UW Rodeo Teams Remain Regional Leaders

Both University of Wyoming rodeo teams head into the final fall rodeo this weekend holding onto their leads in the Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR), with the Cowboys opening up a comfortable lead and the Cowgirls clinging to the top spot.

The Cowboys won their third straight team title last weekend with another solid performance, taking the Lamar (Colo.) Community College (LCC) rodeo with a season-high 735 points. Sheridan College was second with 430 points, and third went to Chadron (Neb.) State College at 380.

The victory, the third in four rodeos this fall, boosted the Pokes' overall lead in the CRMR. The Cowboys have 2,415 points -- a 620-point advantage over second-place Gillette College. Sheridan College sits third in the overall standings with 1,345 points.

The Cowgirls were second for the second straight weekend and saw their lead in the regional standing sliced down to just 156.67 points to runner-up Gillette College. The Pronghorns won for the second straight weekend at LCC by more than doubling the UW women's total output with 653 points, while the Cowgirls managed 305. Casper College was a distant third with 75 points.

After four fall events, the Cowgirls -- who have led the CRMR since the opening weekend -- have 1,862.83 points, while the Pronghorns have 1,706.16, making it a clear two-team race heading into the spring season. Laramie County Community College (LCCC) is back in third place at 370.

"We have gotten the season off to a strong start, but we have to continue to do our jobs week in and week out," UW Coach Seth Glause says. "There are a lot of rodeos left to go this season, and I am proud of our teams showing up and competing well last weekend."

The final fall competition is this weekend in Cheyenne: the annual Shawn Dubie Memorial Rodeo, hosted by LCCC.

"We are looking forward to competing in Cheyenne this weekend. It will be close to home, and it is always a great rodeo to finish out the fall season," Glause says. "We look for the Cowboys and Cowgirls to give a winning effort and compete like the champions they are."

A Rozet freshman led the way for the Cowboys at LCC last weekend. Carter Hutchison shined in three events to personally score 335 points, producing his first collegiate individual all-around title.

Hutchison combined with Gillette College's Hayes Buress to win team roping on the strength of the best short-go time. The UW freshman also was second in tie-down roping thanks to the second-best time in the short go. He also added points in steer wrestling but did not place in the average.

Traven Sharon, of Ordway, Colo., who was fourth in the nation last season, continued his climb to the top of the regional saddle bronc riding standings by winning at LCC. He had the second-best mark in the opening round and then won the short go to take the average.

A couple of Smith Cowboys continued to score points in their first years competing for UW. Colby Smith, of Burns, was fifth in saddle bronc riding, while Eian Smith, from Pinedale, placed fifth in the bareback riding average.

A pair of seniors added to the team's total points but did not place in the average in their respective events. Treg Thorstenson, from Lantry, S.D., scored points in team roping with teammate Kash Reynolds, of Gillette; and Tate Talkington, of Scottsbluff, Neb., had the long-go round's top time.

"It was great to have all six of our men's team members score points last weekend," Glause says. "Carter Hutchison did a great job and has been a great addition for the men's team. He won the team roping, was second in the tie-down and made a great run in the long round in the steer wrestling. He has a desire to compete well and win every time he nods his head."

Three other Cowboys also placed last weekend -- all in the same event. Cannon Campbell, of Shoshoni, won for the first time this season, taking the steer wrestling average, while teammates Bohdi Coombs, of Wellington, Colo., and Sam Gallagher, from Brighton, Colo., were second and sixth, respectively. And, Colby Runner, from Wellington, Colo., placed fifth in tie-down roping.

Cowgirl Landry Haugen was the LCC reserve all-around competitor en route to scoring 200 of the total UW women's team points. The Sturgis, S.D., senior used two solid goat-tying runs, securing the fourth-best time in the opening round, followed by a win in the short go to take the overall average. She also added barrel racing points, placing sixth in the average.

Teammate Layni Stevens, of St. Lawrence, S.D., also scored team points in a pair of events. Stevens was fourth in goat tying and then added points in team roping with Keith Gorman, of Colorado State University. The pair, however, did not place in the average.

"The women's team had a good weekend, with Landry winning the goats and Layni ending up fourth. Landry placed in the barrels, and Layni made the short go in the team roping," Glause says. "The regional battle is going to be tough this year on the women's side, but we look forward to competing and to keep elevating each other each week. It will be an exciting season that will help us, everyone, to improve."

Two other UW women's team members also placed last weekend. Kassidy Dunagan, of Whitehall, Mont., was the goat-tying runner-up, and Gillette's Sydney Oedekoven split third place in barrel racing.