Despite COVID-19, the UW Rodeo team is still able to compete in their normally scheduled rodeo season. Though extra precautions have been put in place for team members, according to Coach Beau Clark, both the men’s and women’s teams are #1 in the Central Rocky Mountain Region.
“UW Rodeo athletes are tested weekly, wear a mask at all times, they are restricted from public places, they are only allowed to be with the people in their pod,” said Clark.
According to Clark, the team has already been to 2 rodeos that were normal for the most part. Each rodeo follows the Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) guidelines.
In March of this year, COVID-19 concerns caused The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) to cancel spring rodeos. According to UW news, this ended the season for all CRMR teams, including UW.
Clark said, “I am thankful that UW Rodeo is a safe and healthy avenue to provide some sort of normalcy and basic needs to our students.”
“We do recognize the importance of everyone doing their part at this time and we support the University of Wyoming mission to do the best we can to provide the safest environment on campus and in the Laramie community.”
According to Clark, on top of the success students are seeing in the arena, students are doing well in the new classroom environments that COVID-19 has caused.
“I am proud of how they are handling the adjustments to in class and online learning,” Clark said.
More information about the team can be found on their Facebook page “UW Rodeo” and on the UW website at www.uwyo.edu/rodeo/.
“UW Rodeo is extremely thankful for all of the people on campus who are supporting the rodeo students,” Clark said. “There were and are a number of things we have to do each week so that our students can practice, travel and compete. A lot of people have given their time to help us safely move forward and I am very grateful.”
