UW’s Wang in Strong Contention for CNFR Short Go Bid in Steer Wrestling

After posting the top second-round time in steer wrestling early in the day, University of Wyoming bulldogger Jacob Wang could have played it safe a few hours later Tuesday night for a chance to qualify for a College National Finals Rodeo short go bid later in the week.

But that’s not the way the Baker, Mont., Cowboy competes every time he and his horse ride into any arena.

The UW team member posted an opening-round time earlier in the week at 7.8 seconds and then stopped the clock in a blazing 4.2 seconds earlier Tuesday during the final slack round, which topped all comers in the second round.

During the first of five nightly performances Tuesday, Wang had a respectable 5.1 seconds, giving him a 17.1-second total on three runs, putting himself in prime position to earn a short go bid. But, he has to wait three more nights to accomplish his personal goal.

“I’m feeling confident because I made three good runs, and now the nerves can sit and work on me until Friday night, when I know for sure I made the short round. The waiting is the worst part,” he says. “I really couldn’t really play it safe tonight, and I wanted to make a good run and use the steer that I drew to the best of my ability, and I feel I did.”

He adds that he didn’t mind being up early to complete three of his runs, because he felt he has an advantage competing early in the third round.

“All of the good steers are still in the draw. I get to go out and make my run early, and there is no pressure of what anybody else has done in the third round yet,” Wang says. “It’s just me and my steer, and we get to go and do our dance. And, now, we see how the cards fall.”

Three of his teammates also completed their third rounds of competition in their separate events.

Bareback rider Colton Farrow, from Greybull, did his part. Now, he has to wait and see if his three-round aggregate score of 220 points holds up over the next three days for a chance to compete in Saturday’s short go. Early in the competition, Farrow is sitting fourth in the average, but many top riders who have scored highly this week are yet to finish their third rounds. The top 12 times and scores advance to the championship round.

Farrow rode Laredo to 73.5 points Tuesday night, marking on three head in three CNFR rounds this week that each competitor is granted.

Rhett Witt, from Valentine, Neb., had a rough week in steer wrestling when he recorded this third straight no-time. He had clean run going on, but when he attempted to capture the horns after dismounting from his horse, the steer hesitated a bit and Witt sailed over the top of the steer’s head.

It was the same for teammate Emmit Ross in bull riding. The Jackson cowboy was tossed in 4.1 seconds into his third and final ride on Breaking Glass.