With just one rodeo remaining on the fall schedule, the University of Wyoming rodeo
teams appear to be well on their way as the Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) leaders
heading into the break before spring season begins in five months.
The Cowboys and Cowgirls once again were steady last weekend, with both clubs picking
up runner-up performances at the Lamar (Colo.) Community College (LCC) rodeo.
After the CRMR’s fourth rodeo of the season, UW holds a comfortable lead in the men’s
standings with 2,135 points heading into the fall season finale this weekend -- the
annual Shawn Dubie Memorial Rodeo hosted by Laramie County Community College (LCCC)
in Cheyenne.
Sheridan College maintained second in the regional team standings with 1,660 points,
while Gillette College came through with a weekend win to boost itself into the third
position in the CRMR with1,345 points.
For the first time this fall, the UW Cowgirls did not win the women’s portion of the
latest regional rodeo, but they managed a close second to Gillette College. The UW
women still hold a solid region lead over the Pronghorns with 1,505 points with just
the remaining LCCC rodeo coming up. Gillette College has 1,050 points, while LCCC
is third in the women’s standings at 680.
With a shuffled lineup, the Cowboys scored 410 points at LCC, finishing behind front-running
Gillette College, giving the Pronghorns their first win of the season with 500 team
points. Central Wyoming College placed third in the standings at 375.
“I was happy with the individual efforts this weekend,” UW Coach Seth Glause says.
“We came away with four event wins and a co-champion in the men’s all-around."
Treg Thorstenson, from Lantry, S.D., paced the Cowboys by winning tie down roping
with a pair of solid rounds. He won the short go after producing the opening round’s
second-best time.
Inserted onto the points team for the first time this fall, Traven Sharon, of Ordway,
Colo., continued his winning saddle bronc ways after splitting first in the long go
and taking the short round. Another newcomer on the points team -- Malcom Heathershaw,
of Quinn, S.D. -- was fourth in the same event.
The Cowboys had a steady weekend when 10 more team members managed to place at the
Lamar rodeo.
The team roping duo of UW teammates Bodie Herring, of Veteran, and heeler Kash Reynolds,
of Rozet, were second, while another UW pair, brothers Rowdy and Roan Weil, from Kersey,
Colo., were right behind in third place. And Troupe Coors, of Loveland, Colo., and
partner Keyton Hayden, of Gillette College, came through in the same event in fifth
place.
Greybull’s Colton Farrow added team points by placing third in saddle bronc riding,
and Tate Talkington, of Scottsbluff, Neb., was fifth in the tie down average to add
to the team’s overall points production.
Three UW bulldoggers all placed in the steer wrestling average. Rapid City, S.D.,
Cowboy Rio Nutter was the event’s runner-up. Thayne Kimbrough, of Ohiowa, Neb., was
right behind his UW teammate, followed by Jacob Wang, of Baker, Mont., in fourth place
in the average. Nutter also won the opening round of tie down roping to give him a
share of the all-around.
“The men’s team was highlighted by freshman all-around contender Traven Sharon. He
has settled into the college rodeo scene and has won the bronc riding the last two
weekends and is riding great,” Glause says. “I look forward to him continuing to ride
and compete at a high level going forward.”
Three of the four UW points team members helped lead the Cowgirls to the runner-up
spot, just 20 points behind first-place Gillette College’s 390 points. LCCC was a
distant third with 105 points.
Josie Mousel, of Colman, S.D., continued to dominate goat tying, taking the average
on the strength of the opening round’s fastest time. A winning short go time in the
same event boosted teammate Landry Haugen, of Sturgis, S.D., to second in the average.
Wheatland’s Layni Stevens won the opening barrel racing round to add to the team’s
overall total.
Caysen Gran, from Kennebec, S.D., took first place for the first time this fall in
breakaway roping, while teammate Gracie Hardeman, of Wilson, placed third in the same
event. In a three-way split of fourth place in barrel racing was Merrin Frost, of
Baldwin, Kan.
“The women’s team is on a great track and has been very consistent throughout the
first four rodeos,” Glause says. “I am excited to see them finding their groove and
continuing to build a lead with the fall season winding down."
Glause adds that, going into the last rodeo of the season at LCCC this weekend, he
is looking for the Cowboys and Cowgirls to compete at a high level and to position
themselves to have a strong spring campaign.
“The biggest thing we need to do is continue to capitalize on our opportunities on Sundays, which our athletes have done well so far this fall,” he says.
