UW Cowgirls Jump Back into Regional Rodeo Contention

Bolstered by the women’s all-around performance of Teisha Coffield, the University of Wyoming Cowgirls jumped back into regional title contention with their best showing of the season last weekend at the Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) rodeo in Torrington.

Coffield, a Yuma, Colo., junior, accounted for 340 of the team’s 475 total points to help the Cowgirls snap a mini-slump that saw the team fall from first to third place in the Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) standings.

With last week’s team victory, the Cowgirls leap-frogged Gillette College into second place in the region with 1,895 points, just 57.33 points behind front-running EWC with just three rodeos remaining on the spring docket. Gillette College dropped to third with 1,595 points.

Second place, at this time, is a major move for the Cowgirls. Only the top two teams in the region automatically qualify full four-member teams to June’s College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper.

The Cowgirls, who opened as the CRMR’s season leader through four fall competitions, fell out of the top spot in the final event before the winter break. The club had a slow start to begin the spring season earlier this month but rebounded in a big way in Torrington.

Coffield, the defending CRMR breakaway roping champion for Colorado State University-Pueblo last season, has been the seasonlong leader in her specialty event for the Cowgirls, with nearly a 200-point lead against her nearest competitor.

She won the breakaway roping title in Torrington last weekend for 150 points, then combined with UW partner Jhett Hadley, a junior from Wheatland, to split third in the team roping average to account for an additional 100 points for the Cowgirls.

Coffield wrapped up her all-around performance with 90 points in goat tying, giving her fourth place in the average.

The Cowgirls also were boosted by a pair of teammates. Kelsey Lensegrav, of Interior, S.D., was fourth in the barrel racing average, and sophomore Rachael Calvo, from Bassett, Neb., was sixth in the same event.

Finishing behind the UW women at Torrington were the host Lancers, who scored 384 points, and Central Wyoming College was a distant third with 170.

The UW men were the complete opposite of their Cowgirl teammates last weekend at the EWC rodeo, suffering their toughest outing through seven rodeos.

The Pokes managed just 185 points for an eighth-place finish. Casper College, boosted by a pair of transfer bronc riders, continued its hot streak to open the spring season with a team-leading 555 points, while Laramie County Community College was second with 435 points. The host Lancers were third with 425.

Despite its lowest production of the season, the UW men still maintain their overall CRMR lead with 3,395 points to lead defending regional champion Sheridan College by 705 points. Gillette College is third at 2,550.

Belgrade, Mont., freshman Caden Camp had the top finish for the Pokes, taking second in the tie down average. Seth Peterson, a junior from Minot, N.D., added points in steer wrestling but fell out of the average. The final 40 team points were scored by senior Jake Fulton, from Valentine, Neb., who was fourth in the opening round of tie down roping, but he did not place in the average.

CRMR teams are off this weekend and will next compete at the Colorado State University rodeo in Fort Collins April 5-7.