DAVID BUCK Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Sunday, June 15, 2008 12:00 am
The success of the current Central Wyoming College men's rodeo team started at the University of Wyoming.
Tom Glause and J.D. Hamaker were both saddle bronc riders at UW in the '80s and now their sons have helped lead the Rustlers to this week's College National Finals Rodeo.
Seth Glause, Ty Hamaker, Blaze Hamaker and Colt Hamaker, along with Bryan Jones and Joe Mundorf, make up CWC's men's team.
"I grew up with all three of them, so it's neat to see all of them qualify," Seth Glause said of the Hamaker brothers. "Having that many friends at the finals and that they are all brothers, it's pretty cool. You probably won't see that very often."
While Glause considers the Hamakers friends, Ty Hamaker said the relationship goes beyond that.
"We're all kind of like family," he said. "Our whole team is."
The relationship between the Glauses and Hamakers started early because they grew up together. When J.D. Hamaker bought practice horses, Seth Glause would go from Rock Springs to Centennial to practice with the younger Hamakers. The current Rustlers then competed at high school rodeos together and now Glause and Ty Hamaker travel to rodeos together.
Glause and the Hamakers are a major reason CWC ran away with the Central Rocky Mountain Region team race by nearly 3,000 points and is a top contender at the CNFR.
Glause won the region all-around and saddle bronc riding titles and took second in bull riding. Ty Hamaker, 21, won bull riding, and his brothers Blaze, 20, and Colt, 19, placed second and sixth, respectively, in saddle bronc.
After a 12th-place finish at last year's CNFR, the Rustlers are hoping to improve in the standings this year.
"I think everyone just needs to go to the finals and do their part," Ty said. "Last year a lot of people didn't get it done there. If everyone goes and does everything like we normally we do, we should have a good shot at it."
CWC has the benefit of having a veteran team, with Colt Hamaker and Jones the team's only CNFR rookies.
Glause finished third in the all-around last year, fourth in bull riding and fifth in saddle bronc. And despite a strong finish, Glause was disappointed to not score in the bull riding short go.
"I've learned this year that you are going to get bucked off and that will happen," Glause said. "You have to put it behind you and keep a positive attitude about everything. Be mentally prepared and take anything that comes at you. It will play out how it's supposed to."
So far this year, it has for Glause. He is currently eighth in the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association's all-around world standings.
"The confidence I have in myself, that really carries over," he said. "The fact that you are at a national event. The excitement prepares you to perform."
Having parents and friends there to cheer you on also helps.
While the CWC women's team didn't qualify any siblings, it's still going to the CNFR thanks to a second-place finish in the CRMR standings.
The four women representing the Rustlers are Annie Joanette (barrel racing), Kori Jorgensen (breakaway roping), Chelsea Moore (goat tying), and Jessica Picchietti (breakaway roping).
Contact sports reporter David Buck at (307) 266-0596 or david.buck@trib.com.
CWC Tracker
The lineup for Central Wyoming:
Men
BAREBACK BRONC RIDING: Bryan Jones, Joe Mundorf.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING: Seth Glause, Blaze Hamaker, Colt Hamaker
BULL RIDING: Seth Glause, Ty Hamaker
Women
BARREL RACING: Annie Joanette.
BREAKAWAY ROPING: Kori Jorgensen,
GOAT TYING: Chelsea Moore, Jessica Picchietti.