EWC Lancer Rodeo Team Competes in Riverton

By Chloee Faus

EWC Student

RIVERTON, Wyo. – The Eastern Wyoming College Lancer Rodeo Team continued its strong start to the fall season, qualifying eight competitors for the championship round at the second college rodeo of the season in Riverton.

The Lancers competed in events ranging from saddle bronc riding and steer wrestling to barrel racing and tie-down roping. Eight EWC competitors advanced from the long round to Sunday’s short round.

Taydon Gorsuch got the Lancers off to a strong start Friday in steer wrestling. He stopped the clock in 5.9 seconds, a time that held through the conclusion of the long round to earn first place.

Walker West also finished in the top 10, posting an 18.5-second run to place seventh.

After narrowly missing the short round in barrel racing at the previous rodeo in Chadron, EWC’s Celie Tharp returned to competition in Riverton with a spot in the championship round in mind.

Tharp posted an 18.13-second run to place fifth in the long round and advance to Sunday’s short round.

The Lancers had four competitors finish in the top 10 in saddle bronc riding.

Cruz Birkeland and Clay Nyhus each scored 69 points to tie for fifth and sixth place. Kutter Accord scored 65 points to finish ninth, while Hunter Mancina scored 64 points to place 10th.

Cazen Coffman also earned a spot in the short round, posting a 13.1-second run in tie-down roping to finish eighth in the long round.

Storms moved through the area Saturday night, leaving muddy conditions for Sunday’s short round. Despite the conditions, the Lancers turned in several strong performances.

Mancina scored 77 points in the short round to finish second in the round and fourth in the average.

Birkeland finished with 130 points on two head to place ninth in the average.

Tharp posted an 18.70-second run to finish third in both the short round and the average.

The Lancer Rodeo Team will travel to Sheridan this weekend for the third rodeo of the season. Five EWC competitors currently sit in the top 10 of the regional points standings, with several others close behind as the Lancers continue their pursuit of qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper.