Northern rodeo teams shine bright in Missoula

The Montana State University-Northern rodeo team is having a strong spring season, and it continued at last weekend's University of Montana Rodeo in Missoula.

Leading the way for Northern was Skylight senior Tara Stimpson, who captured the women's all-around title at the rodeo with 215 points. She finished 55 points ahead of runner-up Marlee Mussmann of UM-Western. Stimpson finished first in barrel racing and sixth in breakaway roping, as she helped the Skylights to an outstanding second-place finish in the team event. Rybecca Panchuk also placed seventh in the breakaway for the Skylights.

On the men's side, Yancy Hawley placed an outstanding third in the saddle bronc riding, in helping the Lights finish eighth with 80 points.

The Lights and Skylights will finish the 2018 portion of the Big Sky Region Rodeo season this weekend at the University of Providence Rodeo in Great Falls. The two-day rodeo will be held Friday and Saturday night at the Four Seasons Arena.