The 2023 College National Finals Rodeo kicked off Sunday, June 11 with the Bulls, Broncs & Breakaway matinee in Casper, Wyoming. A round-by-round update as the week rolls on.
Round 1
By Whitley Reder, courtesy CNFR
Zoie Bedke, Tyree Cochrane, Sydney Theobald and Maggie Usher wasted no time securing the top spot in the opening round of the breakaway roping at the 2023 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, after each posted a quick 2.4-second run Sunday, June 11.
Zoie Bedke, an Idaho State University junior, was the first cowgirl out and immediately set the first-round pace for the rest of the field. As a three-time CNFR qualifier and 2021 CNFR Champion Breakaway Roper, the Oakley, Idaho, native said she’s comfortable competing in Casper’s Ford Wyoming Center.
“Walking into the box, I felt a sense of calmness and confidence in myself,” Bedke said. “It didn’t matter whether I was first out or last out; all I knew was that I had to rope my game.”
Completing her sixth year at Cal Poly University, San Louis Obispo, Tyree Cochrane, like Bedke, is a three-time CNFR qualifier. She also serves as the NIRA Student President and said she, too, was comfortable with the setup.
“Walking into the box felt good,” Cochrane said. “I was just focused on seeing my start and roping sharp.”
Right behind Cochrane was her CAPSLO teammate, Maggie Usher, a senior from Santa Ynez, California, who’s competing in the goat tying and breakaway roping. In addition to competing in the women’s events, Usher, a two-time CNFR qualifier, is a veteran hazer who’s been seen on the men’s side hazing for the 2021 CNFR Reserve Champion Bull Dogger, Grant Peterson, another of her CAPSLO teammates.
“I gave a little fist bump when I saw I got out clean, then couldn’t help but smile while I was watching the replay on the big screen, knowing that all my hard work paid off and I started the week off strong,” Usher said.
Sydney Theobald, a senior of Fort Pierre, South Dakota, is competing for Black Hills State University, Spearfish, South Dakota. The two-time CNFR qualifier was among many rodeo athletes forced to miss the 2020 College Finals because of COVID-19 restrictions. Sunday, she finally got to see the bright lights of the Ford Wyoming Center.
“It’s been a dream of mine since I was little to be able to compete at the CNFR, and being able to achieve that goal and dream is exciting,” Theobald said. “To actually ride into the Ford Wyoming Center and back into the box was better than I could have ever dreamed.”
Theobald chases her next calf during slack on Monday, June 12. Cochrane and Bedke face a heavy day Tuesday, June 13, as each makes her respective second run during Tuesday morning’s slack and her third run in Tuesday evening’s performance.
Usher made her first goat-tying run during slack Monday morning, June 12. Her second runs in breakaway roping and goat tying come in slack Tuesday morning, June 13, while her third runs in both events are set for the performance on Wednesday, June 14.
Results
- Zoie J. Bedke, Idaho State University, 2.4; Sydney J. Theobald, Black Hills State University, 2.4; Tyree Q. Cochrane, Cal Poly State University, 2.4; Maggie F. Usher, Cal Poly State University, 2.4; 5. Rylee A. George, Texas A&M-Commerce, 2.5; Madison M. Bean, South Plains College, 2.5; Alli M. Masters, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 2.5; Samantha A. Kerns, TTreasure Valley Community College, 2.5; Makayla E. Farkas, West Hills College, 2.5; 10. Raegan L. Steed, College of Southern Idaho, 2.6; Kaylee Cornia, Idaho State University, 2.6.
Round 2
By Whitley Reder, courtesy CNFR
After two days of stiff competition in the breakaway roping, Haiden Thompson takes the second go-round win with a snappy 2.1-second run at the 2023 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, during slack on Monday, June 12. Respectively, placing Thompson second in the breakaway roping average with 5.0-seconds on two.
“My horse worked really good, I drew a really good one and just used it to my advantage,” Thompson said.
The Wyoming native from Torrington has had prior success in the sport. Thompson is a first-year athlete for the Gillette College Pronghorns in Gillette, Wyoming. Thompson won the 2023 Central Rocky Mountain Region All-Around Championship, the 2023 Central Rocky Mountain Region Goat Tying Championship, and the 2023 Reserve Central Rocky Mountain Region Breakaway Roping title. Thompson said that despite her successes, the first-time CNFR jitters persisted.
The Gillette College Women’s Rodeo Team won the 2023 Central Rocky Mountain Region Title with 3,564.00 points, contributing 1,870.00 points are Thompson’s all-around points. As of May 1, 2023, the Gillette College Women’s Rodeo Team had eight active members and was ranked seventh in the nation. As of May 1, 2023, Thompson was ranked third nationally in the all-around, 17th in breakaway, and second in the goat tying.
Thompson will return to the roping box during the Thursday evening’s performance on June 15, to rope her final calf in the third go-round.
“I’m so thankful for Troy and Riley Pruitt for helping me before I came out, they helped sharpen some things up and definitely helped make that run possible,” Thompson said.
Thompson, on the chase for the 2023 National Title for Gillette.
Results
- Haiden A. Thompson, Gillette College, 2.1; 2. Baylee M. Johnston, New Mexico State University, 2.2; Britta S. Strain, Texas A&M University, 2.2; Chanci R. Kraft, Black Hills State University, 2.2; 5. Kenzie Kelton, Central Arizona College, 2.3; Meghan L. McKinley, Montana State University, 2.3; Brooklin R. Quisenberry, Cal Poly State University, 2.3; 8. Kiley F. Slavin, Garden City Community College, 2.4; 9. Raegan L. Steed, College of Southern Idaho, 2.5; Cate Hepper, Montana State University, 2.5; Tyree Q. Cochrane, Cal Poly State University, 2.5
Round 3
By Whitley Reder, courtesy CNFR
In the third go-round of the breakaway roping at the 2023 College National Finals Rodeo on Wednesday, June 14, at the Wyoming Ford Center, Emma Eiguren and Kenlie Raby brought the heat with a smoking 2.0-second run.
Not only did Eiguren and Raby maintain their time in the first section of the third go-round, but they also set the record for the fastest time in the breakaway roping as of June 16, at the 2023 CNFR.
Eiguren, the Treasure Valley Community College junior from Ogden, Utah, claimed the fastest time of the 2023 CNFR in the third go-round of the breakaway roping. Eiguren is a returning CNFR qualifier in goat tying and breakaway roping.
Eiguren didn’t have the week she was shooting for. Eiguren finished 26th in the nation with a total of 14.2-seconds on three calves and a total of 75.00 points in the aggregate. However, that only pushed Eiguren to put it all out in the arena on her final run, and she did just that.
“I was able to show that I deserved to be there, and I showed myself that I can overcome the hardships of the week and end on a good note,” Eiguren said.
The junior plans to return to the Ford Wyoming Center in the near future.
Raby, the sophomore from Mount Vernon, Arkansas, competing for Missouri Valley College, did not hesitate to take the top spot alongside Eiguren. Raby was one competitor behind Eiguren in Wednesday’s performance. However, this cowgirl was unfazed by hearing the fastest time of the week by Eiguren. She drew a good calf, according to Raby, and she intended to take advantage of that.
With a 1.7-second run, Raby, a two-time CNFR qualifier, won the third round of the 2022 CNFR in the breakaway roping. Her favorite victory was winning the third round in 2022; she can now add winning the third round in 2023 to that list.
Raby finished 25th in the nation with a total of 13.7-seconds on three calves, adding up to a total of 75.00 points in the aggregate.
Even though Raby didn’t have the CNFR she hoped for, she has looked at the positives in her horse.
“He’s been working outstanding, and for that, I felt like he deserved a round win just as much as I,” Raby said.
Results
1. Kenlie R. Raby, MVC, 2.0; Emma A. Eiguren, TVCC, 2.0; 3. Tayler A. Felton, TARLET, 2.1; 4. Molly M. Salmond, MTSU, 2.3; 5. Addie K. Weil, TXAMUC, 2.4; Bailey L. Stuva, NEOKAM, 2.4; 7. Baylee M. Johnston, NMSU, 2.5; 8. Madison M. Bean, SPLNS, 2.6; Mikenna R. Schauer, NMTC, 2.6; 10. Natalie C. Thompson, CAZC, 2.7
Average Standings
*The following will compete Saturday, June 17, 2023 in the short round for a shot at a national title.
1. Tyree Q. Cochrane (CAPSLO) – 7.8/3
2. Haiden A. Thompson (GILLET) – 8.0/3
3. Makayla E. Farkas (WHILLS) – 8.2/3
3. Kennedy M. Buckner (BLUE) – 8.2/3
5. Samantha A. Kerns (TVCC) – 8.4/3
6. Sutton S. Mang (ALLAN) – 9.3/3
7. Morgan D. Foss (DICKSN) – 9.6/3
8. Raegan L. Steed (CSID) – 10.7/3
9. Cate Hepper (MTSU) – 17.4/3
10. Mikenna R. Schauer (NMTC) – 17.5/3
