Seven Utah Valley University Rodeo Team members competed at the highest level last month, facing riders and ropers from across the country at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming.
Seven Utah Valley University Rodeo Team members competed at the highest level last month, facing riders and ropers from across the country at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming.
UVU’s men’s team finished 20th in the nation, with standout performers including Wyatt Ahlstrom and Jace Hanks finishing fourth in team roping and Cottar Deveraux finishing 10th in tie-down roping.
“It just shows that our program is growing,” said Shane Draper, UVU Rodeo Team head coach. “The last couple of years, we’ve had one or two kids in the finals. This year we had seven.”
“Qualifying seven contestants to the College National Finals Rodeo is a wonderful achievement,” said Sarah Neely, director of public relations and administration for the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. “That means you are working both ends of the arena and qualifying men’s and women's teams.”
Draper said the UVU Rodeo Team’s growth is due to school and community support, but he also said his students make it easy by drawing people to them.
“Our teams sell themselves,” Draper said. “Everyone that’s been around them realizes there’s something different there. We’ve got a lot of kids wanting to come to UVU.”
The full results for this year’s CNFR can be found at https://collegerodeo.com/cnfr/cnfr-2023-results/.
UVU Rodeo at CNFR
Men’s Team: 20th Overall
Team Roping
4th Wyatt Ahlstrom, Jace Hanks
11th Bret Olsen, Hayden Roundy (from SUU)
Tie Down Roping
10th Cottar Deveraux
18th Hayes Giles
Steer Wrestling
32nd Wyatt Ahlstrom
37th Hayden Boren
Goat Tie
37th Montana Landis
