Opening Ride Vaults UW’s Farrow to Fourth in Nation

Colton Farrow's belief in himself is paying off at the right time of the year for the University of Wyoming Cowboy.

The Greybull graduate student rode Freaky Deaky to 81.5 points Sunday to open his final turn at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) at Casper's Ford Wyoming Center. His opening bareback bronc riding mark put him in a two-way tie for fourth in the nation after the first full round of competition.

Farrow's ride during the fan favorite "Broncs, Bulls and Breakaway" competition -- featuring all roughstock riders and women's breakaway ropers -- set the tone for what he hopes is a successful week.

Farrow says he drew a pretty stocky horse that came out and jumped and kicked out every time.

"He was a picture-perfect horse, really," says Farrow, who matched his high point total on a single ride this season.

Farrow says he entered the CNFR with plenty of confidence and belief in himself after not qualifying for the championship round last summer.

"Eighty-one points is a good start to the week. I need to keep piling up the points the rest of the week to win," he says. "My success is knowing that I'm working hard."

Farrow did a great job in the opening round, UW Coach Seth Glause says.

"He had a good horse and made a great ride. He just needs to keep it rolling this week," Glause says.

Farrow next competes in Tuesday morning's slack round.

Farrow was among five UW team members competing on the opening day of CNFR action.

Teammate Traven Sharon, of Ordway, Colo., later in the evening, followed up with a 74-point saddle bronc ride to register points in the first of his three guaranteed rides this week. He is sitting 13th after round one of competition.

"Traven finishes strong. He had a great spur out and just set his rein down. He finished aggressive," Glause says. "He has a good horse for his second one. He will come back ready to ride on his next two."

Sharon competes again during Tuesday's slack round and will open his second event, tie-down roping, in Monday and Tuesday's slack.

The third UW Cowboy to compete during Sunday's performance was Sheridan bull rider Aidan Sawyer, who was unsuccessful on his first attempt after being thrown early in the ride. He competes again during Monday's slack.

Two UW Cowgirls also were up in the breakaway portion of Sunday's matinee performance, but both suffered tough opening rounds.

Josie Mousel, of Colman, S.D., and Olivia Lay, of Elbert, Colo., both came up short during the CNFR's "Broncs, Bulls and Breakaway" opening event of the weeklong CNFR competition.

"Olivia and Josie came up with empty loops in their first round, but there is a lot of rodeo left and points to capture," UW Assistant Coach Jacey Hupp says. "They are in good spirits and will return with a vengeance in round two."

Lay has her second breakaway roping run during Monday's slack session, and Mousel is up again during Tuesday's final slack round.

Sixteen UW qualifiers are all scheduled to compete in the two slack rounds over the next couple of days, and all have the opportunity to be under the arena's lights for an evening performance beginning Tuesday evening and stretching into Friday, June 19.

The top 12 men's and women's qualifiers from three complete rounds of competition move onto Saturday's championship round. All night performances begin at 7 p.m. at the Ford Wyoming Center.