UWs Vogel Moves into Seventh in CNFR Goat Tying Standings

Better believe that University of Wyoming Cowgirl Josee Vogel will be watching the final two performances of goat tying at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR).

The Pavillion sophomore needed a mid- to low 6-second time to even be considered a qualifier for the CNFR’s short go Saturday at the Casper Events Center. She got it.

In her first college finals appearance this week, Vogel had her best run of the week. It came on her final attempt Wednesday, when she stopped the clock in 6.5 seconds, giving her a three-run accumulated time of 20.5 seconds. Vogel now sits seventh overall in the average, but two performances remain Thursday and Friday.

She must wait to see if anyone bumps her out of the top 12. Those dozen goat tyers move on to Saturday’s short go.

“There are so many good girls left, but a lot of stuff can happen. I think I have a good chance of making the short go,” she said. “I did what I had to do, and I will just see what happens.”

She will be in the stands watching the final two performances.

“I will be watching anxiously. I know I will have a hard time watching, but I guess that’s the game when you’re up this early and have to wait,” she said.

Shelby Winchell of Chadron State College leads goat tying with a three-round time of 18.7 seconds.

Vogel, who was fourth in goat tying in the region this past season, said she doesn’t want her season to end.

“I knew I had to be faster tonight. My first time was bad, my second was better, and this one was my best one,” Vogel said. “My horse worked great; I wanted a lot more out of him, and he was better. I was pretty happy.”

The only UW Cowboy up Wednesday was junior bareback rider Jaden Clark, who couldn’t match his opening-round 73.5 points during his final two rides.

The Wellfleet, Neb., junior was bucked off Tuesday and again during his final ride of the season. Clark was bucked off halfway through his ride on Wind Walker when the bronc bucked hard enough to knock loose Clark’s hand in the rigging, causing the UW Cowboy to lose his grip.

Three more team members are up during Thursday’s performance: senior steer wrestler Dillon Simonson, of Purdum, Neb.; and a pair of goat tyers, junior Amelia Anderson, from Forsythe, Mont., and freshman Karlee Peterson, of Sturgis, S.D.

Both Anderson and Peterson wrap up two rounds and must wait to see if they move on to Saturday night’s short go. Anderson has a two-round accumulated time of 16.4 seconds, while Peterson is at 16.7 seconds.

Simonson is out of the running after posting a no-time on his second bulldogging run. He opened the CNFR earlier in the week with a 7.1-second showing.