UW’s Mattson and Norsworthy Have Big Second Rounds at CNFR

The University of Wyoming’s Bodie Mattson and Emme Norsworthy did their homework, and it paid off in a big way Tuesday at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper.

Mattson, from Sturgis, S.D., came out determined to be better than the day before when he moved in contention for a national tie down roping title, jumping to second place in the overall average after an 8.4-second time -- the third-best of the morning. He has successfully roped two head in 18.5 seconds and is a full 2 seconds behind leader Kincade Heny, of Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Norsworthy also improved her first-run barrel racing time Tuesday, stopping the clock in 13.96 seconds -- the second-best time of the round. But, more importantly, she is sixth in the overall average at 28.31 seconds.

The UW teammates will have just one more run that will determine if they make Saturday’s short go. They credit their success to doing their homework leading up to Tuesday morning’s performance.

“They missed that calf yesterday. I just tried to get a good run at the barrier, but he didn’t leave like I thought he would, but my horse did great,” Mattson says. “It was kind of hard to study one that they missed, but I knew his pattern, and he ended up being really good on the ground.”

The calf made it easy for Mattson to execute his fundamentals once he caught it, he adds.

“I’ve got one more run tomorrow, so hopefully I draw good, get one more down and be there Saturday night,” Mattson says.

He returned later in the day with partner Carson Johnson, of Casper College, to record a 6.5-second time in team roping, which made up for a no-time the day before. With 14 teams only getting two successful attempts the first two days, the door is still open for UW’s three team roping teams -- with final good efforts -- to secure short go bids.

As the 31st competitor up early Tuesday morning, Norsworthy had the opportunity to really think about her run, especially coming off her first in 14.35 seconds. Earlier Tuesday, several of the other competitors knocked over the first barrel -- the same as Monday.

The first barrel comes up pretty fast, Norsworthy says, and competitors need to position themselves out of the gate just right to attack the first turn properly. Norsworthy’s gray-colored quarter horse, Playgirl, did its job.

“I knew to approach the first barrel a little bit better today. It was pretty hard for me yesterday, but we still turned it decently. I knew what was coming, and I was ready to race today and do my job,” Norsworthy says. “This run was one of my better times of the season. I wanted to go out on my first run to get comfortable to make a smooth run, and today I wanted to attack that first barrel, and I did.”

The rest of the Tuesday slack results for UW team members:

-- Jacob Wang’s steer broke out of the chute in a hurry and was halfway down the arena before he managed to take it down in 7.5 seconds. The Baker, Mont., bulldogger had a no time in the first round.

-- Rio Nutter and team roping partner Reece Wadhams, from Laramie County Community College, had a solid second round time in 6.6 seconds, but had a no time the day before.

-- Cam Jensen, of Hyannis, Neb., and partner Tanner McInerney, from Gillette College, managed to get their first recorded time in team roping with a 9.5-second effort, which was padded by 5 seconds when McInerney managed to only get his loop around one heel. The pair had a no time the day before.

-- Kenna McNeill, of Hobbs, N.M., was a tad bit slower on her second goat tying round, recording a 6.5-second time to leave her 10th in the average with a two-round time of 12.8 seconds.

-- Faith Hoffman had a tough go in goat tying when she stumbled a bit when the goat veered sharply to its right, forcing Hoffman to make an extra move stepping on the rope. She then bobbled her tie, leaving her with a 9.4-second time. The Kiowa, Colo., product has an accumulated time of 16.1 seconds.

-- After missing her first breakaway roping attempt Sunday, Gillette’s Sage Kohr returned with a 3.1-second time Tuesday. Earlier in the morning, the two-event regional champion this past season knocked over a barrel for the second straight day to wind up with a 19.63-second time in barrel racing.