Sports
Morning Sports: April 30, 2026
Jake Schlattman Of Sheridan College Wins Saddle Bronc Regional Belt Buckle: Sheridan College can claim it has the top saddle bronc rider in the region.
Thanks to his win this past weekend at the University of Wyoming rodeo event, Jake Schlattman of Greybull, became the saddle bronc champ in the Central Rocky Mountain Region.
The Region consists of all colleges and universities in Wyoming, except for Northwest College, and also includes Chadron State out of Nebraska, and several schools in eastern Colorado.
The win earned Schlattman an automatic invite to the College National Finals Rodeo, which is scheduled to take place June 14th through the 20th in Casper.
He won the long-go on a reride at UW, and explains what happened back on Sunday in the short-go
Schlattman’s father competed at the National Finals Rodeo in 1999.
Joining Jake at this year’s CNFR will be fellow saddle bronc riders, Christopher Nelson and Lonnie Dunn, as well as Reece Reder in bareback riding.
One correction from an earlier story, Tyon Arneson will compete as well in the team roping and not the tie down roping.
Sierra Hilgenkamp Is The Lone Sheridan College Cowgirl To Qualify For CNFR: One Sheridan College cowgirl took care of business quickly and in the last 2 weeks, she managed to lasso herself a CNFR spot.
Sierra Hilgenkamp of Wall, South Dakota will head to Casper in June to compete in the breakaway roping event.
Cowboys and cowgirls earn points based on which place they finish in, at each of the 10 rodeo events during the season.
The top 3 in the region at the end of the season, or as of this past weekend, qualify for the CNFR.
Two weeks ago, Hilkenkamp was not ranked in the top 15, but she got it in gear, by winning at Casper College, and placed 2nd at UW, which in turn, rocketed her up the standings to #2.
She says it all came down to her final run this past Sunday.
This year’s is Hilkenkamp’s 4th and final year in college rodeo.
Sheridan/Johnson County HS Track and Field: Sheridan is scheduled to compete today at the Basin National Invitational at Thunder Basin.
Buffalo is hosting a twilight meet, beginning at 3pm.
Big Horn, Tongue River and Arvada-Clearmont are all included in that competition.
Kaycee is scheduled to go to Lusk on Saturday.
The annual Wyoming Track Classic is scheduled for tomorrow at Kelly Walsh High School.
The meet is considered a preview of the state meet and features the top 8-to-12 athletes in each event, except for relays, and it does not matter what class an athlete actually competes in.
As of this past weekend Rudy Green of Sheridan is tops in the state in the boys 200 meter dash, while Cole Bunting of Sheridan holds the top spot in the boys pole vault.
On the girls side, Lyla Marney of Big Horn leads in the 800 meter run, Ruby Jacobs of Sheridan is 1st in the 100 meter hurdles and Loralai Ketner of Sheridan leads in the 300 meter hurdles race.
Colorado Rockies Baseball: The Colorado Rockies played on the road last night and unloaded on Cincinnati, 13-2.
Hunter Goodman hit both a solo and a 2-run home run.
The Rocks will try to make it 2 out of 3 in today’s rubber game, starting at 10:40am.
Denver Nuggets Basketball/NBA Playoffs: The Denver Nuggets will try again to stay alive as the team plays today at Minnesota, in Game 6 of their first round best of 7 series.
Tip off is scheduled for 7:30pm.
The Nuggets need to win to force the deciding Game 7, which would be played on Saturday at Denver.
San Antonio is waiting for the winner in the second round.
In scores from last night’s playoff action, Houston stayed alive again, by winning last night at LA against the Lakers 99-93, and now trail in the series 3 games to 2.
East top seed Detroit stayed alive, by winning at home vs. Orlando 116-109, but the Pistons trail in the series 3-2.
Cleveland won at home vs. Toronto 125-120, to move ahead 3-2 in their series.
Colorado Avalanche Hockey/NHL Playoffs: The Colorado Avalanche might learn which team is their second round opponent tonight.
Minnesota hosts Game 6 vs. Dallas, and leads the series 3-2.
If the Stars win, then the deciding Game 7 would be played on Saturday at Dallas.
As for playoff scores from last night, Las Vegas scored with 53 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score at home vs. Utah, then scored a short-handed goal in the 2nd overtime to win 5-4 and take a 3-games-to-2 lead.
Montreal won Game 5 at Tampa Bay 3-2, to take a 3-2 lead in their series.
Philadelphia won Game 6 at home vs. Pittsburgh 1-nothing in overtime, to win their series 4 games to 2, and advance to the second round, where they will take on Carolina.
