UWs Ellerman Leads Team Roping Third Round

Brit Ellerman ended his University of Wyoming rodeo career on a positive note when he and his team roping partner took the third-round lead during Thursday’s performance at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper.

Ellerman, from Fort Lupton, Colo., and partner Trey Yates, of Eastern Wyoming College, posted the third round’s top time at 5.1 seconds, with just the Friday performance left. However, the pair won’t make Saturday’s short go after recording a pair of no-times earlier in the week.

Ellerman was UW’s only contestant during Thursday’s performance, and only teammate Brady Dinwoodie will compete in the saddle bronc riding championship round for the Pokes Saturday night.

After the latest section of saddle bronc riding Thursday night, Dinwoodie, a senior from Griffin, Saskatchewan, went from second in the average to fourth overall. He also dropped from leading the third round to second with just one more section of riders left to compete before the short go.

With just two team members scoring -- Dinwoodie and Ellerman -- the Pokes are 18th overall in the team standings with 150 points. Tarleton State University (Stephenville, Texas) leads with 400 points. Regular season Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) champion Casper College leads area schools with 245 points -- good enough for eighth place. Regional runner-up Gillette College has scored just 15 points and is 45th overall.

McNeese State University (Lake Charles, La.) is the women’s leader with 305 points. The highest-placing CRMR team is Northeastern Junior College (Sterling, Colo.) in 16th place with 85 points, while regular-season champion Gillette College is 29th with just 25 points.

No UW Cowgirl qualified for the CNFR.