Record-Setting Performance Boosts UW Cowboys, Cowgirls First in Home Rodeo

It is only fitting that the University of Wyoming men’s rodeo team close out its home rodeo with a record-setting performance.

The Cowboys put together a solid effort throughout their six-man points team Sunday afternoon to accumulate 870 points in establishing a new record in winning the annual Laramie River Rendezvous Rodeo in what has been a runaway season for Coach Beau Clark’s club. The UW men topped the previous record of 865 points set last September in the season opener. This marks the fourth time in program history that a Cowboys team has surpassed the 800-point mark -- with three of those marks coming this season.

UW has been the Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) men’s leader since the opening fall rodeo and has won seven of the nine rodeos during the fall and spring seasons, with just this weekend’s Colorado State University (CSU) rodeo left before this summer’s College National Finals Rodeo in Casper.

“Our men’s team had a special weekend setting a new school record,” Clark says. “Rodeo has been at UW since 1940, and for this group to set a new school record at the home rodeo is a great accomplishment for the students. Achieving these milestones is a reflection of the support they give each other and all of the work they put into practice.”

The weekend also proved why both the UW men’s and women’s programs are the CRMR champions for the third straight season. The Cowgirls, who swept all five fall rodeos and have won three team titles this spring, also won the Laramie River Rendezvous Rodeo team title.

“I am beyond proud of all 54 students on our team,” Clark says. “This is a great group of people who work extremely hard to be successful.”

Chadron State College and Casper College were second and third to the Cowboys during the weekend rodeo with 530 and 520 points, respectively. The UW men have opened up a nearly 2,000-point lead in the regional standings in what has been a dominant season. The Cowboys have tallied 6,418.50 points that may move them up to the No. 2 position nationally. Gillette College is second in the CRMR with 4,587 points, while Casper College is third with 4,053.50 points.

The UW men produced two event winners during the weekend. Seth Peterson, from Minot, N.D., won in tie down roping and the rodeo’s all-around title by placing second in steer wrestling. Kemmerer’s Donny Proffit continued to dominate the bareback riding event when he won Sunday.

Jase Staudt, of Nathrop, Colo., also placed in a pair of events, finishing second to Peterson in tie down roping, and he was sixth in the team roping average. Teammate Garrett Uptain, from Craig, Colo., was third in the bull riding average and added points in the saddle bronc competition. Chadron Coffield, of Yuma, Colo., was sixth in the steer wrestling average and added points in team roping. Austin Hurlburt, from Norfolk, Neb., was fourth in the steer wrestling average.

Only two Cowgirls on the four-member women’s team scored team points, but it was enough to boost them to the overall team title during the weekend home rodeo.

Led by Faith Hoffman, from Kiowa, Colo., the two-event performer put together two strong goat tying runs to win the average. She also split sixth in the breakaway roping average.

The final 60 points came from Big Piney’s Karson Bradley, who remained steady by placing fifth in the barrel racing average.

The Cowgirls took the weekend rodeo team title with 290 points, while Gillette College and Casper College were second and third with 240 and 230 points, respectively.

Overall, the UW women have scored 3,169.65 points to extend their CRMR lead over Chadron State College, which has 1,795.84 points. The Cowgirls are ranked sixth nationally in total team points.

CSU hosts the final regional rodeo this weekend in Greeley, Colo.