May 2007

Bulldog Rodeo Impressive in Regular Season Finale
Monday, May 7 2007
The University of Montana Western men’s rodeo team successfully defended their Big Sky Regional title by winning the final two rodeos of the spring season. The University of Montana-Missoula hosted both rodeos.

The Montana Western women finished second in the second rodeo and finished second in the region.

Both teams qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR), June 10-16, 2007 in Casper, Wyo.

The Montana Western men set a new school scoring record with 1060 points to win the first rodeo. The Bulldogs won the second rodeo 830 to 555 over Montana State-Bozeman.

Four Bulldogs claimed individual regional championships. James Irish of Lewistown, Mont. captured the saddle bronc title. Colter Davis of Helena, Mont. won the bareback title, Taylor Nahrgang of Buckeye, Ariz. won the steer wrestling title and Sam Levine of Wolf Creek, Mont. won the team roping, heeler title.

Also qualifying for the CNFR: Mack Erickson of Malta, Idaho in bareback and bullriding; Alex Watson of Geyser, Mont. in team roping; J.R. Lund of Lewistown, Mont. in team roping and Kyle VanBeizen in calf roping.

For the Montana Western women, Kayla Rae Hutchinson of Hulette, Wyo. was the breakaway roping reserve champion to qualify for the CNFR. Also earning a trip to Casper in breakaway roping were Coree Shiner of Leadore, Idaho and Amy Walker of King Hill, Idaho.

Shaylee French of Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada was the reserve champion in goat tying to qualify for the CNFR.

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Big Weekend For Montana Western Rodeo
Thursday, May 3 2007
There is a lot on the line this weekend as the University of Montana Western rodeo competes at the final regular season rodeo of the season in Missoula, May 3 – 6 at the University of Montana rodeo.

The Montana Western men’s team is currently in first place in the Big Sky Regional standings followed closely by Montana State-Bozeman. Only 426 points separate the two teams. The top two teams in the region automatically qualify for the College National Finals in Casper in next month. Both teams should qualify, the weekend will determine who carries the region’s championship banner to Casper.

Montana Western’s Sam Levine is second in the region in the All-Around competition with teammates Coulter Gruel, Mac Erickson and J.R. Lund sitting fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.

Erickson is the real story. He was a regional champion last year but sat out the CNFR due to a knee injury. Erickson also sat out the fall as he continued to heal. The senior from Idaho has been red-hot this spring. He was the all-around, bareback and bull riding champ at the Bozeman spring rodeo. Two weeks later in Helena, he finished in the top five in both bareback riding and bull riding. Last weekend in Glendive, he was again the all-around champion after winning both the bareback riding and bull riding. In order to qualify for CNFR, Erickson needs another good weekend to give the necessary points.

Other Montana Western regional leaders are Colter Davis in bareback riding and Sam Levine in team roping heeler followed by teammate Alex Watson. Taylor Nahrgang is second in steer wrestling.

The Montana Western women’s team is in second place in the region behind Montana State. The Bobcats have been pretty much unstoppable this year and lead by 1235 points.

Montana Western put together their best performance of the season a week ago in Glendive with their first win of the season. The Bulldogs easily outdistanced Montana State 700-230. Like the men’s competition, this weekend will determine the women’s champion, and like the men’s competition, both Montana Western and Montana State have edge to automatically qualify for the CNFR.

Kayla Hutchison has been the big story this spring in the women’s competition. She is the defending regional all-around champion but didn’t compete in the fall due to a leg injury. Just two weeks before the first spring rodeo, Hutchison gave birth to daughter Kahlea Rae. In Helena, she finished second in the all-around as she won breakaway and finished sixth in goat tying. Last weekend in Glendive, she was the all-round champion as finished second in goat tying, sixth in breakaway roping and third in team roping heeler. Going into the Missoula rodeo, she looks to have the necessary point so qualify for CNFR in breakaway roping, but another good showing at the rodeos in Missoula will make it a lock.

Montana Western’s Amber Overstreet is second in the region in goat tying. Teammates Amy Walker and Shaylee French are fourth and fifth in the region in all-around competition.

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