Utah schools saddling up for U.S. college rodeo

Four Utah schools will be ropin' and reelin' when the 58th annual College National Finals Rodeo bucks off this weekend in Casper, Wyo. The event starts on Sunday and runs until the 16th.

Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, Utah State and Weber State will compete against schools from other regions in nine different events. Saddle bronc, bareback, bull riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying are all scheduled for the weeklong competition. Both men and women will be fighting for individual and team titles, as well as more than $200,000 in scholarship money from the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. Scholarship Awards Program. Weber State is returning to defend its 2006 women's team championship.

"There's a lot of pride on the line," said Weber State coach Dennis Montgomery. "We leave those points (last year's) at home and start over again."

The Weber State women seem to have a great shot at repeating considering they return three of the four women from last year's team. Three of them won an event in regional qualifying this year.

"They're here to win," Montgomery said.

While Weber returns to defend its championship, not all schools are trying for team results. Utah State is sending three men and only one woman, meaning it probably won't compete for the overall team championship in either field. They do, however, expect to do well individually.

"I expect them to place well," said Jeffery Hall, Utah State's coach.

Hall has two senior ropers, Chase Wittacker and John Reese, who he believes will be able to do some damage.

"I expect them to make the top 10," Hall said.

Freshman Stephanie Wells will be the only female competing for the Aggies, but despite her youth, Hall thinks she's got a good shot at placing well in her event, barrel racing.

"She has an amazing horse that does very, very well and continues to get better every time she races her," said Hall.

Wells recently took home first in a field of 64 females by .4 of a second, which Hall says is quite a margin. Hall believes Wells' horse does better in smaller arenas. With Casper's arena fitting into that category, it seems Wells will have an even better chance to gallop to a good finish.

Future world champions may be on display when the festivities kick off in Casper on Sunday for the ninth time. Since the first CNFR championships were awarded, 25 champions have gone on to win world titles in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women's Professional Rodeo Association.

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E-mail: nstorey@desnews.com