New-look Cowgirls win first rodeo

by UW Media Relations

Even with nearly 100 percent of its scoring gone through graduation, the University of Wyoming women's team started the new rodeo season where its national championship counterparts left off -- at the top of the standings.

With an entirely new lineup this year, Coach George Howard's Cowgirls won the first of five fall rodeos last weekend at Chadron State College. The UW women this season may not score points in bunches like last season's team that set a school-record because the power trio of Nikki Steffes, Sarah Mulholland and TaNaye Carroll have used up their eligibility.

Instead, a new group of UW women is set to uphold the Cowgirls' rodeo tradition. Last weekend only two women scored, but it was enough to boost the team to first place with 200 points -- 55 better than runner-up Sheridan College.

UW's points came in one event, breakaway roping. In her first collegiate competition, Cayla Allen, an elementary education freshman from Bellvue, Colo., won the event with a two-round time of 8.4 seconds. Teammate Dana Weiser, a computer science junior from Wheatland, won the long go, but missed in the short round to add to the team's overall production.

Even though her points didn't count because she was not one of the designated members of the women's team, Josie Davison, a secondary education junior from Miles City, Mont., won the barrel racing event.

The UW men got off to a slow start in the opening fall rodeo, placing seventh overall with 160 points. In only its third year of competition, Gillette College took the men's team title with 635 points, while perennial Central Rocky Mountain Region power Central Wyoming College was second with 455.

The Cowboys got a bulk of their scoring from team ropers Kade Merritt, a marketing freshman from Eaton, Colo., and Jake Mingus, an undeclared freshman, Jackson, who won the opening round and placed fifth overall in the average.

The final 60 team points came from veteran saddle bronc rider Merritt Smith of Gillette, an animal science junior, who was fifth in the average.

Even though his points did not count in the UW men's overall team standings, Cameron Weddle, a mechanical engineering junior from Milaca, Minn., was the top tie down roper.

CWC hosts this weekend's regional rodeo.

Listed are team points and the top six individuals in the average:
Women's team points -- University of Wyoming (UW), 200; Sheridan College (SC), 145; Central Wyoming College (CWC), 123.33; Eastern Wyoming College (EWC), 115; Colorado State University (CSU), 80; Laramie County Community College (LCCC), 60; Northeastern Junior College (NJC), 16.66.
Men's team scores -- Gillette College (GC), 635; CWC, 455; NJC, 440; EWC, 340; Casper College (CC), 215; LCCC, 180; UW, 160; Chadron State College (CSC), 145; Lamar Community College, 120; SC, 55.
Goat tying -- Lacey Schuelke, SC, 16.3; Josi Jenson, CSC, 16.4; Traci Hinman, CWC, 16.5; Kelsy Smith, UW, 16.7; Karalyn Bridgeman, CSC, 16.9.
Breakaway roping -- Cayla Allen, UW, 8.4; Haley Graves, LCC, 8.5; Larame Pope, UW, 16.7; Heather Bregar, UW, 17.5.
Barrel racing -- Josie Davison, UW, 32.71; Samantha Tallent, NJC, 32.82; Taylor Miniat, CSU, 33.19; Becky Grimm, CSC, 33.23; Lizzi Snyder, UW, 33.34; Jessica Giersiepen, GC, 33.62.
Bareback riding -- Wyatt Clark, EWC, 150; Ty Breuer, CWC, 149; Ty Werdel, CSC, 143; Jed Wilson, CSC, 138; Troy Bechen, CC, 137; J L Garman, SC, 120.
Saddle bronc riding -- Clay Gruel, CWC, 142; Chancy Miller, GC, 139; Chason Floyd, GC, 130.
Bull riding -- Justin Thomas, LCCC, 159; Cameron Hopper, CWC, 154; Charles Pesicka, GC, 143.
Tie down roping -- Cameron Weddle, UW, 19.4; Dalton Hall, NJC, 20.3; Kyle Broce, NJC, 21.1; Dustin Smith, CC, 21.2; Dane Kissack, GC, 22.1; Cole Dorenkamp, GC, 24.
Steer wrestling -- Jim Roedeske, CC, 9.8; Kyle Broce, NJC, 10.5; Carter Coble, LCC, 10.7; J W Lorenz, CWC, 11; Stetson Mitchell, LCC, 13.5; Chason Floyd, GC, 18.3.
Team roping -- Caitlyn Cahill, UW/Stetson Mitchell, LCC, 25; Stephanie Newman/Logan McDonald, EWC, 25.8; Nathan Ramsey/Cody McCluskey, NJC, 27.3; Taylor Holmes, CC/Dalton Hall, NJC, 29.4; Kade Merritt/Jake Mangis, UW, 30.8; Tyrel Schroth/Allen Auer, SC, 2.5.