UW Rodeo Teams Open Spring Season This Weekend

Consistency is the word Coach Seth Glause is stressing when his University of Wyoming rodeo teams open the spring season Friday-Sunday, March 14-16, at Gillette College.

Both UW teams had good outings during the fall season, with the Cowboys clinging to a narrow lead in the men’s standings, while the Cowgirls are looking to close the gap as the runners-up to the host Pronghorns, who have led from the get-go.

“Competition was fierce las fall. I believe our student-athletes will continue to compete at a high level and finish out the spring campaign with a strong showing,” Glause says. “Consistency is the goal in the spring. If we can continue to be consistent throughout the spring, we will be in great shape entering the Laramie River Rendezvous Rodeo.”

If his men’s team stays consistent through the five-rodeo spring schedule, the Cowboys will repeat as Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) champions for the seventh straight season. However, the hard-charging Casper College team came on late last fall to narrow the Cowboys’ once-safe lead, whittling it down to just 37 points. UW has 2,470 points through five rodeo competitions, while the T-Birds have compiled 2,433. Gillette College is sitting third in the CRMR standings, nearly 1,000 points behind Casper College.

Gillette College won four of the five fall rodeos and owns a commanding lead over the Cowgirls with 2,428.33 points to UW’s 1,543.33. Chadron State College is a distant third with 775 points.

Both the Cowboys and Cowgirls will put multiple-event competitors on this weekend’s points teams. Glause has not yet set the six-member men’s and four-member women’s points teams, and he will select from a diverse group.

On the men’s roster, David Gallagher, of Brighton, Colo., Rio Nutter of Rapid City, S.D., and Rhett Witt, from Valentine, Neb., will all be in team and tie down roping and steer wrestling; Bodie Mattson, of Sturgis, S.D., will compete in team and tie down roping; Dixon Tattrie, of Youngstown, Alberta, Canada, is a two-event competitor in saddle bronc and bull riding; Jacob Wang, from Baker, Mont., is entered in steer wrestling and team roping; and Greybull’s Colton Farrow is riding bareback broncs.

A pair of Cowgirls will be busy this weekend competing in four events: Landry Haugen, of Sturgis, S.D., and Layni Stevens, from St. Lawrence, S.D., will both compete in goat tying, breakaway roping, barrel racing and team roping. Doing triple duty will be Riata Day, from Fleming, Colo., in goat tying, breakaway roping and barrel racing; Wheatland’s Rayne Grant will compete in breakaway roping, barrel racing and team roping; and Josie Mousel, from Colman, S.D., will compete in goat tying and breakaway roping.

UW’s deep lineups are evident in the fact that seven individuals lead their respective events in the CRMR heading into the spring schedule.

Farrow is the bareback riding leader; Emit Ross, of Jackson, heads the bull riding competition; Wang is the region’s steer wrestling points leader; Mattson is the top team roping header, while Troupe Coors, of Loveland, Colo., is the top heeler; Mousel sits first in goat tying; and Grant is the top barrel racer.

Witt and Mattson are running first and third in the men’s all-around, with teammate Thayne Kimbrough, of Ohiowa, Neb., in second.

“I am just very proud of this group of athletes. They are not in those positions by accident,” Glause says. “They show up and work hard each and every week. They look focused and ready to go after the long winter months. Now is the time to let our preparation show in competition.”

The spring season concludes with the annual Laramie River Rendezvous Rodeo at the Hansen arena Friday-Sunday, April 25-27. Tickets are available at https://gowyo.evenue.net/events/RD.