Posted: Mar 18, 2019
Rustlers Compete at Gillette Rodeo
The Central Wyoming College Rustler Rodeo Team traveled to Gillette this past weekend for the first rodeo of the spring season. The major snow storm that passed through the central United States did cause some complications for all of the southern schools because of road closures, so the rodeo was pushed back a day, typically scheduled Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon it went from Saturday morning through Sunday evening.
Karson Bradley placed fifth in the Barrel Racing average with a 15.23 in the long round, which placed fourth in that round followed by a 15.35 in the short round which was fast enough to place sixth. This bumped her up from third to second in the year end standings. The top three positions in each event after ten regional rodeos earn a trip to the CNFR held in Casper during the month of June.
On the men's team, Brady Thurston and Neale Jones gathered up some team points for the Rustlers. Neale placed third in the long round of the Steer Wrestling with a time of 4.7, but was unable to catch his short round steer, dropping him to ninth in the average. Teammate Brady Thurston made it back in both the Steer Wrestling and Saddle Bronc Riding. He split fourth and fifth in the long round of the Steer Wrestling with a time of 4.9, followed by a 5.9 second run in the short round which placed sixth in the round giving him a total time of 10.8 on two, and placing fifth in the average. His performance helped him maintain his second place position in the region, but he moved up from fifth to fourth in the Saddle Bronc Riding. He placed third in the long round after spurring his horse from 66 points, but was unable to cover his short round horse still managing to place him fourth in the average.
"Unfortunately the results of the rodeo don't really show how well the team performed as a whole," said coach Drew Schrock. "They all scored their horses really well and they executed the details that we have worked on in practice all winter. Taylor and Brady were one position out of making the short round in the Team Roping. Both Sala and Maddie turned nice steers, but their heelers missed. Neale's horse didn't start sharp in the short round of the steer wrestling. Brady broke out by a hair in the tie-down roping to make it back, and Kate Dickinson's breakaway horse came up lame, so she had to borrow a horse. She roped her calf nice, but was just a bit long. Anyone that has competed in rodeo understands that these things happen. We will continue to work on having positive attitudes, good work ethic and be prepared to win when the time presents itself."
The Rustlers will head to Torrington, WY on March 22-24.