Montana State 2023 CNFR Qualifiers
Confident, Experienced Bobcat Rodeo Team Heads to CNFR
6/12/2023 9:22:00 AM | Men's Rodeo, Women's Rodeo
Montana State competes in this year's collegiate national championship in Casper, Wyoming
BOZEMAN, Montana – Montana State's 2022-23 rodeo season was an uphill climb from start to finish for the men's team. For the women's squad, the campaign was another dominant march.
But both ended with the same outcome.
"I'm really proud that the men and women both won the (Big Sky) region," said second-year coach Kyle Whitaker. "We have that expectation here, but when you accomplish a goal you have to be happy and you have to celebrate. So I'm proud of them."
The final phase of the season begins on June 12 at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. Slack on Monday and Tuesday leads to Tuesday's 7 pm public performance, the first of five straight evenings. Saturday's Championship Go at 7 pm caps the 2023 CNFR, with the entire event held at the Ford Wyoming Center.
The season seemed like a months-long coronation of the MSU women's team. Montana State (4,561 points) more than doubled up the rest of the region. MSU Northern finished second with 2,144 points. The region's top five all-around cowgirls donned the Blue and Gold, including one-time national champions Paige Rasmussen and Tayla Moeykens.
Molly Salmond won the Big Sky Region breakaway roping with teammates Meghan McGinley (second), Cate Hepper (third), Haven Wolstein (fifth) and Moeykens (sixth) finishing just behind. Rasmussen won the goat tying by a wide margin, with Jessica Stevens (second), Jacee Currin (third), and Wolstein (sixth) also performing well.
"Our women were just awesome," Whitaker said. "They were dominant. We have strong competitors, the best depth, and we have experience. I thought they performed up to their level throughout the season."
Eight Bobcat women qualified for the CNFR: Currin (breakaway roping, goat tying), Moeykins (barrel racing), Rasmussen (barrel racing, goat tying) and Salmond (breakaway roping) score points for the team. Hepper (breakaway roping), Alexis McDonald (barrel racing), Meghan McGinley (breakaway roping), and Jessica Stevens (goat tying) enter as individuals.
The Bobcat men's team fell behind UM Western early last fall and trailed throughout the season. The Cats carved into that lead early in the spring season, then outscored the Bulldogs 960 points to 510 in the finale in Missoula to capture the regional title 5,512 points to 5,088.
Many factors led to the Bobcats' early struggles. Montana State entered the season with a youthful team. Performance far out-stripped experience throughout the season, but Whitaker's challenge was choosing the optimal lineup week in and week out. "It took a while for that to work itself out," he said.
Personnel changes, particularly in the rough stock events, also offered Whitaker challenges to navigate. The most difficult loss was saddle bronc rider Cody Faulkner, who also sored points in steer wrestling, early in the spring. "Cody Faulkner's loss was hard to overcome," Whitaker said. "He was one of our top point-earners and I especially feel bad for Cody, but I'm proud of team for coming back from that loss."
Junior Bode Spring (first), junior Mike Nannini (third), and freshman Jaden Whitman (fourth) finished in the top four of the men's all-around standings in the Big Sky Region. The team's strength lies in the individual roping events. Bustad and Spring finished 1-2 in the tie-down roping, while Whitman, Nannini, Trav Johnson and Spring held down the top four spots in the steer wrestling.
Bustad (tie-down roping), Johnson (steer wrestling), Nannini (steer wrestling), Spring (steer wrestling, tie-down roping), Hayden Taylor (team roping) and Whitman (steer wrestling) score points for the Bobcats in Casper. Saddle bronc rider Caleb Meeks, a senior, competes as an individual.
Whitaker likes the combination of experience and ability on his men's team this year. "This year we have more CNFR threats going into it," he said. "They should have the confidence of being there before, knowing they can do it."
A year ago, the Bobcat women's team entered with the pressure of attempting to repeat as national champions. This year he senses a team that is both at ease with its opportunity, and focused. "Last year I could see how badly they wanted to win. I just want to make sure they don't put too much pressure on themselves this year. Wanting it too much can prevent you from competing your best."
While the three-go event tends to even out rodeo's inherent randomness, athletes need to manage several factors. "It's rodeo, there are crazy things that can happen that are out of your control," Whitaker said. "You don't know the stock during that first round so it's more of a guessing game. It's easy to draw something that can take you out of it, and if you have something that's an eliminator you just have to stay alive. At the CNFR a lot of people beat themselves, so you have to avoid that and keep your name in the hat. The goal is to make the short go Saturday night."
This week's performances air on ESPN3.
MEN'S LINEUP
*Jace Bustad, So., La Center, Washington (tie-down roping)
*Trav Johnson, Fr, Eltopia, Washington (steer wrestling)
*Mike Nannini, Jr, Kimberly, Idaho (steer wrestling)
*Bode Spring, Jr, Bozeman, Montana (steer wrestling, tie-down roping)
*Hayden Taylor, Sr, Pozo, California (team roping)
*Jaden Whitman, Fr, Belgrade, Montana (steer wrestling)
Caleb Meeks, Sr, Geraldine, Montana (saddle bronc)
WOMEN'S LINEUP
*Jacee Currin, Sr, Heppner, Oregon (breakaway roping, goat tying)
*Tayla Moeykins, Jr, Three Forks, Montana (barrel racing)
*Paige Rasmussen, Sr, Bozeman, Montana (barrel racing, goat tying)
*Molly Salmond, Gr, Choteau, Montana (breakaway roping)
Cate Hepper, Sr, Fort Klamath, Oregon (breakaway roping)
Alexis McDonald, So, Gardiner, Montana (barrel racing)
Meghan McGinley, Fr, Belgrade, Montana (breakaway roping)
Jessica Stevens, So, Creighton, Nebraska (goat tying)
#GoCatsGo
But both ended with the same outcome.
"I'm really proud that the men and women both won the (Big Sky) region," said second-year coach Kyle Whitaker. "We have that expectation here, but when you accomplish a goal you have to be happy and you have to celebrate. So I'm proud of them."
The final phase of the season begins on June 12 at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. Slack on Monday and Tuesday leads to Tuesday's 7 pm public performance, the first of five straight evenings. Saturday's Championship Go at 7 pm caps the 2023 CNFR, with the entire event held at the Ford Wyoming Center.
The season seemed like a months-long coronation of the MSU women's team. Montana State (4,561 points) more than doubled up the rest of the region. MSU Northern finished second with 2,144 points. The region's top five all-around cowgirls donned the Blue and Gold, including one-time national champions Paige Rasmussen and Tayla Moeykens.
Molly Salmond won the Big Sky Region breakaway roping with teammates Meghan McGinley (second), Cate Hepper (third), Haven Wolstein (fifth) and Moeykens (sixth) finishing just behind. Rasmussen won the goat tying by a wide margin, with Jessica Stevens (second), Jacee Currin (third), and Wolstein (sixth) also performing well.
"Our women were just awesome," Whitaker said. "They were dominant. We have strong competitors, the best depth, and we have experience. I thought they performed up to their level throughout the season."
Eight Bobcat women qualified for the CNFR: Currin (breakaway roping, goat tying), Moeykins (barrel racing), Rasmussen (barrel racing, goat tying) and Salmond (breakaway roping) score points for the team. Hepper (breakaway roping), Alexis McDonald (barrel racing), Meghan McGinley (breakaway roping), and Jessica Stevens (goat tying) enter as individuals.
The Bobcat men's team fell behind UM Western early last fall and trailed throughout the season. The Cats carved into that lead early in the spring season, then outscored the Bulldogs 960 points to 510 in the finale in Missoula to capture the regional title 5,512 points to 5,088.
Many factors led to the Bobcats' early struggles. Montana State entered the season with a youthful team. Performance far out-stripped experience throughout the season, but Whitaker's challenge was choosing the optimal lineup week in and week out. "It took a while for that to work itself out," he said.
Personnel changes, particularly in the rough stock events, also offered Whitaker challenges to navigate. The most difficult loss was saddle bronc rider Cody Faulkner, who also sored points in steer wrestling, early in the spring. "Cody Faulkner's loss was hard to overcome," Whitaker said. "He was one of our top point-earners and I especially feel bad for Cody, but I'm proud of team for coming back from that loss."
Junior Bode Spring (first), junior Mike Nannini (third), and freshman Jaden Whitman (fourth) finished in the top four of the men's all-around standings in the Big Sky Region. The team's strength lies in the individual roping events. Bustad and Spring finished 1-2 in the tie-down roping, while Whitman, Nannini, Trav Johnson and Spring held down the top four spots in the steer wrestling.
Bustad (tie-down roping), Johnson (steer wrestling), Nannini (steer wrestling), Spring (steer wrestling, tie-down roping), Hayden Taylor (team roping) and Whitman (steer wrestling) score points for the Bobcats in Casper. Saddle bronc rider Caleb Meeks, a senior, competes as an individual.
Whitaker likes the combination of experience and ability on his men's team this year. "This year we have more CNFR threats going into it," he said. "They should have the confidence of being there before, knowing they can do it."
A year ago, the Bobcat women's team entered with the pressure of attempting to repeat as national champions. This year he senses a team that is both at ease with its opportunity, and focused. "Last year I could see how badly they wanted to win. I just want to make sure they don't put too much pressure on themselves this year. Wanting it too much can prevent you from competing your best."
While the three-go event tends to even out rodeo's inherent randomness, athletes need to manage several factors. "It's rodeo, there are crazy things that can happen that are out of your control," Whitaker said. "You don't know the stock during that first round so it's more of a guessing game. It's easy to draw something that can take you out of it, and if you have something that's an eliminator you just have to stay alive. At the CNFR a lot of people beat themselves, so you have to avoid that and keep your name in the hat. The goal is to make the short go Saturday night."
This week's performances air on ESPN3.
MEN'S LINEUP
*Jace Bustad, So., La Center, Washington (tie-down roping)
*Trav Johnson, Fr, Eltopia, Washington (steer wrestling)
*Mike Nannini, Jr, Kimberly, Idaho (steer wrestling)
*Bode Spring, Jr, Bozeman, Montana (steer wrestling, tie-down roping)
*Hayden Taylor, Sr, Pozo, California (team roping)
*Jaden Whitman, Fr, Belgrade, Montana (steer wrestling)
Caleb Meeks, Sr, Geraldine, Montana (saddle bronc)
WOMEN'S LINEUP
*Jacee Currin, Sr, Heppner, Oregon (breakaway roping, goat tying)
*Tayla Moeykins, Jr, Three Forks, Montana (barrel racing)
*Paige Rasmussen, Sr, Bozeman, Montana (barrel racing, goat tying)
*Molly Salmond, Gr, Choteau, Montana (breakaway roping)
Cate Hepper, Sr, Fort Klamath, Oregon (breakaway roping)
Alexis McDonald, So, Gardiner, Montana (barrel racing)
Meghan McGinley, Fr, Belgrade, Montana (breakaway roping)
Jessica Stevens, So, Creighton, Nebraska (goat tying)
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Rodeo
/ Men's Rodeo
/ Women's Rodeo
/ Women's Rodeo
/ Women's Rodeo
/ Men's Rodeo
/ Women'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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