Led by a pair of individual event national leaders and a mix of both veterans and newcomers throughout the lineup, the University of Wyoming's rodeo teams are well prepared for the five rodeos in the Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) this spring.

The Cowboys and Cowgirls -- fresh off a five-month layoff from CRMR competition -- open the spring slate Friday-Sunday, March 20-22, at Gillette College.

Both teams ended a successful fall schedule last October leading their respective divisions while also making some noise on the national level. The Cowgirls have scored the third most points in the national women's standings among the 13 regions, while the Cowboys are ranked seventh.

The men's team has 2,830 points heading into regional competition, leading Sheridan College by nearly 800 points, and is seeking UW's eighth straight CRMR team title. On the women's side, the Cowgirls are trying to break a streak of three straight runner-up regional finishes to Gillette College. After five fall rodeos, the Cowgirls have 1,875 points, while the Pronghorns are giving chase with 1,425.

"The motto has been 'Do your job.' I expect the teams to take care of business and give a winning effort throughout the spring season," UW Coach Seth Glause says. "Obviously, the goal for the spring is to win regional titles for both teams. We need to be able to make adjustments and compete well in short rounds."

The two teams are poised to give that effort. Both are led by a pair of national event leaders who also are the CRMR all-around leaders.

Selected to the six-man points team this weekend is Tate Talkington, of Scottsbluff, Neb., the national and CRMR tie down leader who also is the region's all-around leader for an individual scoring points in more than one event. Also in the lineup will be the region's top steer wrestler, Rio Nutter, of Rapid City, S.D.; Treg Thorstenson, second in tie down roping, from Lantry, S.D.; Ordway, Colo., saddle bronc rider Traven Sharon, who is second in the region; Colton Farrow, of Greybull, third in bareback riding; and multi-event competitor David Gallagher, from Brighton, Colo.

The four-member women's points team is led by national goat tying leader Josie Mousel, of Colman, S.D., who also leads the region in that event and is the all-around leader. Layni Stevens, who is splitting third in the regional goat tying standings, from St. Lawrence, S.D., will be in action, along with multiple-event teammates Landry Haugen, of Sturgis, S.D., and Olivia Lay, from Elbert, Colo.

UW also has a handful of team members who are ranked among the top three in their respective events. Thayne Kimbrough, of Ohiowa, Neb., and Jacob Wang, from Baker, Mont., are running second and third, respectively, in steer wrestling. The Cowboys also have a pair of team ropers who are second and third in the regional standings: Bodie Herring, of Veteran, and partner Kash Reynolds, from Rozet; and brothers Rowdy and Roan Weil, from Kersey, Colo.

The top three competitors in each event in the region, and the top two men's and women's teams, earn automatic bids in this summer's College National Finals Rodeo in Casper.

The Cowboys and Cowgirls will rely heavily on the mixture of veterans and newcomers to the lineups beginning this weekend, along with competitors on both ends of the arena.

"I like to be balanced. We have a good mix of CNFR qualifiers and younger contributors, and we have a threat in nearly every event who has the chance to win in any setup," Glause says. "I am just excited to see our student-athletes compete. They have been working hard since October, and they are prepared and ready to go rodeo."