Photo by: Brian Morse
MSU Rodeo Teams Head to Miles City for Two Weekend Rodeos
4/24/2025 8:46:00 AM | Football
While Bobcat men have steamrolled through the Big Sky Region, MSU's women remain in a fight
BOZEMAN, Montana – Montana State's men continued to roll through the Big Sky Region in Havre last weekend, as the Bobcats made it seven for seven in 2024-25 by winning the MSU Northern Rodeo.
The Bobcats coasted through the men's competition last week, nearly doubling up second place UM Western 985 points to 500. "The men's team had another strong performance," Whitaker said. "That was that was fun. I was really happy with how they did. Some of those guys really stepped up and have been very consistent."
In spite of several dominating individual performances, MSU's women scored 200 points to finish in third place behind UM Western (395 points) and MSU Northern (340). Hailey Burger tied for women's all-around honors with teammate Haven Wolstein to highlight that side of the standings.
"Hailey Burger had a really good weekend," said MSU assistant coach Savanna Bolich. "She's kind of gotten into her groove. She was injured last fall but she's worked really hard in physical therapy and she's just making solid runs."
With only three rodeos remaining – two this weekend at Miles City and the season finale May 2-3 at Missoula – the attention for MSU head coach Kyle Whitaker turns to College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) individual qualification. "We have several men that are really close to qualifying in two events (each)," Whitaker said. "That's really important for team points at the CNFR."
Bolich said the experience of competing at MSU Northern was valuable, particularly for the timed event athletes, because the arena size is somewhat smaller than Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, where the Big Sky Region opened the spring season two weeks ago. "The barrel racers we were glad to be in that setup before we go to Miles City because it's a similar pen. I think that will help them get ready for Miles City."
The Bobcat women's team finished second to UM Western, although Sydney Berquist won top honors in breakaway roping and Jessica Stevens won goat tying. "Sydney has been in that (arena) a lot," Bolich said. "She's done well there before. In the short round it was just getting faster and faster and I (said) 'You're gonna have to push the barrier and take your shot when you see it, and that's what she did. "I was really proud of her."
After this weekend's competition in Miles City the Big Sky Region closes with a single rodeo at Missoula the first weekend in May.
MEN'S TEAM
1. Montana State, 985
2. UM Western, 500
3. Miles CC, 170
4. Northwest College, 135
5. Dawson CC, 80
6. Montana, 70
7. MSU Northern, 55
WOMEN'S TEAM
1. UM Western, 395
2. MSU Northern, 340
3. Montana State, 200
4. Montana, 110
5. Northwest College, 90
6. Miles CC, 70
MSU IN MEN'S ALL-AROUND
1) Cole Gerhardt, 2) Wyatt Jensen, 7) Wes Shaw
MSU IN WOMEN'S ALL-AROUND
T1) Hailey Burger, T1) Haven Wolstein
MSU IN MEN'S EVENTS
SADDLE BRONC: 3) Ryatt Thomson, 4) Monte Bailey
BAREBACK: 2) Cole Gerhardt, 4) Wes Shaw
BULL RIDING: 1) Holden Atkinson
TIE DOWN ROPING: 2) Wyatt Jensen, 3) Mitch Detton, 4) Cole Gerhardt,
STEER WRESTLING: 1) Traver Johnson, 2) Michael Nannini, 4) Cole Gerhardt, T6) Cole Detton, T6) Wes Shaw
TEAM ROPING: 1) Wyatt Jensen/Hayden Taylor, 3) Haven Wolstein/Gavin Garrison
MSU IN WOMEN'S EVENTS
BARREL RACING: T8) Shantell Brewer, T8) Alexa Iskander
BREAKAWAY ROPING: 1) Sydney Berquist, 6) Hailey Burger, 8) Shawny Telford
GOAT TYING: 1) Jessica Stevens, 2) Hailey Burger, 3) Haven Wolstein
#GoCatsGo
The Bobcats coasted through the men's competition last week, nearly doubling up second place UM Western 985 points to 500. "The men's team had another strong performance," Whitaker said. "That was that was fun. I was really happy with how they did. Some of those guys really stepped up and have been very consistent."
In spite of several dominating individual performances, MSU's women scored 200 points to finish in third place behind UM Western (395 points) and MSU Northern (340). Hailey Burger tied for women's all-around honors with teammate Haven Wolstein to highlight that side of the standings.
"Hailey Burger had a really good weekend," said MSU assistant coach Savanna Bolich. "She's kind of gotten into her groove. She was injured last fall but she's worked really hard in physical therapy and she's just making solid runs."
With only three rodeos remaining – two this weekend at Miles City and the season finale May 2-3 at Missoula – the attention for MSU head coach Kyle Whitaker turns to College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) individual qualification. "We have several men that are really close to qualifying in two events (each)," Whitaker said. "That's really important for team points at the CNFR."
Bolich said the experience of competing at MSU Northern was valuable, particularly for the timed event athletes, because the arena size is somewhat smaller than Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, where the Big Sky Region opened the spring season two weeks ago. "The barrel racers we were glad to be in that setup before we go to Miles City because it's a similar pen. I think that will help them get ready for Miles City."
The Bobcat women's team finished second to UM Western, although Sydney Berquist won top honors in breakaway roping and Jessica Stevens won goat tying. "Sydney has been in that (arena) a lot," Bolich said. "She's done well there before. In the short round it was just getting faster and faster and I (said) 'You're gonna have to push the barrier and take your shot when you see it, and that's what she did. "I was really proud of her."
After this weekend's competition in Miles City the Big Sky Region closes with a single rodeo at Missoula the first weekend in May.
MEN'S TEAM
1. Montana State, 985
2. UM Western, 500
3. Miles CC, 170
4. Northwest College, 135
5. Dawson CC, 80
6. Montana, 70
7. MSU Northern, 55
WOMEN'S TEAM
1. UM Western, 395
2. MSU Northern, 340
3. Montana State, 200
4. Montana, 110
5. Northwest College, 90
6. Miles CC, 70
MSU IN MEN'S ALL-AROUND
1) Cole Gerhardt, 2) Wyatt Jensen, 7) Wes Shaw
MSU IN WOMEN'S ALL-AROUND
T1) Hailey Burger, T1) Haven Wolstein
MSU IN MEN'S EVENTS
SADDLE BRONC: 3) Ryatt Thomson, 4) Monte Bailey
BAREBACK: 2) Cole Gerhardt, 4) Wes Shaw
BULL RIDING: 1) Holden Atkinson
TIE DOWN ROPING: 2) Wyatt Jensen, 3) Mitch Detton, 4) Cole Gerhardt,
STEER WRESTLING: 1) Traver Johnson, 2) Michael Nannini, 4) Cole Gerhardt, T6) Cole Detton, T6) Wes Shaw
TEAM ROPING: 1) Wyatt Jensen/Hayden Taylor, 3) Haven Wolstein/Gavin Garrison
MSU IN WOMEN'S EVENTS
BARREL RACING: T8) Shantell Brewer, T8) Alexa Iskander
BREAKAWAY ROPING: 1) Sydney Berquist, 6) Hailey Burger, 8) Shawny Telford
GOAT TYING: 1) Jessica Stevens, 2) Hailey Burger, 3) Haven Wolstein
#GoCatsGo
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