MSU Spring Rodeo ends with back-to-back Bobcat wins

A sea of boots, button-ups and cowboy hats filled the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse last weekend as fans eagerly watched the 68th annual MSU Spring Rodeo kick off through clouds of dust.

The event, which marked the rodeo team’s first appearance since last fall, was the only home rodeo of the spring season. The Bobcats finished the back-to-back rodeos with championship wins and were awarded several new belt buckles for their hard work.

Two rodeos took place over the four days, one from Thursday to Friday and the other from Saturday to Sunday. 

“I’m just looking forward to being in here another time,” junior Faith Marshall said on Saturday night. “Every performance here is just so fun, and I just want to take advantage of that. Obviously, I get to ride my favorite horses, so I’m just really excited for tomorrow.” 

The first day of each rodeo featured the long-go round, where athletes competed to qualify for the next day’s championships, or short-go round. MSU competed against athletes from eight different colleges, including MSU Northern and University of Montana (UM) Western, which placed second in the women’s and men’s competitions, respectively.

“I had a pretty good past few days,” said Bobcat freshman Tahj Wells. “I’m super thankful for it. In rodeo, you are going to have a lot of ups and downs, and I’m blessed to get a little humbled tonight, which is part of it.” 

The women's team took home championship titles after finishing first in all three women’s individual events — goat tying, barrel racing and breakaway roping — in both rodeos and earning both all-around titles, ending with a total of 770 points. The Bobcats dominated second-place MSU Northern, which scored 175 points in the first rodeo and 248.3 points in the second.

In goat tying, junior Michaela McCormick placed first in both rodeos with an aggregate time of 13.1 for the first rodeo and 12.7 for the second.  

MSU also swept the all-around category, winning the men’s and women’s categories in both rodeos. Wells won the men’s all-around for the first rodeo and junior Cole Gerhardt took the title for the second. Marshall won the women’s all-around for both rodeos.

“It’s a lot of energy,” Gerhardt said. “Especially there in the team roping — we made a good run, we didn’t take the lead round or anything, but the energy just made it so exciting. That’s why it felt more fun to celebrate.”

The men’s team also came out on top with a performance totaling 950 points in the first rodeo and 970 points in the second. UM Western took second in both rodeos with 760 points and 770 points.

On Friday, Wells took home wins in saddle bronc and bull riding, while Gerhardt won bareback. On Sunday, only one Bobcat athlete — sophomore bull rider Holden Atkinson — took home a buckle.

According to Wells, there were ups and downs throughout the two rodeos, but that is just part of the game. 

“[The] focus tomorrow is just take it event by event, and don’t overthink it,” Wells said on Saturday night. “Tonight doesn’t matter; tomorrow’s a new day. I just believe in myself and trust.”

The success of the team, however, rests not only on the cowboy or cowgirl, but also on the animals. According to Anna Tretter, a freshman rodeo athlete, her horse’s behavior impacts her performance. She said that it is exciting to compete when the horse is in tip-top shape.  

“We got horses to take care of,” junior Ryley Mapston said. “They’re athletes too, so I mean, we got to make sure they are feeling their best. We have a lot of support around our team, which helps too.”

According to Marshall, the event is special because, for a collegiate rodeo, it draws a large crowd and strong community support. It is also a chance for the team to show off on their home dirt for local fans. This year, the rodeo set a record for the largest crowd in the Brick with an audience of 16,274 over four days, according to MSU Athletics.

Fellow Bobcats, including students and other athletes, showed up to support the team. Members of MSU cheer, football, women’s basketball, track and ski all made an appearance on the dirt.

The football team introduced the rodeo athletes on Thursday evening to kick off the long weekend and on Friday cheerleaders threw T-shirts into the crowd. Cheerleader Nate Marxhausen expressed his excitement toward meeting the rodeo athletes and engaging with the crowd.

“I had the opportunity to dress up as a pickle and throw t-shirts in the crowd,” Marxhausen said. “I got to look down at all the horses, all the livestock that they have back there and also I got to meet all the athletes down there.

 “They’re great people. They’re fellow athletes. They do carry this University — I love the rodeo team.” 

The team not only represents the University, it also carries a legacy unique to college rodeo. The MSU rodeo teams both stand at number one in the Big Sky Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA), a ranking they are familiar with.

MSU rodeo has a history of earning conference titles in the NIRA dating back to at least 1949, according to the organization’s website. The men’s and women’s teams took their first national team titles in 1972 and 1986, respectively, according to the MSU website.

Throughout the weekend, MSU students were seen dressed in Western attire, cheering on the athletes. Sophomore Presley Granum attended all four nights of the rodeo.

“[It has been] absolutely fire. I love it so much,” Granum said. “I say [the best event is] the bull riding, because that’s the best part anyway. Save it for last.”

Regardless of their role, everyone involved with the rodeo seemed to have a smile on their faces and positive things to say about the athletes.

“To be a role model, it means a lot,” Wells said. “It means a lot that a lot of younger kids are looking up to me, even older people. I try to be the best I can, be the best to them. I try to give back to my community.” 

To learn more about the women’s rodeo team, visit https://msubobcats.com/sports/wrodeo. To learn more about the men’s team, visit https://msubobcats.com/sports/mrodeo.