Sixteen Montana State University student-athletes will travel to Casper, Wyoming, next week to compete in the College National Finals Rodeo, representing the Bobcats as Big Sky Region champions for the third consecutive year in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
Competition runs June 14-20 at the Ford Wyoming Center, where MSU will send nine men and seven women to compete across a full slate of events including saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing and goat tying.
Competing for the Bobcats on the men’s side will be Holden Atkinson in bull riding; Preston Bird in team roping; Ryder Gaasch and Jaden Whitman in steer wrestling; Cole Gerhardt in bareback riding; Wyatt Jensen in tie-down roping and team roping; Ryley Mapston in tie-down roping; Cooper McNiven in saddle bronc riding; and Tahj Wells in both bull riding and saddle bronc riding.
On the women’s side, Hailey Burger, Rachel Ward and Haven Wolstein will compete in breakaway roping; Piper Cordes, Faith Marshall, Anneliese McCurry and Ward will compete in barrel racing; and Faith Marshall and Michaela McCormick will compete in goat tying.
The three-peat regional championship marks another milestone for one of the nation’s premier collegiate rodeo programs as the Bobcats look to make their mark on the national stage in Casper.