Cowboy rodeo team improves; Cowgirls blanked

by UW Media Relations

The University of Wyoming men's rodeo team made dramatic improvements from week one to the second, but the women's club took a major hit, failing to score a single point.

The Cowboys scored 330 points to boost themselves to third place overall at last weekend's Central Wyoming College rodeo in Riverton. UW doubled its total output from the opening weekend.

The host Rustlers rounded up a whopping 900 team points to take their own home rodeo, while overall Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) leader, Gillette College, was the runner-up with 545 points.

Dahl Nicholls, a rangeland management sophomore from Kinnear, combined with his brother, Chance, a sophomore, also a rangeland management major, to place second in the team roping event. Nicholls added 50 more points in the tie down competition.

Two other UW ropers added points to give the Cowboys 230 overall in the event. Cameron Weddle, a mechanical engineering junior from Milaca, Minn., and partner Bryce Simmons of Northeastern Junior College were fifth in the average. Beau Miller of Gillette and partner Cole Dorenkamp of Gillette College split second place in the opening round to add points to UW's scoring.

The Cowboys' final points came from saddle bronc rider Merritt Smith, an animal science junior from Gillette, who scored points with the third highest score in the opening round, but did not mark in the short go.

CWC's Cameron Hooper won the all-around title.

And for the first time during George Howard's 12-year tenure as UW's rodeo coach, his women's team did not put up a single point at the CWC rodeo last weekend. The Gillette College women dominated the weekend performance with 405 team points, while Chadron State College placed second with 190.

A familiar name won the women's all-around title -- Nikki Steffes. The former Cowgirl from Vale, S.D., used up her eligibility after last season, but she can still compete as an independent participant because she is serving a one-year term as the CRMR student director. The Cowgirls could have used her points last weekend because she won the barrel racing competition and placed second in goat tying and breakaway roping.

The teams will compete at the Sheridan College Rodeo this weekend. Listed below are the team scores and the top six individuals in the average:

Women's team scores -- Gillette College (GC), 405; Chadron State College (CSC), 190; Central Wyoming College (CWC), 120; Northeastern Junior College (NJC), 80; Laramie County Community College (LCCC), 60; Sheridan College (SC), 20; Casper College (CC), 10.
Men's team scores -- CWC, 900; GC, 545; University of Wyoming (UW), 330; NJC, 185; CSC, 175; Eastern Wyoming College (EWC), 150; Mesa State College (MSC), 120; LCCC, 50; CC, 45; Lamar Community College (LCC), 40; Colorado State University, (CSU), 30.
Goat tying -- Jordan Thurstan, GC, 14.4; Nikki Steffes, UW, 14.8; Lacey Tech, CWC, 15.3; Kelsy Smith, UW, 15.6; Chyann Howard, UW, 15.8; Kaycee Nelson, UW, 15.8.
Breakaway roping -- Anna Haaland, GC, 6.1; Jayme Hull, CSU, 6.2; Nikki Steffes, UW, 6.2; Tori Bonham, LCCC, 7.3; Caitlyn Cahill, UW, 9.4; Kaitlyn Romsa, CWC, 17.2.
Barrel racing -- Nikki Steffes, UW, 35.38; Kaylee Gallino, CSC, 35.58; Samantha Tallent, NJC, 36.19; Chelsea Moore, GC, 36.21; Jessica Giersiepen, GC, 36.46; Stormy Fink, GSC, 36.47.
Bareback riding -- Cameron Hopper, CWC, 145; Ty Breuer, CWC, 139; Ty Werdel, CSC, 124. On two.
Saddle bronc riding -- Colt Hamaker, CWC, 154; Cole Elshere, GC, 144; Riley Knoll, CWC, 143; Gus Thorenson, CWC, 137; Cameron Hopper, CWC, 127. On two.
Bull riding -- Justin Schaper, GC, 153; J.D. Harrell, CC, 148; Cody Sierks, EWC, 137. On two.
Tie down roping -- Riley Warren, CWC, 18.4; Jarrod Soucie. MSC, 19.4; Jake Gill, GC, 20.3; Dane Kissack, GC, 20.6; Todd Peters, CWC, 20.7; Zack Parkin, LCC, 21.3.
Steer wrestling -- Kyle Broce. NJC, 12; J.D. Harrell, 13; Clinton Lambrecht, CSC, 13.7;Cole Dorenkamp, GC, 14.1; Gus Cross, EWC, 15; Thomas Osborne, CWC, 16.
Team roping -- Tyson Holden/Dane Kissack, GC, 12.6; Chance Nicholls/Dahl Nicholls, UW, 12.9; Casey DeGabain/Jeff Stull, UW, 14.4; Bernard McGuire, UW/Cotter Kinghorn, GC, 14.6; Cameron Weddle, UW/Bryce Simmons, NJC, 15.6; Jim Roedeske/Ryan Orndoff, CC, 16.8.