19-21 at Casper College.

For a complete list of individual and team results from the EWC rodeo, click here.

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