THE 2023 CNFR COMPETITION KICKS OFF WITH BULLS, BRONCS & BREAKAWAY

CASPER, Wyo. (June 11, 2023) — When college rodeo athletes have opportunities to win national titles, they give it their all time after time.

That has been the case at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) and as the 73rd edition kicked off Sunday at the Fort Wyoming Center in Casper, it was evident once again. The competition kicked off with the Bulls Broncs and Breakaway. Qualifying for the CNFR is a lofty goal for students pursuing degrees. Juggling classes, practices, and traveling to competitions is real-life preparation for a future career in or out of the rodeo arena.

Dawson Gleaves, a bull rider from Amarillo, Texas, stayed in his home state to attend Weatherford College. He is one of the contestants hoping to make rodeo a professional career. With a nickname of Sticky, Gleaves did just that on his first bull here. He was one of two bull riders to make it to the eight-second mark scoring 79 points on Vold Rodeo’s Easy Sid.

The other bull rider to make it to the whistle was the 2021 champion, Tristen Hutchings who has qualified for the National Finals Rodeo while competing for Sul Ross State University at Alpine, Texas.

The breakaway roping was extremely tough with a four-way tie for first place. Former CNFR champion Zoie Bedke from Idaho State University is on that list along with the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association student president, Tyree Cochrane from Cal Poly State University. Maggie Usher, also from Cal Poly, and Sydney Theobald who attends Black Hills
State University finished in the top four out. Each of them stopped the clock in 2.4 seconds.

Third-generation rodeo competitor Weston Timberman who is a freshman at Clarendon College won the bareback riding with an 81.5-point score. Winning the saddle bronc riding was Quintin McWhorter who is representing the Cal Poly State University men’s team.

The competition here features three full rounds in each event. These competitors will have their second round during Slack on Monday and Tuesday. The steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping, goat tying, and tie-down roping contestants will complete their first round on
Monday.

CASPER, Wyo.—The following results from Bulls Broncs and Breakaway at the College National Finals Rodeo, June 11, 2023, courtesy of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Complete results are available at www.collegerodeo.com.

Breakaway Roping: (first-round winners) 1, (tie) Maggie Usher, Cal Poly State University; Tyree Cochrane, Cal Poly State University; Sydney Theobald, Black Hills State University; and Zoie Bedke Idaho State University; 2.4 seconds each. 5, (tie) Makayla Farkas, West Hills University; Samantha Kerns, Treasure Valley Community College; Alli Masters, Southwestern Oklahoma State University; Madison Bean, South Plains College; and Rylee George, Texas A & M University-Commerce; 2.5 each.

Bareback Riding: (first round winners) 1, Weston Timberman, Clarendon College, 81.5 points. 2, Kooper Heimburg, Missouri Valley College, 80.5. 3, Luke Thrash, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 80. 4, Bradlee Miller, Sam Houston State University, 79. 5, (tie) Sam Petersen,
Clarendon College and Sage Allen College of Southern Idaho, 78.5 each. 7, Ty Pope, Missouri Valley College, 77.5. 8, Wyatt Wood, Cal Poly State University, 76.5.

Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round winners) 1, Quintin McWhorter, Cal Poly State University, 84 points. 2, Shea Fournier, McNeece State University, 82.5. 3, Slade Keith, Clarendon College, 81.5. 4, Damian Brennan, Western Texas College, 81. 5, Darcy Radel, Western Texas College, 80. 5. 6, (tie) Cauy Masters, Clarendon College, and Isaac Richard, McNeece State University, 79 each. 8, Lance Gaillard, Tarleton State University, 78.5

Bull Riding: (first round winners – two rides) 1, Dawson Gleaves, Weatherford College, 79 points. 2, Tristen Hutchings, Sul Ross State University, 69.

PROVIDED COURTESY OF SUSAN KANODE / NATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE RODEO ASSOCIATION

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Performances are “LIVE”, June 13-17 at 7:00 pm (Mountain Time) – mark your calendars!

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