Top college rodeo athletes were able to flex other sporting muscles during the annual CNFR Softball Tournament on Wednesday morning at the Crossroads Park softball fields in Casper.
The tournament was started about six years ago by cowboy preacher Corey Ross, who has been attending the College National Finals Rodeo for the past two decades.
The idea for the softball games came simply as a way for athletes to let off steam during downtime between events.
The games started small but have become more popular each year. “It’s turned into a huge deal”, says Ross of the event.
Rodeo contestants are splint into several regional teams who then play each other in a bracket, along with a team of rodeo coaches. The last team standing wins $500 and a trophy.
Ross, who lives near Austin in Liberty Hill, Texas, hosts a “Cowboy Church” for athletes in a tent at the Events Center parking lot after CNFR performances.
