The UW rodeo team has two rodeos left on their schedule to make up enough ground for an automatic qualifying bid to the National Finals Rodeo. The first opportunity is this weekend in Casper. 

Wyoming will compete today through Sunday at the Casper College Rodeo with the opportunity to jump a spot in the standings. The men currently sit in third, according to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, and the Cowgirls sit in fourth. 

“Hopefully we can catch a few breaks in Casper and move up in the standings,” head coach George Howard said. “We’re competing well but we need a little luck.” 

The top two teams from each conference go to the National Finals Rodeo in June, as do the top three competitors in each event. The Cowboys are 671.67 points behind second place Casper College while the women need 992 points to jump Chadron State and Central Wyoming College. 

Individually, Wyoming would send four competitors to the National Finals Rodeo if the season ended today. Kaycee Nelson holds the second overall spot in breakaway roping by 152 points for the Cowgirls. On the men’s side, Clayton Van Aken and Kade Merrit are second in team roping heeler and header. They have a 347-point lead over the third spot. Van Aken is also second in men’s all-around and 50 points shy of the third spot in tie-down roping. Merritt Smith is third in saddle bronc riding with 145 points separating him from the fourth spot. 

Wyoming will be in Laramie for their final rodeo of the year April 29. 

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