UW Rodeo Teams Qualify 16 for CNFR June 14-20 in Casper

With 16 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) qualifiers -- perhaps a school record -- University of Wyoming rodeo Coach Seth Glause says these will be the most balanced teams the coaching staff has ever sent to collegiate rodeo's ultimate competition.

Action begins Sunday, June 14, with "Bulls, Broncs and Breakaway" at Casper's Ford Wyoming Center and concludes Saturday, June 20, with the championship round. Nightly performances are Tuesday, June 16, through Saturday, June 20, at 7 p.m. each evening, with slack rounds scheduled for the mornings of Monday-Tuesday, June 15-16.

In Glause's three years of leading UW's rodeo program, the men's team has won the Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) title each season, extending the Cowboys' streak to eight straight. The Cowgirls matched their Pokes counterparts by taking the women's CRMR title this past season after finishing second in Glause's first two years at the helm.

"We will send a competitor in every event at next week's CNFR. That is something we are very proud of," he says. "My expectations going into the CNFR are the same as they have been all year long. I want our athletes to give a winning effort every time they compete."

Glause admits that he had a tough time choosing his points teams, which features six Cowboys and four Cowgirls among the 16 student-athletes who earned automatic CNFR bids based on their regular-season performances during the 10-rodeo CRMR schedule that spanned the fall and spring semesters.

"These decisions are never easy, and we are proud of all of our student-athletes," he says.

Glause and Assistant Coach Jacey Hupp's points teams feature three individual event champions and three team members who will compete in two events each, giving both squads a chance to score multiple team points.

Selected for the men's points team are Greybull's Colton Farrow, who was second in CRMR bareback riding; Rio Nutter, from Rapid City, S.D., in both tie-down and team roping, and who was the region's reserve all-around champion; Traven Sharon, of Ordway, Colo., who was second in both saddle bronc riding and tie-down roping, earning him the regional all-around championship; Tate Talkington, from Scottsbluff, Neb., the regional tie-down roping champion; Treg Thorstensen, from Lantry, S.D., tie-down roping; and Jacob Wang, of Baker, Mont., the CRMR's top steer wrestler.

Also earning CNFR bids, based on finishing in the top three of their individual events, are Sam Gallager, from Brighton, Colo., and Thayne Kimbrough, of Ohiowa, Neb., both in steer wrestling; team roper Kashton Reynolds, of Rozet, with partner Tyon Arneson, from Sheridan College; Aidan Sawyer, from Sheridan, in bull riding; and team roping twin brothers Rowdy and Roan Weil, of Kersey, Colo.

Representing the Cowgirls will be Olivia Lay, from Elbert, Colo., who was third in breakaway roping; regional reserve all-around Josie Mousel, from Colman, S.D., the goat-tying champion who also will compete in breakaway roping; Rock Springs' Makenzi Scott, who was second in barrel racing; and Layni Stevens, from St. Lawrence, S.D., who was fourth in goat tying.

The Cowgirls finished eighth in the nation a year ago, while the men were 34th.

To view the position draw for individual UW Cowboys and Cowgirls each day at the CNFR, go here.