Casper College's brief vacation from the College National Finals Rodeo is over.

The Thunderbirds have two competitors in this year's CNFR after getting shut out in 2007. Last year was the first time in Tom Parker's 18 years as Casper College's coach that no one on the team made it to college rodeo's biggest event.

"When I came to the finals I was on the (National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association) board and just helping with the finals to do my part and make the event that it is," said Parker of his 2007 experience. "It was not as gratifying as having some people in the finals."

Team roper Dustin Smith and breakaway roper Katie Felix will carry the flag for Casper.

Smith, who is from Burns, teamed with Eastern Wyoming's Chris Cover to finish third in the Central Rocky Mountain Region team roping standings.

"The boy ropes as good as anyone in the country," Parker said of Smith. "With those two kids, they will come to the finals and do their job, tend to business and be consistent. They will be in the hunt come Saturday."

Smith and Cover have roped and practiced together since the end of the school year. The two compete for the first time during slack Monday.

Felix, from Lander, doesn't have to wait as long to start her first CNFR. She is in today's evening session of the "Bulls, Broncs and Breakaway."

"Katie is as capable of beating anyone in the country there is," Parker said. "… I look for her to be consistent and look for two red vests on Saturday. They are both very capable of winning a championship."

According to Parker, competing in the CRMR helped prepare both Smith and Felix for this week's CNFR because it is one of the toughest regions in the country.

Now Parker hopes the CNFR will prepare his duo to lead more T-birds to the event next year.

"It's great to see them here and build on it," Parker said. "Other kids see what they are missing and will step up and get it done next year."

Eastern Wyoming College

The Lancers have three competitors at this year's CNFR. Ty Kenner qualified in bareback bronc riding and saddle bronc riding, while Quincy Opla and Chris Cover qualified in team roping.

Kenner won the CRMR bareback title, was second in the all-around and finished fifth in saddle bronc.

Opla finished fourth in the region heeler standings. He is paired with Wyoming's T.J. Teague at the CNFR. Cover finished third in the CRMR header standings and is competing with Casper College's Dustin Smith.

Gillette College

The Gillette rodeo program wasted no time getting to the CNFR. In its inaugural season Gillette qualified two cowboys and a cowgirl.

Brad Johnson won the bulldogging title in the CRMR, and was fifth in the header standings. Chason Floyd was third in steer wrestling.

Barrel racer Jessi Cates, from Buffalo, is Gillette's lone female qualifier. She was second in the region to Wyoming's Nikki Steffes.

Northwest College

The Trappers qualified one cowboy for the CNFR, tie-down roper Brett Heggie, who finished second in the Big Sky Region.

Sheridan College

Saddle bronc rider Pat Carpenter is the Generals' lone competitor at the CNFR. Carpenter earned his spot by finishing third in the CRMR behind Central Wyoming College's Seth Glause and Blaze Hamaker.

Contact sports reporter David Buck at (307) 266-0596 or david.buck@trib.com.

State Tracker

Lineups for Casper College, Eastern Wyoming College, Gillette College, Northwest College and Sheridan College:

Casper College

BREAKAWAY ROPING: Katie Felix.

TEAM ROPING: Dustin Smith (with Chris Cover of Eastern Wyoming)

Eastern Wyoming College

BAREBACK BRONC RIDING: Ty Kenner.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING: Ty Kenner.

TEAM ROPING: Quincy Opla (with T.J. Teague of Wyoming), Chris Cover (with Dustin Smith of Casper College).

Gillette College

BARREL RACING: Jessi Cates.

STEER WRESTLING: Chason Floyd, Brad Johnson.

TEAM ROPING: Brad Johnson (with Mark Morrison of Wyoming).

Northwest College

TIE-DOWN ROPING: Brett Heggie.

Sheridan College

SADDLE BRONC RIDING: Pat Carpenter.