Central Wyoming College Volleyball
The second competition of the fall 2024 season saw the Rustler volleyball team take a trip to Twin Falls, Idaho for a tournament hosted by the College of Southern Idaho. The Starr Corp Invitational was a three-day tournament that hosted 13 junior college teams from all around the country.
Central Wyoming had two matches Friday morning, the first of the two being against Jefferson College. The Rustlers made quick work of the Jefferson Vikings, putting the game away in three straight sets (25-26, 25-23, 27-25). Outside hitter Khloe Hobson had an outstanding game for CWC, recording a team high 15 kills. Freshman Lindsey Stewart made her presence known defensively with four blocks.
The second game of the day was a chance for redemption against Utah State University-Eastern, a team the Lady Rustlers had lost against at the Salt Lake Invitational tournament a week ago. Although this match was closer than previously, Central Wyoming still lost in three sets (20-25, 18-25, 19-25). Libero Brooklyn Coats had 11 digs for CWC, while sophomores Kaela Small and Ryann Vail shared the team lead in kills with five a piece.
Saturday morning brought another tough match to the plate for the Rustlers with the veteran-laiden Snow College Badgers. The Rustlers dropped their second straight match in three sets (19-25, 18-25 and 23-25). Hobson once again led the team with eight kills out of 25 attempts. Freshman setter, Rian McKenzie, finished the game with 18 set assists.
Central Wyoming eventually pulled themselves out of their short-lived slump, beating a team that came all the way from Washington, Edmonds Community College. The Tritons of ECC were easily handled in three sets (25-21, 25-9 and 25-16), and the Rustlers closed out the tournament with a 2-2 record. Vail had her best game statistically against the Tritons, with 11 kills and five blocks. Hallie Reeder and Laina Whitney both had three service aces in the match.
“I am proud of our team’s performance this weekend,” said Small, “The two earned wins and two well-fought losses demonstrated our grit and potential. Although we have areas to improve and work on, the dedication and heart we showed is very motivating.”
Men’s & Women’s Cross Country
The Cross Country Team ran at the Dr. Thad Scholes CSI XC Classic in Twin Falls Idaho on Friday, Sept 6. This was the first time any of the CWC cross country runners had run on the College of Southern Idaho course, and they did so against the likes of BYU, College of Idaho, Northwest Nazarene, College of Southern Idaho and Westminster College.
Kallee Cook ran a season personal record on the five km course, and posted a season time that qualified her for the NJCAA Nationals. The men’s course was seven kilometers long, which was a first-time competition experience for freshman Zander Hinkley, who usually races at the five km distance. “He performed very well for his first time at this longer distance, and it should definitely help him prepare for his next race in two weeks,” said Cross Country head coach Christy Chatfield.
Men’s & Women’s Soccer
The Central Wyoming College Soccer teams traveled to Lamar College on Friday to kickoff Region 9 conference play. The women’s team got the afternoon started with a duel against the Lamar women. With less-than-ideal field conditions at play, the CWC women traversed mother nature’s challenges and brought home a 3-2 victory. Freshman Mia Boll was the first to find the net for the Lady Rustlers, which resulted in CWC carrying a 1-0 lead into halftime. Lamar showed no sign of quit, and came out in the second half with vengeance, and knotted up the score at 1-1 with a quick goal. No longer than a few minutes later, freshman Kristen Moss put the Rustler women back in the driver’s seat when she booted the ball past the keeper in the 86th minute. The Lamar women answered right back with a goal of their own at the 87 minute mark. The CWC women stayed cool, calm, and collected, and with only seven seconds left in the match, Jersee Clapier connected with Kristen Moss on a quick pass in the open field. Moss took care of the rest, as she notched her 2nd goal of the day, which just so happened to be the game-winner as well. The Lady Rustlers took home the win against Lamar College, 3-2.
The second match of the day featured the CWC and Lamar College men’s teams. Riverton’s very own Tanner Johnson was the first to find the net off a pass from sophomore Pedro Belemont. 40 minutes into the first half, sophomore Samir Sequeira headed the ball over Lamar’s Goalkeeper off of an assist from freshman Josh Browmwell, and the Rustlers took a lead of 2-1 into halftime. The Rustlers men lit up the scoreboard once again in the second half when Riyan Bakrim headed the ball into the net from a Josh Browmell corner kick. The Lamar men proved no match for CWC, as the game finished with a score of 3-2 in favor of the Rustlers.
Saturday’s matches involved bouts against Northeastern Junior College’s men’s and women’s soccer teams in Sterling, CO. With the CWC women up first, three minutes was long enough for the Lady Rustlers to start off their scoring. Freshman center back Sienna Bodily found Kristen Moss on the run, and Moss chipped the ball over the goalkeeper and found the net. The NJC women showed resiliency in their response, scoring two goals and securing the lead by the end of the first half. Sienna Bodily’s unselfishness played a consequential role in the second half scoring, as she provided an assist to Jersee Clapier for her first goal of the season. Seven minutes following, Rakiya King came off the bench to put a ball into the net off of an assist, this time from sophomore Morgan Talbot. Kristen Moss continued her dominant weekend, scoring her fourth goal in two days when she hammered the ball into the net off of a pass from Rakiya King. The Lady Rustlers took home the win with a final score of 4-3.
The CWC men’s team followed after the conclusion of the women’s match, with hopes of completing the sweep for the second day in a row. The first 40 minutes of the match didn’t see a goal from either team, as each team took their time and felt out the other’s strategy and pace. Three minutes before the end of the half, Andres Trochez found fellow sophomore, Pedro Belemont, who had broken loose from the suffocating defense of NJC. Belemont slammed the ball into the upper corner of the net, and the CWC men took a 1-0 lead into the break. The Rustlers couldn’t stop the bleeding in the second half, as they surrendered three straight goals to NJC. The final score favored Northeastern Junior College, 3-1.
Men’s and Women’s head soccer coach Ken DeCook summarized the Rustler’s weekend play: “On both days, both teams played with intensity and passion. The women’s team certainly showed what they were made of by scoring in the last minute to take home a win against Lamar. Against NJC they fought back and played as a team to come from behind for the win. The men’s team really left everything on the field against Lamar. That was a quality college soccer match and I’m pleased how our guys played together as a team. The NJC match was a bit disappointing. I feel we played very well for a majority of the match, but we had a breakdown for a few minutes in the second half and we just could not recover. The NJC team did not let up and got the win. We will go home and assess what we can do better and prepare for Otero and Trinidad. I know our guys are disappointed in the result but they will be ready for the next match.”
Men’s & Women’s Rodeo
Central Wyoming College’s Men’s and Women’s rodeo teams took the trip to Chadron State College September 6-8, and did their best in making the trip worthwhile. The highlights from the three day long event included sophomore Jace Mayfield placing sixth in tie-down roping average and fifth in steer wrestling. Eian Smith was the other placer from the men’s side, as he garnered a fifth place finish in bareback riding. Tricia Lammers led the way for the Lady Rustlers, scoring fourth in the average for goat tying. Faye Hellyer joined Lammers in placing, as she secured 12th in the average for barrel racing.
“We are a young team compared to years past,” said Head Rodeo Coach Andrew Schrock, “but there is a lot of talent on the team with some nice horses. The cattle were really strong but the team handled the situation well. Jace Mayfield is back and healthy, and had a really good weekend. His short round calf strained, otherwise he would have won the short round in both the Steer Wrestling and Tie-Down Roping. Tricia Lammers also had a solid rodeo. She had a tough goat in the long round but made a great run and followed it up with a solid short round run. Eian Smith and Faye Hellyer were the top placers out of the Freshmen, we are looking for them to have a solid season.”
Men’s & Women’s Golf
The Riverton Country Club hosted the first NJCAA Region 9 golf event of the season for the Rustlers on September 5 & 6. CWC Freshman Isabell Salas of Green River took seven strokes off her first day’s score and won first overall. Teammate and fellow freshman Cheyenne Ward from Casper secured second individually, as the Rustler women finished the tournament second in the team standings.
On the men’s side, CWC Freshman Tyler Ewell shot seven under par on the first day and continued his strong performance on day two. Ewell went on to win the men’s individual title in dominant fashion. Former Riverton Wolverine grad Brodie Dale tied for eighth place as the CWC men finished second overall as a team.
On the schedule this week:
- Volleyball
- Thursday, Sept. 12th– vs Dawson Community College @ 4pm (Trapper Invitational; Northwest College)
- Friday, Sept. 13th– vs Colorado Northwestern Community College @ 12pm, vs North Idaho College @ 8pm (Trapper Invitational; Northwest College)
- Saturday, Sept. 14th– vs Rocky Mountain JV @ 11am (Trapper Invitational; Northwest College)
- Men’s & Women’s Soccer
- Friday, Sept. 13th– HOME Women vs Western Wyoming Community College @ 1pm; HOME Men vs Northwest College @ 3:30pm
- Men’s & Women’s Golf
- Thursday, Sept. 12th– @ Eastern Wyoming College, 1pm
- Friday, Sept. 13th– @ Eastern Wyoming College, 9am
Go Rustlers!
