Cowgirls, Three UW Individuals Go for National CNFR Titles

This is the moment for which three University of Wyoming rodeo team members have been practicing and competing since the start of the fall season last September: the championship round of the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper Saturday night.

The trio -- Josie Mousel, Colton Farrow and Traven Sharon -- enter the championship round with shots of winning individual titles, along with the UW women's team. The Cowboys are on the outside looking in, currently ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation.

After three full rounds of competition that began Sunday, Mousel is in serious contention to win a pair of national titles. She enters as the No. 1 goat tyer, having produced three solid runs, including winning the opening round and securing top three times in her following two rounds. She has registered 18 seconds on three runs -- a full second ahead of the nearest competitor.

The Colman, S.D., junior also has a commanding lead in the all-around with 275 points, while runner-up Quincy Morgan-Montoya, of New Mexico Junior College, in Hobbs, N.M., is a distant second with 75 points. Lurking in the background is another competitor who has qualified in two separate events.

"Josie has been very consistent this week and will need one more great run to be a national goat tying champion," UW Coach Seth Glause says. "She will give a winning effort tonight. I am excited for her."

Mousel's overall performance has helped the Cowgirls accumulate 285 total points, giving the UW women a shot at the national title. Texas A&M University, in College Station, Texas, leads the standings, just 20 points ahead of the Cowgirls, while Weatherford College, in Weatherford, Texas, is second with 300.

Farrow dropped two spots in the bareback riding average at the conclusion of the final section of riders, after sitting as high as second in the nation earlier in the week. The Greybull native is sitting fourth going into the championship round with 239.5 points on three. He put himself in contention when he nailed a career-best 83.75-point ride in the third round.

"It should be a great performance tonight for Colton," Glause says. "He has a nice horse tonight and he just needs to go do his job like he has done all week."

The second UW Cowboy qualifier, Traven Sharon, of Ordway, Colo., moved down two spots in the final saddle bronc riding standings. Earlier, Sharon was fourth after he completed his three rounds. The freshman enters the final with 235.25 points on three head. The ride that boosted him into the finals was his best performance of the week Thursday, marking 82 points -- the third-best score of the third round.

"Traven has showed what he can do the last two rounds," Glause says. "He will have to be going at the round to make up some ground."

All three UW teammates will be making their first CNFR championship finals appearance.

As a team, the Cowboys have scored 320 points, good for eighth in the men's standings. Clarendon College, in Clarendon, Texas, heads the pack with 640 points, followed by Weatherford with 540 and Tarleton State University, of Stephenville, Texas, with 463.3.

"We are proud of the teams," Glause says. We appreciate all the support from the crowd, community and families; they definitely electrify the building when the Pokes compete. It's going to be an exciting night."

Five UW team members closed out their CNFR runs Friday night to conclude the third round.

-- The only Cowgirl competing in the finale was Olivia Lay, of Elbert, Colo., who had her best round of the week in breakaway roping. She closed out her UW career with a fast 2.2-second run. A no-time in the opener hurt her chances to advance to the finals. She was 11.9 in between.

-- Steer wrestler Rio Nutter, from Rapid City, S.D., saw his outside chance of sneaking into the championship fall by the wayside when he had a no-time, the second one he recorded in three rounds. His best effort was 9 seconds earlier in the week.

-- Brothers Rowdy and Roan Weil, of Kersey, Colo., saw their team-roping season end with two straight no-times. The twins opened the CNFR with a 15.1-second run.

-- Bull rider Aidan Sawyer, from Sheridan, ended his first CNFR appearance with no-times during all three rounds of competition.