By Leah Nelson
Over the past year, the Casper College Rodeo Team expanded in presence and strengthened its roster while continuing to build a strong program that brings Western roots into the arena.
CC’s Rodeo Team is a well-developed athletic team that started in the early 1960s. The team boasts multiple national recognitions as a whole, as well as many awards in individual events. The rodeo brings kids from all over Wyoming and other surrounding areas including Canada, Utah, Arizona and Nebraska. The expansion of the team reflects the program’s strong roots and the student-athletes’ drive to improve at the collegiate level. Last season there were 14 contestants entered in the spring and this season there are 24 entered this fall.
For many athletes, joining the Casper College Rodeo Team is about more about competing. The opportunity also provides team members an opportunity to build relationships and experience college life alongside peers who share similar interests, all while chasing goals in the arena.
Kenna Stratton, a breakaway roper and goat tyer from Lakeview, Oregon, is now in her third year at CC. She came to Casper because of the rodeo team’s successful history and the college’s nursing program. She plans to earn her Bachelor of Science in nursing and compete in a fifth year of rodeo. Stratton started with the Casper College Rodeo team as a freshman, which gives her a different viewpoint on the expansion of the program firsthand.
“It’s kinda different but it helps like with team dynamics and creates more friendship and memories,”
Stratton said.
Stratton and many others expressed excitement for this season and the direction the team is heading. With more athletes, the team will see additional opportunities across events to earn points throughout the year.
Ella Hyer, who participates in team roping and breakaway, is pictured before her run at the Chadron Rodeo.
Head Coach Faith Anders has been involved in rodeo not only as a coach but also as an athlete.
After Anders finished her college career at the University of Wyoming, she worked as an assistant coach at Missouri Valley Junior College. She started coaching at CC in 2024 and is the first woman to hold the position. Anders helps coach all rodeo events from rough stock to timed events.
Although the team isn’t the biggest in program history, numbers increased compared to last year, and she says the rising numbers in athletes is comforting to see. She said the current roster gives her and the other coaches the ability to work with athletes individually without feeling rushed.
“We’re not so big that it takes away from our practice time and that we can’t get everyone in or we’re not having to rush anyone,” Anders said. “They still get their runs in and, you know, coaches can still spend time and work with them one-on-one”
With the growing numbers of athletes, Anders and the other coaches are at ease when it comes to events. In past years with less athletes competing in multiple events, if something went wrong that could knock them out of those few competitions.
Anders said, “So to have a few more numbers was helpful and, you know, drawing contest isn’t going to take the whole team out of it, which is nice.”
Stratton highlighted the goals she hopes to see the team and herself achieve. She said she hopes to have some College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) women qualifiers, which would be a first for Statton here at Casper. She feels this year there is a possibility that the team could win the women’s all-around for at least one of the college rodeos and get points on the board. For Stratton herself, she hopes to make the college finals and achieve new PRs.
As practices began, Anders said, “I’m feeling good about it. I’m excited, and everybody’s been asking if we’re ready, and I think that you just won’t know until you get there. I’m happy with what I see, how our kids are grinding at practice and what they’re getting done.”
With an optimistic look on the upcoming season, the rodeo coaches and team members are excited for the year and the future of the Casper College Rodeo Team. As more athletes step into the arena wearing CC colors, the program continues to build on its long-standing tradition while also guiding the next generation of college rodeo athletes.
