UW Rodeo Teams Enter Season with Experience in the Arena

Experience will set the tone for the University of Wyoming rodeo teams when the Cowboys and Cowgirls open the fall season Sept. 5-7 at Chadron, Neb.

With 55 student-athletes on this season's roster, third-year head Coach Seth Glause has a solid mix of College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) qualifiers and newcomers to the UW program. They will be counted on as the Cowboys seek their eighth consecutive Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) title; the Cowgirls have either won or finished second in the region during the same time span.

"We have a strong group of leaders who have been to the CNFR and have had a great amount of success in the region," Glause says. "I believe this will help us achieve our goals of winning the region this year."

He adds that he looks forward to the student-athletes continuing to build their competitive process as they try to qualify as many competitors as possible for next summer's CNFR.

"The biggest key to success will be to take it one rodeo at a time. Winning the region is a culmination of our year," Glause says. "We can't win in just one rodeo; it will take a consistent effort week in and week out."

Last year, the team had success at the CNFR, with the women's team finishing in the top 10 in the nation. Returning will be CNFR event qualifiers Landry Haugen, from Sturgis, S.D., who is the defending regional champion breakaway roper and who also qualified in goat tying; Jordyn McNamee, of Buffalo, in breakaway roping, who also was third in the region; and Josie Mousel, from Colman, S.D., in goat tying. She was second in the CRMR last season.

"They have a great deal of experience for our team. I look to them to lead our women's team and be able to help ease any nerves our incoming students might have," Glause says.

On the men's side, the Cowboys also have plenty of competitors with CNFR experience, both returning veterans and newcomers: Troupe Coors, of Loveland, Colo., who was the heeler on the region-winning team roping duo; David Gallagher, from Brighton, Colo., in both roping events and steer wrestling; Casper College transfer bronc rider Malcom Heathershaw, of Quinn, S.D.; Rio Nutter, of Rapid City, S.D., in roping events; Tate Talkington, a Northeastern Junior College transfer from Scottsbluff, Neb., in both roping events; Dixon Tattrie, of Youngstown, Alberta, Canada, competing in saddle bronc and bull riding; and defending CRMR bulldogger Jacob Wang, of Baker, Mont.

This week in practice will play a big role, as Glause selects his six-man and four-member women's points teams for the opening Chadron State University rodeo.

"I have an idea who I will select," he says. "I know we will have a balanced team, and I look forward to them doing big things."

Former South Dakota rodeo competitor Jacey Hupp returns for her third year as an assistant UW coach and brings with her a "wealth of knowledge and CNFR experience," Glause says. This past June, he added Tatum Rowe as the team's director of rodeo operations. She is a former student-athlete, competing all four years for UW's rodeo program.

Five rodeos are scheduled for the fall and spring CRMR season, with the CNFR scheduled next June in Casper.