Rodeo Team Holds 1st in Region After Fall Season
After finishing up the fall season this past weekend in Cheyenne at Laramie County Community College, the UW Men’s and Women’s rodeo teams both hold onto first place in the Rocky Mountain Central Region.
The rodeo weekend ran from October 10 through October 12 with two slacks and three performances. The final performance is called a “short go,” when the top 10 individuals in each event return to ride one final time, to see who will win it all.
“I am very happy with the outcome of the weekend,” UW Rodeo Coach Seth Glause said. “With the men finishing first, and women finishing second, we are headed into the spring season strong.”
The UW men’s team entered the weekend with a comfortable lead in the regional standings, boasting 2,135 points after four rodeos. Despite a shuffled lineup, the Cowboys maintained their momentum, scoring crucial points and finishing in the top spots in several events.
Steer wrestling proved to be a stronghold for the Cowboys this weekend. With UW men in the top three spots after the short go on Sunday, they added an abundant amount of points to the team’s overall score.
Rio Nutter took the win for the weekend with times of 4.6 and 4.4 seconds. He was swift and thought about each ride through carefully. Finishing not far behind Nutter, David Gallagher and Jacob Wang took home second and third place for the UW Cowboys in the steer wrestling.
Take Talkington finished out a great fall season in tie-down roping. Talkington delivered two consistent runs, winning the long round and placing second in the short go; earning himself second overall for the weekend and valuable team points. His precision and speed in the arena underscored his growing reputation as one of UW’s most reliable ropers.
Saddle bronc rider Traven Sharon, a newcomer from Ordway, Colorado, made an immediate impact after being added to the points team for the first time this fall. Sharon scored 63 points in the long go and came back in the short round to score 82 points, finishing fifth overall in saddle bronc riding. His teammate, Cian Ahern, also placed fourth in the same event, scoring 71 and 76, contributing to the team’s depth in rough stock competition.
While the UW women’s team didn’t clinch the top spot at LCCC, they remained consistent and finished second behind Gillette College. The Cowgirls still hold a solid lead in the regional standings with 1,875 points, ahead of Gillette’s 1,425 and LCCC’s 800.
Josie Mousel blew everyone away in the goat tying for the weekend. With times of 6.8 and 6.3 seconds, she jumped to the top and won the title. Her performance this weekend was just a glance at what she had been bringing to the table all season. With four event wins in the fall season, Mousel is leading the regional and national goat tying standings.
Another standout on the women’s team was Landry Haugen, who secured the all-around title this weekend. She placed first in the barrel racing and sixth overall in goat tying, to have a very successful weekend.
The Cowgirls’ performance was marked by resilience and adaptability. Though they didn’t dominate the leaderboard as they had in previous fall rodeos, their collective effort ensured a strong finish and preserved their regional advantage. The team’s depth and experience were evident as multiple athletes contributed points across events, keeping UW in contention throughout the weekend.
Glause’s strategic lineup adjustments paid off, with new additions like Sharon and Heathershaw stepping up under pressure this season. The coach emphasized the importance of building momentum heading into the spring season, where regional titles and national qualifications will be on the line.
With the fall season now complete, UW’s rodeo teams will take a break before returning to competition in the spring. The Cowboys and Cowgirls are well-positioned to defend their regional leads and pursue national recognition. The strong performances at LCCC not only capped a successful fall but also set the tone for what promises to be an exciting spring.
The Shawn Dubie Memorial Rodeo, named in honor of the late LCCC rodeo alumnus, continues to be a cornerstone event in the CRMR calendar. For UW athletes, it offered a final chance to test their skills, refine their routines, and compete against the best in the region. Judging by their results, the Cowboys and Cowgirls are more than ready for what’s next.
