University of Wyoming rodeo team member Sam Gallagher, from Brighton, Colo., gets a clean dismount and prepares to bulldog his steer at the opening Chadron (Neb.) State University rodeo last weekend. Gallagher was fourth in the steer wrestling average and also won the all-around title. (Kristin Bullard Photo)
University of Wyoming timed event competitors scored heavily to lead the Cowboys and Cowgirls to an opening-weekend sweep at the Chadron State University rodeo.
The Cowboys put on a dominating performance, piling up 745 points to outdistance runner-up Sheridan College by 200 points. The host Eagles posted 265 to place a distant third.
On the women’s side, the Cowgirls edged Central Rocky Mountain Region rival Gillette College by 10 points, scoring 265 points. Laramie County Community College finished third with 230 points.
“I was pleased with the effort from both teams this weekend. They showed up and competed with a lot of energy, and it correlated to success in the arena,” UW head Coach Seth Glause says. “It was great to get three individual wins and have 30 students represent the Pokes in the short go.”
The men’s team is seeking its eighth consecutive Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) title this season. The UW women have been either regional champions or runners-up during that same time span.
Newcomers Tate Talkington, from Scottsbluff, Neb., and Treg Thorstenson, of Lantry, S.D., had big weekends for the Cowboys, leading the team in points. Talkington dominated tie down roping, winning both rounds and the average, while Thorstenson was second to his new UW teammate in the same event. Thorstenson also added points in team roping, where he won the opening round with Cowboys teammate Rio Nutter, of Rapid City, S.D. The pair were fourth in the average.
The Cowboys had several team members throughout the roster post strong opening-weekend performances, especially in the roping events.
In tie down roping, the Cowboys produced five of the top six in the average. Besides Talkington and Thorstenson sweeping the top two positions, UW ropers took fourth through sixth places. Jaxson Mirabal, of Magdalena, N.M., placed fourth; Nutter was fifth; and Sam Gallagher, of Brighton, Colo, who won the all-around, placed sixth.
Thayne Kimbrough, from Ohiowa, Neb., was the steer wrestling title winner, while Gallagher was fourth. Gallagher later combined with Cooper Jones, of Casper College, to win the team roping competition.
In the same event, Sam Gallager’s brother, David, teamed up with Talkington to place fifth in the average.
Traven Sharon, from Ordway, Colo., was fifth in bareback riding; Colton Farrow, of Greybull, scored team points in bareback riding; Malcom Heathershaw, of Quinn, S.D., was fourth in the first round of saddle bronc riding and Mirabal split sixth in the opening round of the same event; and Kyler Clark, of Yoder and header partner William Warner, from LCCC, had the fifth best time in the opening round of team roping.
Olivia Lay, from Elbert, Colo., was the lone Cowgirl to win an event, taking the breakaway roping competition, and teammate Lily Masopust, of Glenrock, was sixth in the average in the same event.
Several other UW team members also produced strong results in the opening regional rodeo.
Sage Wheatley, from Kremmling, Colo., and teammate McKenzi Scott, of Rock Springs, placed second and third, respectively, in barrel racing.
Josie Mousel, of Colman, S.D., and Wheatland’s Layni Stevens picked up points for the Cowgirls in goat tying, splitting third place. Teammate Kassidy Dunagan, of Whitehall, Mont., placed fifth in the average in the same event. And Landry Haugen, from Sturgis, S.D., added team points in goat tying.
The Cowboys and Cowgirls have the weekend off and then will have four consecutive rodeos to wrap up the fall portion of the schedule. Central Wyoming College hosts the next regional rodeo Friday through Sunday, Sept. 19-21.
