The University of Wyoming men's rodeo team has gone from second to fourth place in just a week's time after being shut out at Colorado State University during the weekend Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) competition.
For the first time this season, the Cowboys failed to score on the CRMR circuit as both Gillette College and Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) overtook the UW men in the regional standings. Current leader Casper College also had a sub-par performance, but the T-Birds managed to hold on to first place in the region with 3,080 points. Just three rodeos remain on the regular season schedule.
After winning last weekend's CSU rodeo, Gillette College moved into second place in the overall CRMR standings with 2,866.6 points, while EWC crept past UW and now has 2,675 points. The Cowboys are in fourth place -- 65 points behind the Lancers.
Just the top two teams from the region receive automatic bids for June's College National Finals Rodeo in Casper.
Gillette College topped the CSU field with 576.6 points, while Central Wyoming College was the runner-up with 410 and Sheridan College placed third with 245.
Just one UW contestant placed at CSU, but Jack Tyner's points did not count in the team's standings. The Cheyenne senior split fourth place with EWC's Troy Wilcox in the tie down roping competition.
After two consecutive rodeos without scoring a point, the UW women rebounded in Fort Collins, placing second to Chadron State College. The Eagles scored 510 points and the Cowgirls had 300.
The Cowgirls scored 210 of their points in breakaway roping. Salinas, Calif., junior Lydia Cole strung together two consecutive strong rounds to finish second in the average. After winning the opening round, former regional leader Kaycee Nelson, Buffalo, S.D., sophomore, had a no time in the short go. She placed fourth in the competition's average.
Nelson also added 50 points to the team's score by combining with partner Jake Kraupie of EWC to place sixth in the team roping average.
The final 40 team points came from Ellis, Idaho, freshman Loni Dowton, who was sixth in goat tying.
UW will compete at the EWC rodeo this weekend.
For complete team scores and individual results from the CSU rodeo, click here.
