Weekend Home Rodeo Closes Regular Season for UW Teams

Both University of Wyoming rodeo teams will send full lineups to this summer’s College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper. All that is left for the two squads is determining who will represent the Cowboys and Cowgirls at collegiate rodeo’s biggest competition.

Heading into the season finale at UW’s Cliff and Martha Hansen Livestock Arena Friday-Sunday, April 25-27 -- the annual Laramie River Rendezvous Rodeo -- the Cowboys wrapped up their seventh consecutive Central Rocky Mountain Region team championship a few weeks ago.

The UW men have 4,895 points through nine combined rodeos in the fall and spring seasons, while the second-place Casper College team has 4,048.33. With just two teams qualifying full teams for the CNFR the Cowboys and Casper College are assured automatic bids. The top three competitors in each of the men’s and women’s individual events also earn CNFR bids.

As for the UW women, the Cowgirls enter the home finale as the CRMR runners-up for the third consecutive season. Season-long leader Gillette College has 3,508.3 total points, while the Cowgirls have posted 3,033.3.

Nationally, the Cowboys have scored the eighth most team points, while the Cowgirls are third among the 11 collegiate regions.

The home finale begins at 6:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, and Sunday’s short go is at 11 a.m. UW head Coach Seth Glause says that even though both the Cowboys and Cowgirls are locks to represent the region at the CNFR, the weekend competition is still important for individual accomplishments.

Team members have chances at individual event titles, while others are competing for CNFR qualifications.

Men’s current event leaders and those holding onto the top three positions in each event include regional bareback rider Colton Farrow, of Greybull. UW has the top two bull riders in Jackson’s Emmit Ross and Stefan Tonita, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, while teammate Dixon Tattrie, of Youngstown, Alberta, Canada, is just 45 points from third place. Jacob Wang, of Baker, Mont., is the region’s top bulldogger, while teammate Rhett Witt, from Valentine, Neb., is sitting second in steer wrestling. Partners Bodie Mattson, of Sturgis, S.D., and UW teammate Troupe Coors, of Loveland, Colo., are the region’s top team roping header and heeler, respectively.

Witt, Tattrie and Mattson are running second, third and fourth in the all-around competition, signifying scoring individual points in two or more events throughout the season.

The Cowgirls have been solid all season in the three women’s events.

Landry Haugen, of Sturgis, S.D., is the region’s top breakaway roper, while teammate Jordyn McNamee, from Buffalo, is third. Three Cowgirls are in second through fourth place in goat tying -- Josie Mousel, of Elbert, Colo., is the current runner-up; Layni Stevens, from St. Lawrence, S.D., is next; and Riata Day, from Fleming, Colo., sits fourth. Rayne Grant, of Wheatland, is the second-best barrel racer.

Three Cowgirls hold the same positions as their UW male counterparts in the women’s all-around -- Mousel, Haugen and Stevens.

For more information about the Laramie River Rendezvous Rodeo, including times and ticket prices, visit https://gowyo.evenue.net/events/RD.