Espenscheid, Sharianne Brower qualify for Nationals

ROCK SPRINGS – Big Piney High School (BPHS) sophomore Cael Espenscheid topped off a stellar rodeo season by tallying the necessary points at the Wyoming High School State Finals in Rock Springs on June 6-10 to cinch the Wyoming State Championship in team roping with partner Cam Johnson of Buffalo.

Espenscheid and Johnson entered the State Finals as the No. 1-ranked roping team in Wyoming, winning the event at multiple rodeos over the course of a long season, including a first-place finish at the Big Piney Rodeo on April 29.

Espenscheid tallied an additional 13.50 points at State to earn the state-championship belt buckle from the Wyoming High School Rodeo Association, with 212 cumulative season points.

Finishing the season at the top of the leaderboard, Espenscheid and Johnson punched their tickets to the National High School Rodeo Finals in Gillette on July 16-27. The top-four ranked cowboys and cowgirls in each event qualify for Nationals.

BPHS senior Sharianne Brower earned a spot at Nationals in the light rifle, picking up 12 points at State. Brower garnered third place overall in light rifle and scored 53 points throughout the season.

Additional top-10 finishers and alternates to Nationals included BPHS freshman Hays Espenscheid and his partner, Buffalo’s Nick Albrecht, in team roping. Espenscheid and Albrecht placed fifth overall with 140 points.

Boulder’s Khloe Nichols took fifth place overall in barrel racing, netting 143.50 season points. Eian Smith, of Pinedale, placed fifth in bareback riding with 154 cumulative points.