UW Rodeo Teams Remain Steady

If the University of Wyoming rodeo teams are going to contend for regional titles this season, it will be because of both clubs' surprising depth.

For the second straight weekend, the UW women placed second in the latest Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR), this time placing as the runner-up to Lamar Community College at the Chadron State College (CSC) rodeo.

That’s a big improvement for a team that has been out of serious contention the past two seasons.

The Cowboys continued to be steady after week two of the fall season, placing third overall at CSC.

UW’s two rodeo teams are both third in their respective CRMR standings in the early portion of the five-rodeo fall season. Just the top two regional teams gain an automatic birth to next summer’s College National Finals Rodeo in Casper.

It’s been a few years since either UW team has sent full squads to college rodeo’s year-end competition.

At the CSC rodeo, the Cowgirls tallied their points in all three women’s events.

Amelia Anderson led the way with a team-best third place showing in the goat tying competition. The Forsythe, Mont., junior was steady in her two runs, splitting third place in the opening round, and then grabbing another third in the short go.

Newcomer Karlee Peterson, from Sturgis, S.D., had her best performance to date, splitting third place in breakaway roping. The UW freshman wasn’t among the top six in the opening round, but came through in the short go with the round’s second best time.

Sophomore Kailee Webb, of Isabel, S.D., placed for the second straight week in barrel racing, finishing fifth in the average, thanks to winning the short go round.

Lamar Community College (LCC) took team honors at Chadron with 405 points to outdistance the Cowgirls, who tallied 280 points. Regional leader Gillette College placed third with 238.3 points. The Pronghorns continue to lead the CRMR with 623.3 points, but LCC has cut into the lead with 595 points after two fall rodeos.

The Cowgirls are third overall with 470.

The men’s race is much tighter, with just 35 points separating the top three squads.

Chadron State took over the men’s regional lead by placing second in its home rodeo. The Eagles lead all CRMR teams with 940 points. Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) is second in the standings with 925 points -- just 20 ahead of the Pokes.

EWC won the team title last weekend with 595 points; CSC was the runner-up with 500 points, while the UW men were third with 470.

Just like their Cowgirl counterparts, the Cowboys relied on overall depth last weekend.

Newcomer Jacob Smith continues to impress in bull riding. The LaSalle, Colo., freshman won the competition with two solid rounds. He was third in the opening round and saved his best ride by winning short go, which gave him the overall average lead. He scored 160 points for the Cowboys.

Added to the six-man team for the CSC rodeo, cousins Brady and Reed Merritt combined to place second in team roping. Brady, a Fort Collins, Colo., freshman, and Reed, a senior from Greeley, Colo., were among just a pair of team ropers that had two successful runs. The UW cousins each scored 100 points for the Pokes’ team total points.

Senior Dillon Simonson, of Purdum, Neb., placed for the second straight week in steer wrestling. Simonson was fourth in the bulldogging average.

The final 20 team points came from Brock Wahlert, a Casper sophomore. Wahlert scored fifth place points during the short go.

The UW teams will compete in the Sheridan College rodeo this weekend.

For a complete list of results from the CSC rodeo, click here. For the latest regional standings, click here.