Casper, Wyo. – The largest rodeo event for college athletes was held in Casper this past week, and the College National Finals Rodeo concluded on Saturday with the crowning of champions.
Several Wyoming cowboys and cowgirls finished in the top ten.
First and foremost, Gillette College’s Haiden Thompson and Cooper Filipek each won championships. Filipek won the national bareback riding championship after finishing as reserve champion the previous year.
Thompson won the women’s all-around title for the second consecutive year, finishing seventh in the breakaway roping race.
Team ropers Tel Sorenson and Trevor Sorge finished seventh, while Brylee Grubb finished fifth in the barrel race.
Casper College’s saddle bronc rider from Canada, James Perrin, established himself as the saddle bronc riding champion. A fantastic comeback after losing his head coach at the beginning of the season.
In the saddle bronc at Casper College, Eastan West and Malcom Heathershaw finished in the top ten behind Perrin.
Casper College’s team ropers Kash Reynolds and Clay Helm finished sixth at the College National Finals Rodeo.
Central Wyoming College also had a strong performance at the CNFR. Team ropers Jace Mayfield and Caden Gines finished 10th, with Mayfield taking third in steer wrestling and holding the reserve champion men’s all-around title.
Jordyn McNamee and Jacob Wang of the University of Wyoming finished 10th in both breakaway roping and steer wrestling. Landry Haugen finished eighth in the goat tying.
Casper College men finished fourth out of 56 teams, Gillette College women finished third, and the University of Wyoming women finished eighth out of 35 colleges.
