June 2007
Bulldog Rodeo Team Impressive at CNFR
Tuesday, June 19 2007
The Montana Western men's rodeo team had an impressive showing at the 59th annual College National Finals Rodeo at Casper, Wyoming.
The men's team finished 10th in the nation. Kyle VanBiezen won the short go on Saturday night and finished second in the nation.
The team roping team of J.R. Lund and Alex Watson won the second go and finished third in the nation. Sam Levine teamed up with Cee Cee Tryan of Montana State and finished 22 overall in team toping.
Taylor Nahrgang qualifed for the short go in the steer wrestling and finished 10th in the nation.
Mac Erickson rode only one bull, but had an impressive 82 to finish second in the third go and qualify for the short go.
James Irish had a no score on his first ride in saddle bronc. He then had two good rides but failed to qualify for the short go. He finished 14th overall.
Colter Davis scored in each of the first three go's, but didn't qualify for the short go. He finished 13th overall.
Shaylee French and Amber Overstreet each tied three goats but didn't qualify for the short go. French finished 16th overall and Overstreet, 17th.
Amy Walker had a no score in her first breakaway roping run but then scored impressive times in her next two. The no score in the first go kept her out of the short go.
Kayla Hutchison had a rough CNFR with two no-time scores.
Look for a CNFR picture gallery to be online soon.
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Bulldog Rodeo at CNFR
Wednesday, June 6 2007
The University of Montana-Western men and women’s rodeo teams travel to Casper, Wyo. for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR), June 10-16.
Led by regional champs Colter Davis, James Irish, Sam Levine and Taylor Nahrgang, Western’s men’s team won the Big Sky Regional Title for the third straight year.
Mac Erickson, J.R. Lund, Kyle VanBiezen and Alex Watson also qualified for the CNFR.
Colter Davis, a senior from Helena, Mont., will make his second straight trip the CNFR. Davis won the regional bareback riding title for the second year in a row. Davis is a business major.
Mac Erickson, a senior from Almo, Idaho, will be making his third trip to the CNFR. He qualified last year but did not compete due to injury. Erickson also sat out the fall season. He made up for lost time in the spring as he finished fourth in bareback riding and fourth in all-around. Erickson graduated in May with a business degree.
James Irish, a senior from Lewistown, Mont., was the regional champion in saddle bronc riding to qualify for his second-straight trip to the CNFR. Irish is a business and equine studies major.
Sam Levine, a sophomore from Wolf Creek, Mont., won the team roping heeler titles to earn his second straight trip to the CNFR. Levine went last year as the tie-down roping regional champion.
J.R. Lund, a junior from Lewistown, Mont. and Alex Watson, a junior from Geyser, Mont., qualified in team roping: Lund as the header and Watson as the heeler. Both finished second in the region.
Taylor Nahrgang, a sophomore from Buckeye, Ariz., will make his first trip to the CNFR as the steer wrestling regional champion. Nahrgang is a pre professional health and will serve as the Montana Western Student Body President for the upcoming academic year.
Kyle VanBiezen, a junior from Twin Falls, Idaho, will be making his first trip to college rodeo’s big show. He will compete in calf roping. VanBiezen finished third in the Big Sky Region.
“I have great confidence in our even-handed men’s team,” said Montana Western rodeo coach Olie Else. “We have tremendous talent in all events and of equal importance, experience at the CNFR. Team captains Mac and James along with Colter and Sam have been to the CNFR and that leadership will be invaluable at Casper.”
The Montana Western women’s team didn’t produce a regional champion but qualified for the CNFR by finishing second in the region. Kayla Hutchison, Amber Overstreet, Amy Ward and Shaylee French are the four outstanding cowgirls representing Montana Western in Casper.
Kayla Hutchison, a senior from Hulett, Wyo., Hutchison won the regional all-around and goat tying title and finished third in breakaway roping last year. This year, she sat out the fall with a leg injury and then gave birth to a daughter two weeks prior to the first spring rodeo. She missed the first rodeo of the spring and then put on an amazing performance down the stretch. Even with missing the first rodeo of the spring, Hutchison scored enough points in the final four rodeos to qualify for the CNFR. Hutchison is also an academic all-american.
Amber Overstreet, a senior from Reed Point, Mont., will make her first trip to the CNFR. She finished third in the region in goat tying.
Amy Walker, a transfer from Idaho State, was third in regional all-around standings after finishing sixth in both breakaway roping and goat tying.
Shaylee French will also be making her first trip to the CNFR. The sophomore from Pincher Creek, Alberta, finished second in the region in goat tying, ninth in barrel racing and fifth in all-around.
“Our women’s team features four cowgirls who have been consistent all year long, added Else. “They are smart in the arena and know what needs to be done to compete at the CNFR level.”
The complete CNFR schedule and daily results will be available on the N.I.R.A. website at www.collegerodeo.com.
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