Richland Center native thrives in
college rodeo
CASPER, WYO.—Sarah Mulholland didn't have a chance to let it sink in that she had just moved into the national breakaway roping lead.
The University of Wyoming junior successfully got the loop over the calf's head in 3.1 seconds recently at the Casper Events Center to move into the overall lead at the 60th College National Finals Rodeo.
With two days of breakaway roping competition left, the Cowgirls will be tough to beat in the event. TaNaye Carroll is sitting third in the same event, just five-tenths of a second behind her teammate. She completed her three rounds of competition the day before.
Their efforts helped push the Cowgirls to seventh in the nation, up five spots from the night before. UW is back in contention — with a chance to defend its national title — with 163.33 points, while the University of Nevada-Las Vegas leads with 280.
Mulholland, from Richland Center, wasn't even thinking about what she had just accomplished. The Cowgirl quickly left the arena to strip down her horse of its sports medicine leg wraps, blanket and saddle to switch to her goat tying horse. Her third straight run of 3.1 or better made her an instant title contender.
Mulholland's three-run time of 9.2 in Wednesday night's competition moved her into first place and secured a spot in Saturday night's short go. She was waiting to see whether any other competitors top her mark, with just the Thursday and Friday night performances remaining before the finals.
"I know I"m going to make it back to the short round. I want the lead at the end of Saturday night. That's what I'm going for," Mulholland said after the goat tying event in which she scored a 6.9 tie, her only successful run of the week. Her other two attempts ended with no-times when the goat kicked out both times.
She admitted being so consistent at the finals surprised her. Mulholland said she's been roping well all spring, but luck hasn't been kind. She's broken several barriers, and some of the calves she's drawn have not been good. "My horse has been pretty good getting out of the box and getting me into position. I take my shot when I get it and hope I'm in two or the low threes," she said.