MSU-Northern rodeo teams finish year at College National Finals Rodeo

In Casper, Wyoming this past week, the best collegiate cowboys and cowgirls gathered to compete in the College National Finals Rodeo. The Montana State University-Northern rodeo teams competed in the CNFR over the week, with several MSU-N riders performing well to end the season.

In the saddle bronc riding event, Garrett Cunningham finished seventh in the event with an average score of 230.0. He started the rodeo by recording a score of 74.5 in round one and a score of 75.5 in round two. He then recorded a score of 80.0 in the short go. Cunningham overall had a strong year in the saddle bronc as the Big Sky Region champion in the event. He is just a freshman, so he has plenty more left in him for MSU-N.

Mikenna Schauer performed well in several events to end her season. She tied for tenth in the breakaway roping event with an average score of 7.7. Along the way, she recorded a score of 2.5 in round one, a score of 2.9 in round two and a score of 2.3 in round three.

In the goat tying event, Schauer finished 17th with an average score of 20.5 Throughout the week, Schauer recorded a score of 6.9 in round one, a score of 6.8 in round two and a score of 6.8 in round three.

The CNFR was the end of a great year for Schauer. She was the first woman to be named the Big Sky Region All-round champion in MSU-N history and she was the Big Sky Region champion in breakaway roping. She is only a sophomore, so she should have another couple of great years at MSU-N.

A pair of MSU-N cowgirls competed in barrel racing at the CNFR. Brittney Cox finished 18th with an average score of 43.89. Her teammate Jill Marcenko took 29th in the event with an average score of 45.06. In goat tying, Kassidy Williamson finished 52nd with an average score of 3.9.

Thanks to the performances of its riders, the MSU-N women's team finished 20th in the rodeo with 60 total points. Weatherford College won the women's rodeo with 538.3 total points and Southwestern Oklahoma State University finished second and Cal Poly State University-San Luis Obispo took third.

The MSU-N men's rodeo team placed 33rd in its rodeo with 75 total points. Tarleton State University won the national title with 900 total points while McNeese State University came in second and Missouri Valley College came in third.

With the CNFR now in the books, the season comes to an end for the MSU-N rodeo teams. The MSU-N riders dealt with injuries and inclement weather throughout the year, but were able to push through the adversity to send multiple riders to the CNFR at the end of the season. Many riders who went to the CNFR are just underclassmen, so the future should be bright for the MSU-N rodeo teams.