Friday, April 8
Bozeman, MT
7 pm (Short Go)
Montana State University
vs
MSU Spring Rodeo #1
Bobcat Men and Women Capture Team Titles at First MSU Spring Rodeo
4/14/2023 11:08:00 PM | Men's Rodeo, Women's Rodeo
Montana State women sweep individual titles
BOZEMAN, Montana – After finishing a goat tying run, Montana State's Jessica Stevens listens for one clear indicator that it was a success.
"I know it was good when I finish a run," the Creighton, Nebraska, product said, "and I hear that zing." That zing of the rope tightening around the goat's legs translated into individual success for Stevens on Friday as she won the goat tying in Rodeo No. 1 of the two-rodeo weekend. It also translated to team success, as MSU swept all three women's events and cruised to a comfortable team win with 640 points. Montana State's men also won the team competition with 615 points.
"A clean sweep from the girls," said Montana State coach Kyle Whitaker, "they were pretty dominant. I'm really proud of the girls. You could tell in the goat tying, they've been working on that really hard. They're at a whole other level. I'd match our school against anybody in the goat tying right now, and probably any girls event. It's fun to see how the hard work through the winter paid off."
Rather than dodging left or right, Stevens' goat stayed still. That proved a bit deceptive, she said. "I slowed down too much because of the depth perception. But that worked out to my advantage."
After Stevens' win in the goat tying MSUs Haven Wolstein captured the breakaway roping title, and Shai McDonald took top honors in barrel racing of Friday's short go. MSU's Molly Salmond and Wolstein shared all-around cowgirl honors after Salmond took top honors in the long go of the barrel racing. Paige Rasmussen took goat tying honors in the long go. MSU's Caleb Meeks and the team roping tandem of Jaden Whitman and Bode Spring also took top honors in the long go-round.
Montana State's Mike Nannini won the steer wrestling on the average, but the junior wasn't able to score points in the team standings. Whitaker said Nannini's rigorous academic curriculum in Montana State's nursing program has limited his practice time. "Mike Nannini got fifth in the nation last year in the steer wrestling, but he's a nursing student and he hasn't been able to practice much. He's only been practicing once a week and I really haven't seen much of Mike. I know he's tough, but I left him off the points team because I just haven't seen him practice enough and I knew he was going to be a little rustier than the other guys, then he goes out and wins the steer wrestling."
Nannini was the only Bobcat men's team member to capture a win on the average of the two go-rounds in the first rodeo, but several other logged strong performances. Jace Bustad (18.7) and Levi Delamarter (19.4) finished second and third in the tie down roping, Cody Faulkner and Caleb Meeks finished second and third in the saddle bronc riding, and Hayden Taylor joined Miles Community College's Cameron Handy to win the team roping.
While Montana State's women coasted to team success, more than tripling the point total of second place Montana, the fight for top honors in the men's Big Sky Region standings spilled over from the fall. UM Western led entering the spring season, and the Bobcats won the first of five spring rodeos with 615 points to the Bulldogs' 550. MSU Northern finished Friday with 480 points.
"My men's team is sick of hearing about Western being No. 1 in the region," Whitaker said with a smile. "If you look at the standings before this weekend we're first-second-third in the tie-down roping, first-second-third in the steer wrestling, first-third in the bronc riding. It's pretty tough to do much better than we've been doing, so they're really focused on winning the region."
The weekend's second rodeo begins with slack on Saturday morning and the evening performance beginning at 7 pm in Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Championship Sunday begins at 2 pm.
MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. 615 Montana State
2. 550 UM Western
3. 480 MSU Northern
4. 380 Miles CC
5. 230 Northwest College
6. 180 Dawson CC
WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. 640 Montana State
2. 195 Montana
3. 185 MSU Northern
4. 105 UM Western
5. 100 Northwest College
#GoCatsGo
"I know it was good when I finish a run," the Creighton, Nebraska, product said, "and I hear that zing." That zing of the rope tightening around the goat's legs translated into individual success for Stevens on Friday as she won the goat tying in Rodeo No. 1 of the two-rodeo weekend. It also translated to team success, as MSU swept all three women's events and cruised to a comfortable team win with 640 points. Montana State's men also won the team competition with 615 points.
"A clean sweep from the girls," said Montana State coach Kyle Whitaker, "they were pretty dominant. I'm really proud of the girls. You could tell in the goat tying, they've been working on that really hard. They're at a whole other level. I'd match our school against anybody in the goat tying right now, and probably any girls event. It's fun to see how the hard work through the winter paid off."
Rather than dodging left or right, Stevens' goat stayed still. That proved a bit deceptive, she said. "I slowed down too much because of the depth perception. But that worked out to my advantage."
After Stevens' win in the goat tying MSUs Haven Wolstein captured the breakaway roping title, and Shai McDonald took top honors in barrel racing of Friday's short go. MSU's Molly Salmond and Wolstein shared all-around cowgirl honors after Salmond took top honors in the long go of the barrel racing. Paige Rasmussen took goat tying honors in the long go. MSU's Caleb Meeks and the team roping tandem of Jaden Whitman and Bode Spring also took top honors in the long go-round.
Montana State's Mike Nannini won the steer wrestling on the average, but the junior wasn't able to score points in the team standings. Whitaker said Nannini's rigorous academic curriculum in Montana State's nursing program has limited his practice time. "Mike Nannini got fifth in the nation last year in the steer wrestling, but he's a nursing student and he hasn't been able to practice much. He's only been practicing once a week and I really haven't seen much of Mike. I know he's tough, but I left him off the points team because I just haven't seen him practice enough and I knew he was going to be a little rustier than the other guys, then he goes out and wins the steer wrestling."
Nannini was the only Bobcat men's team member to capture a win on the average of the two go-rounds in the first rodeo, but several other logged strong performances. Jace Bustad (18.7) and Levi Delamarter (19.4) finished second and third in the tie down roping, Cody Faulkner and Caleb Meeks finished second and third in the saddle bronc riding, and Hayden Taylor joined Miles Community College's Cameron Handy to win the team roping.
While Montana State's women coasted to team success, more than tripling the point total of second place Montana, the fight for top honors in the men's Big Sky Region standings spilled over from the fall. UM Western led entering the spring season, and the Bobcats won the first of five spring rodeos with 615 points to the Bulldogs' 550. MSU Northern finished Friday with 480 points.
"My men's team is sick of hearing about Western being No. 1 in the region," Whitaker said with a smile. "If you look at the standings before this weekend we're first-second-third in the tie-down roping, first-second-third in the steer wrestling, first-third in the bronc riding. It's pretty tough to do much better than we've been doing, so they're really focused on winning the region."
The weekend's second rodeo begins with slack on Saturday morning and the evening performance beginning at 7 pm in Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Championship Sunday begins at 2 pm.
MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. 615 Montana State
2. 550 UM Western
3. 480 MSU Northern
4. 380 Miles CC
5. 230 Northwest College
6. 180 Dawson CC
WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. 640 Montana State
2. 195 Montana
3. 185 MSU Northern
4. 105 UM Western
5. 100 Northwest College
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Rodeo
/ Men's Rodeo
/ Women's Rodeo
/ Men's Rodeo
/ Women's Rodeo
/ Women's Rodeo
/ Men's Rodeo
/ Women's Rodeo
/ Men's Rodeo
/ Men's Rodeo
/ Women's Rodeo
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