News you can use

MSU-N rodeo teams begin the fall season

Over the past few years, the Northern rodeo program has been working to get better and better and this season, with a bunch of promising holdovers from last year’s program, both the Lights and Skylights will be looking to reach greater heights this season.

Last season, both teams fared well and were competitive in the Big Sky Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, as the Lights finished fourth and the Skylights team finished fifth.

“We actually have a more seasoned group of kids than we have had before,” head coach Doug Kallenberger said. “We have more seniors than we have had before and we also have a really good junior class and a good freshman class as well. We actually have six kids that are ranked in the PRCA. That’s the great thing about rodeo is that kids can compete in the pro rodeo and amatuer rodeo, too, along with college rodeo.”

As far as the women’s rodeo team is concerned, Kallenberger said he expects Tara Stimpson and Calonna Slade to lead the way as returners. He also expects big contributions from freshmen Cassidy Williamson and Brenna Krueger. Stimpson will compete in barrel racing, breakaway roping and team roping, while Slade will take part in barrel racing and breakaway roping. Williamson will be a four-event participant as a freshman; Krueger will compete in three events to start.

When it comes to the men’s team, senior George Marcenko will be among the top performers. He will compete in both tie-down roping and team roping this season for the Lights. John Bell, who like Marcenko is already qualified for the NRA and Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit finals, will be another top cowboy for the Lights. He also competes in tie-down roping and team roping.

As far as newcomers go, Kallenberger said T.J. Allen of Harlem is one that he expects to have a chance to make a big impact early at at MSU-N. Others that should make strong contributions for the men’s rodeo team this season are sophomore Zane Marcenko and junior Yancy Hawley from Hays.

The Northern rodeo teams open their season in Cody, Wyoming, at the Northwest College Trapper Stampede this wekeend. Then, both teams will be in Glendive Sept. 15-17 for the DCC Regional Rodeo, before returning home for the MSU-Northern Rodeo at the Bigger Better Barn Sept. 22-23 at the Great Northern Fairgrounds in Havre. Both teams will then close out the fall season at the Central Wyoming College Rodeo in Dillon, starting Sept. 29.

The schedule will then resume in the spring April 12, when both teams will be in Bozeman to take part in a rodeo hosted by Montana State, followed by a trip to Miles City April 20-22 and Missoula April 27-29 for a rodeo hosted by the University of Montana. Finally, the regular season will conclude May 4-5 at the University of Providence Rodeo in Great Falls, which is the finale of the Big Sky season.

 

Reader Comments(0)