USU and USU Eastern Enjoy Success at College National Finals Rodeo

The Utah State University Rodeo Club (Logan) and USU Eastern Rodeo Club (Price) teams found success at the 72nd annual College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) over the past week. USU qualified their entire women’s team and individual men, while USU Eastern’s men’s team qualified as a unit, while also qualifying one member of the women’s team. The competition took place from June 13-19 at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyo.

The USU Eastern men’s team (Eagles) enjoyed tremendous success in their first ever trip to the CNFR, placing 12th overall as a team with 400.0 points scored. The reserve Rocky Mountain Region champions had two individuals place third in their events and had several other top 10 finishes.

“This team has accomplished something tremendous,” said USU Eastern head coach Leon McElprang. “I am proud of this team.”

The Eagles had a pair of individual performers place in the Saddle Bronc riding competition. Clayson Hutchings placed in third place with a total of 296.5 points in his three rounds, while teammate Scott Lauaki placed sixth in the event with 264 points. In the bull riding event, Austin Allred placed in third, scoring 147.5 points, including 75 points on his final ride, while Kale Lamb placed in eighth place in the team roping event, paired with UVU teammate Jace Hanks. The duo finished their three rounds in 36.8 seconds. Bowdie Jacobson also competed in the tie down and team roping competitions, finishing his two tie downs in 24.8 seconds.

Autumn Snyder qualified as an individual in barrel racing for the Eagle women’s club, finishing her three races with a collective time of 48.92 seconds.

“This team battled through COVID and everything else to have such as great season,” said Associate Vice President Greg Dart. “The way they performed at the national rodeo was just an extension of what they did all season.”

The USU Aggie women’s team placed 28th in their overall team competition, scoring 45.0 points. Macey Fillmore finished her three barrel races in 51.52 seconds and also showed well in the goat tying event, finishing her three ties in 21.6 seconds to place 13th in the nation. Emily Wadsworth competed in team roping and breakaway roping events, completing her two breakaway roping events in 16.6 seconds to finish 37th overall in the nation. Alyssa Boyd also competed in the breakaway roping event, finishing in fourth place in the second round with a time of 2.4 seconds in her lone finish. She placed 42nd overall in the event.

On the Aggie men’s side, Zayne Foy competed hard in the steer wrestling competition, while Chase Goodey competed in the team roping event.

For additional information on the USU Rodeo Club, visit www.usu.edu/campusrec/club_sports/rodeo_club. For more information on the USU Eastern Rodeo club, visit usueasternathletics.com/sports/rodeo. For complete CNFR results, visit www.cnfr.com.