The college rodeo dream that almost came true

The COVID-19 pandemic called off many different sporting events across Montana and the country, including the 2020 College National Finals Rodeo June 14-20 at the Casper Events Center in Casper, Wyoming. Excellent collegiate rodeo programs from across the country work hard in the fall, and normally the spring, to qualify for the CNFR in the summer.

And in the case of the Montana State University-Northern women's rodeo team, it had qualified for the 2020 CNFR with the points earned through the Big Sky Region's fall schedule. As for the competitors, freshman Mikenna Schauer, junior Jayne Keely and junior Kassidy Williamson would have been representing the Skylights under MSU-Northern head coach Doug Kallenberger in June in Casper.

But April 9, the governing body of college rodeo announced that the 2020 CNFR had been called off due to COVID-19. The news was a tough one for the many teams that had qualified to compete in Wyoming, especially the three Skylights, who had put together a lot of hard work to make it to the CNFR.

Williamson and Schauer both compete in barrel racing, goat tying and breakaway roping, while Keely competes in barrel racing and goat tying. The three Canadian rodeo standouts for MSU-Northern had been fighting all year to earn a spot in the standings and prove their abilities. Since the 2020 spring season was already canceled, their performances in the fall put the three into the CNFR with a second-place team finish in the Big Sky Region standings.

In the Big Sky standings, as of the end of the 2019 fall season, Northern was ranked No. 2 overall. On top of that, Keely, Schauer and Williamson all had at least one spot in the rankings. Keely was ranked at No. 4 in goat tying and No. 10 in barrel racing, Schauer stood at No. 3 in breakaway roping, No. 8 in goat tying and No. 14 in barrel racing, while Williamson was ranked at No. 13 in goat tying. Nationally, the Skylights were ranked at No. 17 overall.

Getting to that point took a strong finish at the University of Montana Western Rodeo #1 and #2 back in October in Dillon. The Skylights won the #1 with 260 points. Schauer won the women's All-Around title and the breakaway roping title, along with a sixth-place finish in goat tying.

In the #2 rodeo, Keely led Northern by finishing second in the women's All-Around competition, finished second in barrel racing and third in goat tying to cap off a great performance. Schauer won the breakaway title in the event with a 5.5, as well. Earlier in September, Williamson was ranked in both barrels and goat tying, too. These performances throughout the fall season, including the showcases at the Northwest Community College and Dawson Community College back in September helped these three Northern competitors qualify for the 2020 CNFR. Before the spring season was canceled, Northern had competitions at Montana State University, Miles City Community College, the University of Montana and the University of Providence throughout April and May.

There was a lot to look forward to for the three Skylights before COVID-19 concern halted the event. To compete at a national level is something that does not happen every year and frankly, every year brings about a new feeling when it comes to competing at a national level. For Keely and Williamson, next year will be their last on the women's team, while Schauer put up a great performance in her first year with Northern to qualify.

Now the three will not be able to compete at the national level for the 2019-2020 season. But there is a positive, all three will still have another year to put in even harder work to make it back to the 2021 CNFR. With Kallenberger alongside them, it is sure that the three could qualify once again. Either way, it does hurt not to be able to compete in Casper for a shot at national glory.

Either way, Keely, Williamson and Schauer all put in excellent work and prowess in their events to qualify for the 2020 CNFR. The Skylights put up a good fight to be ranked No. 2 overall in the Big Sky and No. 17 overall nationally, with Keely, Williamson and Schauer all making their case as standout competitors for MSU-Northern. Though it stings that the national competition was canceled due to COVID-19, the Skylights know that if they made some noise this year, they can do it once again for the 2020-2021 season.

But as of right now, Northern will have to miss the 2020 CNFR and wait for its 2020-2021 season in the fall.

Note: MSU-Northern's Kolby Kittson had also qualified for the CNFR in saddle bronc riding this season.