Local rodeo fans have the opportunity to watch loaded University of Wyoming men's and women's programs that are favorites to wrap up team and individual regional championships this weekend in the season finale.
The annual Laramie River Rendezvous Rodeo will be Friday-Sunday, April 24-26, at the Cliff and Martha Hansen Livestock Teaching Arena, which features fan-friendly upgrades. Nightly performances are scheduled Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., and the championship round is Sunday at 11 a.m.
Cost is $30 for adults for each session and $15 for students.
At stake this weekend are team and individual honors, with the top two men's and women's clubs advancing to the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper June 14-20. The top three individuals in each event also earn automatic bids to collegiate rodeo's big show.
The Cowboys enter the final rodeo of the combined fall and spring seasons with an insurmountable lead over second-place Sheridan College. Going for their eighth straight Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) team title, the Pokes have 5,565 points through nine rodeos, while the Generals have 3,970.
The Cowgirls are closing in on their first CRMR championship in four years after placing second the past three seasons to Gillette College. The UW women have accumulated 3,243.33 points during the season, while the Pronghorns have 2,755.
Even with the lead for both teams, third-year head UW Coach Seth Glause remains cautious.
"In my opinion, nothing is set until the dust settles on Sunday," he says. "We have great athletes on both teams, and I am proud of all of the hard work that they put in week in and week out."
In his overall eight-year coaching career, this is the first time Glause will have both men's and women's programs win overall titles in the same season.
"They all have a great mindset and the desire to be great in the arena and classroom," he adds. "It definitely builds a great culture of excellence. We are excited to watch our Pokes compete at a high level and leave it all in the arena this weekend."
The Cowboys will send a six-member points team to the CNFR, while four Cowgirls make up the women's team. However, multiple team members are still in line for national competition by finishing among the top three in their individual events based on season-long competition.
In all, the UW men have three current event leaders in the region, while one Cowgirl is tops in her event.
Traven Sharon, from Ordway, Colo., and Josie Mousel, of Colman, S.D., are the all-around leaders. Sharon is the region's top saddle bronc rider, and Mousel has led goat tying from the get-go.
To show how dominant the Cowboys have been all season, the Pokes have the top four individual scoring leaders. Following Sharon are Rio Nutter, from Rapid City, S.D.; David Gallagher, from Brighton, Colo.; and Tate Talkington, of Scottsbluff, Neb.
Former CRMR steer wrestling champion Jacob Wang, from Baker, Mont., leads a handful of bulldoggers in the top five: Nutter; Sam Gallagher, of Brighton, Colo.; Thayne Kimbrough, from Ohiowa, Neb.; and David Gallagher.
The Cowboys own the top three tie-down roping positions: Talkington; Treg Thorstensen, from Lantry, S.D.; and Sharon.
Greybull's Colton Farrow is a CNFR lock, sitting solidly in the runner-up position in the bareback riding competition. Aidan Sawyer, from Sheridan, is currently the third-best bull rider.
In contention are a pair of team roping duos: brothers Rowdy and Roan Weil, from Kersey, Colo., and Bodie Herring, of Veteran, and partner Kash Reynolds, of Rozet, who are third and fourth, respectively.
Besides Mousel in goat tying, teammates Layni Stevens, of St. Lawrence, S.D., and Landry Haugen, from Sturgis, S.D., both are still in contention for the top three.
In a tight battle for the three automatic breakaway roping bids are a trio of Cowgirls: Mousel; Olivia Lay, from Elbert, Colo.; and Brenna Herring, from Veteran.
Merrin Frost, from Baldwin, Kan.; Rock Springs' Makenzi Scott; and Haugen are closely out of the top three, but the trio are still alive for CNFR barrel racing bids.
"The competition will be fierce, as many students in the Central Rocky Mountain Region are competing for a spot at the CNFR," Glause says. "Action should be fast-paced, and competition will be fierce this weekend."
