Northern rodeo set to begin second half of schedule this spring

While most athletic programs at Montana State University-Northern have already ended their seasons, the MSU-N rodeo teams are just starting the second half of their season this spring. As they begin the second half of their season, MSU-N head coach Doug Kallenberger just wants to see his riders to compete hard the rest of the way.

"The main thing I'm looking forward to this spring from the kids is just consistency," Kallenberger said. "We're not looking to go out there and win first at every single rodeo but we just make the best run and the best ride they can get."

The MSU-N rodeo teams have five more rodeos this season, all on the road. First, MSU-N will head to Bozeman for a pair of rodeos at Montana State University Apr. 7-10. The next weekend, MSU-N will compete in a rodeo at Miles City Community College. The season will continue with a rodeo in Great Falls. The regular season will then end with a rodeo in Missoula hosted by the University of Montana.

Through the second half of their season, the MSU-N rodeo teams also will face other schools from the Big Sky in all their rodeos such as Montana Western, Northwest College, Dawson Community College and University of Montana.

The MSU rodeo teams should be the fiercest competition this spring as both the MSU men's and women's teams are first in the standings. In the men's standings, Miles City Community College is second, Montana Western is third and Northwest College is fourth. The MSU-N men's team comes in fifth with 1,057 total points so far this season.

The MSU-N women's team is having a strong year with 1,211 total points for second in the standings. Just behind them in third is Montana Western with 1,123 total points. The MSU-N women's team has been led to success this season by riders such as Mikenna Schauer who is first in the standings in breakaway roping and 10th in the standings in goat tying this season.

Brittney Cox is also having a good season so far for MSU-N as she is fourth in the barrel racing standings. Callie Otoupalik is also doing well in breakaway roping as she is fifth in the standings. Freshman Jill Marcenko is having a strong year as she is currently 14th in the breakaway roping standings. Another rider that Kallenberger expects to have a strong spring is senior Kassidy Williamson in breakaway roping.

The MSU-N men's team also has some riders performing well this season. Garrett Cunningham is having a strong year in saddle bronc riding as he is second in the standings. Chance Story is seventh in the steer wrestling standings and Lincoln Yarama is eight in tie down roping. Rope Three Irons is having a strong year so far as he is currently ninth in team roping.

As the MSU-N rodeo teams get ready to face stiff competition in the second half of the year, Kallenberger just wants his riders to not worry about the other schools and stay focused on themselves.

"I was just telling the kids, 'Don't ever worry about what other teams and other individuals are doing,'" Kallenberger said. "Just focus on what you would have drawn and your animal. That's all you can control. Try to control your emotions and be mentally prepared for whatever we get."

Before the MSU-N rodeo teams saddle up again, they will hold the annual Extreme Bares and Broncs Challenge at the Bigger Better Barn this weekend. The top 20 professional bareback and saddle bronc riders in the world will come to Havre to compete.

Some notable riders this weekend competing in saddle bronc riding include Sterling Crawley from Stephensville, Texas, Parker Kempfer from Deer Park, Florida, and Sage Newman from Melstone, Montana. Other riders in the event include Tanner Butner, Damian Brennan, Dusty Hausauer, Kole Ashbacher, Lefty Marvel Holman, Jake Clarke, Lucas Mazca, Chet Johnson, Jacob Kammerer, Dylan Schofield, Riggin Smith, Chuck Schmidt and Ty Manke. Montana will be represented by the likes of Chase Brooks from Deer Lodge, Jesse Kruse from Fromberg, J.C. DeSaveur from Roberts and Connor Murnion from Jordan.

In the bareback event, top riders such as Garrett Shadbolt from Merriman, Nebraska, Strawbs Jones from Clermont, Australia, and Mike Solberg, Alberta, will compete against one another. Other riders in the event include Bodee Lammers, Tyler Nelson, Leighton Berry, Tanner Aus, Ty Breuer, Kyle Bloomquist, Tyler Berghuis and Morgan Wilde. Some riders from Montana in the event are Caleb Bennett from Corvallis, Richmond Champion from Stevensville, Sam Petersen from Helena and Tristian Hansen from Dillon.

The Bares and Broncs Challenge will take place this Friday and Saturday at the Bigger Better Barn in Havre. It starts at 6:30 p.m. both nights. The MSU-N rodeo teams compete in their first rodeo this spring on April 7 with a rodeo in Bozeman hosted by MSU.