MSU rodeo carries momentum from inaugural parade nomination into spring season

The MSU rodeo team made national headlines when they were invited to participate in the Presidential Inaugural Parade (PIP) in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20, 2025. However, extreme weather conditions on the forecast caused the event to be moved indoors, preventing the ‘Cat’s involvement.

Even though the team wasn’t able to go, the opportunity was significant in its own right. The invitation came from U.S. Congressional Representative Ryan Zinke. According to a press release from Zinke’s office announcing the team’s invitation, no collegiate rodeo team has ever participated in a PIP in U.S. history.

“[Being invited] was a really exciting opportunity,” MSU rodeo Head Coach Kyle Whitaker said. “As far as I know, we’re the first college rodeo team to ever be invited, so that was pretty prestigious and it just shows how much [MSU] rodeo means to the state, and that’s a pretty cool feeling.”

The MSU rodeo team has seen a lot of growth recently. That stems from several factors, including their iconic pregame rides into the stadium before Bobcat football games, as well as an appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay, in 2022.

Senior Alexis McDonald detailed the benefits of the rodeo teams’ facilities —  namely the program’s new practice facility gifted by the Stock family. According to the University’s website, it received two one-million dollar donations to help purchase the facility, one from KC and Georgia Stock, and the other from Brian and Lindsay Stock.

McDonald explained the impact of the donors who support MSU rodeo. “They are amazing,” McDonald said. “[They] always want the best for us rodeo kids and hands-down we have the best support in the nation.”

Even though the ‘Cats couldn’t make it to D.C. as a team, two team members took it upon themselves to travel eastward anyway. Both McDonald and teammate Shantell Brewer flew to Washington, D.C. on their own to represent the University.

According to McDonald, despite the whole team not making the trip, Zinke still gave her and Brewer a tour of the capitol building. “I know Zinke and a few others worked really hard to get our rodeo team to be a part of the parade, so [missing] it was a bummer, but the opportunity would’ve been awesome,” she said.

Being invited to the PIP is just another milestone for the MSU rodeo team, whose nine national team titles and 35 national championships make it one of the most decorated programs in the sport.

“I think a lot of that [recent growth] has to do with being in the athletic department, and they help us get out into the forefront more,” Whitaker said. “I think the football ride-in has gotten more and more popular, and people look more and more forward to it. Then, we were on College GameDay, so I think it just kind of keeps snowballing, getting more and more attention.”

Currently, the Bobcats are focusing on the start of their spring season, which begins on April 10.

“Our rodeo team is always working hard to be the best," McDonald said. “Currently, our team is working out twice a week with strength coach Tommy [Nguyen], getting good grades and practicing out at the Stock Ranch family Bobcat rodeo facility.”

Even with the cold winter weather, the MSU rodeo can practice. According to Whitaker, the team uses the time to focus more on mechanics and fundamentals. All of these factors will come into play during the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in June.

“We had a really good fall season so we have to keep building on that,” Whitaker said. “The ultimate goal is qualifying for the CNFR in Casper, Wyoming in June, and that’s [where] the national championships are handed out. So we wanna get our best people there and represent as good as we can at the CNFR.”

Regardless of how the spring rodeo season plays out for MSU’s riders, Whitaker and McDonald recognize the importance of what they do.

“At the end of the day, I am very grateful for all my teammates and coaches that can make this happen for us," McDonald said. “It’ll always be a privilege to wear the blue and gold, and I’ll always be grateful to be a Bobcat.”

“We’re building and building and trying to be ready,” Whitaker said. “April 10, [we’ll be] at the top of our game.”

To learn more about the MSU rodeo team, go to https://msubobcats.com/sports/mrodeo or visit the team’s Instagram, @msu_rodeo.