Morning Sports: December 19, 2023

Zeke Thurston Wins 2023 PRCA World Championship In Saddle Bronc Riding: A former Sheridan College Saddle Bronc Rider has done it again!

Zeke Thurston, who rode for the Sheridan College Rodeo program from fall 2012 until spring 2014, won his 4th PRCA world championship in the saddle bronc riding event, and 2nd in a row, at the 2023 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The other 2 world championships were won in 2016 and 2019.

He placed in the top 6 in every round of the 2023 10-round NFR, except for round 3 and 6, which earned him a paycheck in those rounds, and won the aggregate as well, to win the 2023 championship by more than $58,000 ahead of the next closest competitor.

Thurston’s winnings for 2023 was $456,356.41.

He finished in a tie for 1st and 2nd in round 1, a tie for 3rd, 4th and 5th in round 2, a tie for 4th and 5th in round 4, won round 5, a tie for 5th and 6th in round 7, a tie for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in round 8, won round 9 and a tie for 6th and 7th in round 10.

Thurston competed in the College National Finals Rodeo in 2013 and 2014, while at Sheridan College.

University of Wyoming Football: Two weeks ago, University of Wyoming Football Coach Craig Bohl announced his retirement which will take effect after the Arizona Bowl.

Defensive Coordinator Jay Sawvel has been named the new coach.

This season UW had the 3rd best overall defense in the Mountain West Conference and the 2nd best scoring defense.

In conference-games only, they had the best scoring defense.

Sawvel said he’s grateful he’ll be taking over a team that is not going through a lot of turnover in terms of both coaching staff and players, plus he doesn’t have to rebuild a program from scratch like some coaches have to, because the foundation at Wyoming so far is looking good.

The Cowboys play Toledo one week from this coming Saturday in the Arizona Bowl.

Denver Nuggets Basketball: The Denver Nuggets have made it 4 wins in the last 5 games as they beat Dallas last night 130-104.

The Nuggets start a 3-game east coast swing tomorrow at Toronto.

Sheridan Hawks Junior Hockey: The Sheridan Hawks have made it 2 wins in a row at the Na3HL’s Showcase event in Blaine, Minnesota.

The Hawks beat the St. Louis Junior Blues last night 6-2.

The team plays one more game at 8:30am today against the Danbury Junior Hat Tricks out of Connecticut.