For the second consecutive competition, both University of Wyoming teams showcased
their balanced attacks in sweeping team titles to take early control of the Central
Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR).
The Cowboys and Cowgirls came out on top in their respective divisions at the Central
Wyoming College (CWC) rodeo in Riverton over the weekend.
With rodeos coming up the next three weekends in the fall season, UW is claiming the
top spots and, in the process, separating itself from the rest of the regional pack.
After the completion of Sunday’s final round of the three-day CWC rodeo, the UW men
again dominated the competition with 690 points to outdistance runner-up Sheridan
College for the second straight rodeo. The Generals had 315 points, while the host
Rustlers scored 265 points, splitting third place with Chadron State College (CSC).
On the women’s side, the Cowgirls did all of their scoring in goat tying in claiming
the team title with 345 points, while second-place Laramie County Community College
(LCCC) had 210 and Colorado State University was a distant third with 145 points.
After a pair of CRMR rodeos, the Cowboys are the clear frontrunners with 1,435 points,
as the UW men seek their eighth straight region title. Sheridan College sits second
in the CRMR standings with 860 points, and CSC is third at 530.
With back-to-back wins, the UW women lead the pack with 610 points, and LCCC is 170
points behind the Cowgirls. Defending CRMR champion Gillette College is in third place
with 375 points.
“I was pleased with the effort from both teams this past weekend,” UW Coach Seth Glause
says. “We did a great job capitalizing on our opportunities during Sunday’s short
go."
Led by Sam Gallagher, who won the all-around for the second straight competition this
fall, the Cowboys again scored heavily in timed events.
Gallagher, of Brighton, Colo., placed in two events, including winning the steer wrestling
competition on the strength of posting the top short go time. He also was third in
tie down roping.
Teammate Tate Talkington, of Scottsbluff, Neb., also was an event winner, nearly scoring
a trifecta in tie down roping. He had the second-best time in the opening round, then
won the short go to take the overall average’s best combined time.
Again, UW had several team members place at CWC. The Cowboys dominated tie down roping,
sweeping the top four positions. Besides Talkington’s first place, Sam Gallagher’s
brother, David, earned team points by placing second in the event, and Colby Runner,
of Wellington, Colo., was fourth.
Traven Sharon, from Ordway, Colo., was the saddle bronc runner-up; Greybull’s Colton
Farrow scored team points by placing third in the bareback riding average; a pair
of UW competitors placed in steer wresting -- Jaxson Mirabal, from Magdalena, N.M.,
placed third and teammate Rio Nutter, of Rapid City, S.D., was fourth to add to the
team’s points production; and team ropers Bodie Herring, from Veteran, and Rozet’s
Kash Reynolds were the competition’s runners-up.
The Cowgirls scored all of their points from a pair of teammates in goat tying. Josie
Mousel, of Colman, S.D., was the top competitor, sweeping both the long and short
go rounds on her way to winning the average. Wheatland’s Layni Stevens broke through
with the short go round’s second-best time that gave her the runner-up spot in the
average.
Three other Cowgirls also placed during the weekend rodeo in their respective events.
Kassidy Dunagan, of Whitehall, Mont., was fourth in the goat tying average; in breakaway
roping, teammates Lucy Flynn, of Porterville, Calif., and Caysen Gran, from Kennebec,
S.D., went fourth and fifth, respectively.
Sheridan College is the next stop in the CRMR circuit this weekend.
“I look forward to practice this week and expect another strong performance from the Pokes this coming weekend in Sheridan,” Glause says.
