Photo by: Jack Power
Bode Spring Focuses His Attention On Tie-Down Roping During This Week's CNFR
6/12/2024 10:49:00 AM | Men's Rodeo, Women's Rodeo
Bozeman native looks to return to short go for second straight year
BOZEMAN, Montana – Conversations with rodeo cowboys usually don't take long to get around to talk about horses. With Montana State senior Bode Spring, though, things take a twist from the primary mode of transportation during competition to another mode of getting around.
Cars. Specifically, car rentals.
"If you've heard of Turo, I have cars that I rent out," he said of the small fleet that he owns and manages through the private car rental service. "That's how I pay for my rodeoing."
Spring and 11 of his Bobcat rodeo teammates close the 2023-24 rodeo season at the College National Finals Rodeo, which began Sunday in Casper, Wyoming, and runs through Saturday. Spring's quest is a national championship in tie-down roping, but the Bozeman native said donning the Blue and Gold one last time highlights his week. "It's kind of bittersweet, last time wearing the MSU vest," he said. "It's really been great."
After two rounds of tie-down roping, Spring's 21.5 seconds ranked among the top 15. That mark is now fifth among those who have not completed three rounds, which he does during Wednesday's 7 pm performance. Zane Kilgus of Northeast Oklahoma A&M leads after three head at 30.2, while Tate Talkington of Northeastern Junior College's 40.6 seconds. Spring posted a mark of 11.0 in the first go, 10.5 in the second.
Heading into the college finals, Spring ranked 25th nationally in tie-down roping after finishing second in the Big Sky Region. On the strength of his seventh-place showing in steer wrestling and eighth in team roping, he finished fifth in the region in all-around standings. Spring's primary goal for his time in Casper is to return to the championship go-round, where he finished sixth in steer wrestling a year ago and 12th in calf roping after missing his final head in the short go.
"I just want to hopefully do better than last year," he said. "(In 2023) I had a pretty good year, made it to the short round in both events (steer wrestling and tie-down roping). I was pretty happy with where I was at (entering the championship round last year). (As a team) it felt pretty good to do as good as we did but we definitely wanted a little more. I've been working toward that. I'm only (entered) in the tie-down this year, but it'd be really cool to walk away with something like a national championship."
The Bobcat men's team finished ninth at the CNFR a year ago, and in spite of his status as the squad's only senior Spring has confidence in this year's group. "It's a good team," he said. "The sophomore class that came in (as freshmen last year), they've been great. I've been hanging out with a lot of them. We've been pushing each other. We have a really strong bulldogging presence, and tie-down ropers, too, and we've been helping push each other. As far as the team standing goes I think we're pretty well-represented, especially with Cole Gerhardt and Wes (Shaw) in the bareback riding, because they're going to mark out every single horse and that'll get us points for the team."
A Bozeman native, Spring has made the most of his time at Montana State outside the rodeo arena as well as inside. "That kid has something going on all the time," Bobcat head coach Kyle Whitaker said with a laugh. "He'll go to Europe for a few days, he's all over the place. He has a lot of irons in the fire."
That spills over into his burgeoning business enterprises. "You could say he has an entrepreneurial spirit," Whitaker said.
Spring has enjoyed competing in his hometown. "I definitely feel like I know everybody here and it's always a pleasure at the (MSU) spring rodeo when I get announced and it's definitely loud," he said. "It's great."
His senior season brought a sense of urgency. "I've definitely practiced a lot more, got a lot more horses under my belt now, too," he said. "Hopefully this year I can execute a little better (in Casper). Last year I missed my last calf in the short round but I think I'm definitely faster on the ground, faster hands, better footwork. I've also been a lot more places in the last year, been pro rodeoing quite a bit, going down the road a lot, so this is just another rodeo."
Spring's improvement over time pleases Whitaker. "I've enjoyed how Bode has progressed," he said. "My first year he was a sophomore and he wasn't really around much, I didn't know how serious he was about it. Then he started showing up for practice and really got into steer wrestling. I didn't think he was serious about tie-down roping, but he made the short go last year in steer wrestling and tie-down both, and this year he's come such a long ways. He has a ton of athletic ability and it's been fun to watch his hard work."
More than just committing to his personal improvement, Spring's buy-in affected the whole program and Whitaker considers it emblematic of where the Bobcats' direction. "Bode's the only guy going to the college finals this year who was a holdover from the year before I got here," Whitaker said. "I've learned that it's hard coming in and taking over a group that was recruited and coached by another coach. A lot of them didn't know who I was, but Bode's listened right away and has really been on board with what I tell them. I've always appreciate that. You need guys to buy in and be leaders, and I really appreciate that about Bode."
Whatever happens in Casper the rest of the week, rest assured that the environment won't overwhelm Spring or anyone from the Big Sky Region. "The MSU Rodeo is probably the biggest rodeo you can go to as far as fans, even compared to pro rodeos," he said. "It's probably the loudest one I've been in so it's great for your horses and dealing with the pressure, it makes (other rodeos) a lot easier because you know other rodeos won't be louder or more nerve wracking."
Spring has competed in professional rodeos off and on for the last several years, and "I want to continue rodeoing after this," he said. He credits Whitaker and the Bobcat program and its supporters for creating that opportunity. "College rodeo has been a great help, MSU's progressed me so far, it's been great. It takes a lot of practice, all the time. A lot of calf roping is about finding good horses and I've got a lot of help from (program supporters) Mike Ingram and Mike Hope, and other people, too. The next step is entering (pro rodeos, and I think I'm ready for the next step."
Whitaker concurs. "I think Bode will have success at the pro rodeos. He's already had a little success. In the fall of 2022 when we came back to school Big Timber was having their weekly pro rodeo and I jumped in and went over there with him. He won one of those Big Timber pro rodeos and that's where I noticed he's really taken it seriously and can compete."
Spring competes Wednesday night sometime after 7 pm – the event is available on ESPN3 and results are here – and if all goes well again in Saturday's championship go. Whitaker is excited. "I think he has a chance."
#GoCatsGo
Cars. Specifically, car rentals.
"If you've heard of Turo, I have cars that I rent out," he said of the small fleet that he owns and manages through the private car rental service. "That's how I pay for my rodeoing."
Spring and 11 of his Bobcat rodeo teammates close the 2023-24 rodeo season at the College National Finals Rodeo, which began Sunday in Casper, Wyoming, and runs through Saturday. Spring's quest is a national championship in tie-down roping, but the Bozeman native said donning the Blue and Gold one last time highlights his week. "It's kind of bittersweet, last time wearing the MSU vest," he said. "It's really been great."
After two rounds of tie-down roping, Spring's 21.5 seconds ranked among the top 15. That mark is now fifth among those who have not completed three rounds, which he does during Wednesday's 7 pm performance. Zane Kilgus of Northeast Oklahoma A&M leads after three head at 30.2, while Tate Talkington of Northeastern Junior College's 40.6 seconds. Spring posted a mark of 11.0 in the first go, 10.5 in the second.
Heading into the college finals, Spring ranked 25th nationally in tie-down roping after finishing second in the Big Sky Region. On the strength of his seventh-place showing in steer wrestling and eighth in team roping, he finished fifth in the region in all-around standings. Spring's primary goal for his time in Casper is to return to the championship go-round, where he finished sixth in steer wrestling a year ago and 12th in calf roping after missing his final head in the short go.
"I just want to hopefully do better than last year," he said. "(In 2023) I had a pretty good year, made it to the short round in both events (steer wrestling and tie-down roping). I was pretty happy with where I was at (entering the championship round last year). (As a team) it felt pretty good to do as good as we did but we definitely wanted a little more. I've been working toward that. I'm only (entered) in the tie-down this year, but it'd be really cool to walk away with something like a national championship."
The Bobcat men's team finished ninth at the CNFR a year ago, and in spite of his status as the squad's only senior Spring has confidence in this year's group. "It's a good team," he said. "The sophomore class that came in (as freshmen last year), they've been great. I've been hanging out with a lot of them. We've been pushing each other. We have a really strong bulldogging presence, and tie-down ropers, too, and we've been helping push each other. As far as the team standing goes I think we're pretty well-represented, especially with Cole Gerhardt and Wes (Shaw) in the bareback riding, because they're going to mark out every single horse and that'll get us points for the team."
A Bozeman native, Spring has made the most of his time at Montana State outside the rodeo arena as well as inside. "That kid has something going on all the time," Bobcat head coach Kyle Whitaker said with a laugh. "He'll go to Europe for a few days, he's all over the place. He has a lot of irons in the fire."
That spills over into his burgeoning business enterprises. "You could say he has an entrepreneurial spirit," Whitaker said.
Spring has enjoyed competing in his hometown. "I definitely feel like I know everybody here and it's always a pleasure at the (MSU) spring rodeo when I get announced and it's definitely loud," he said. "It's great."
His senior season brought a sense of urgency. "I've definitely practiced a lot more, got a lot more horses under my belt now, too," he said. "Hopefully this year I can execute a little better (in Casper). Last year I missed my last calf in the short round but I think I'm definitely faster on the ground, faster hands, better footwork. I've also been a lot more places in the last year, been pro rodeoing quite a bit, going down the road a lot, so this is just another rodeo."
Spring's improvement over time pleases Whitaker. "I've enjoyed how Bode has progressed," he said. "My first year he was a sophomore and he wasn't really around much, I didn't know how serious he was about it. Then he started showing up for practice and really got into steer wrestling. I didn't think he was serious about tie-down roping, but he made the short go last year in steer wrestling and tie-down both, and this year he's come such a long ways. He has a ton of athletic ability and it's been fun to watch his hard work."
More than just committing to his personal improvement, Spring's buy-in affected the whole program and Whitaker considers it emblematic of where the Bobcats' direction. "Bode's the only guy going to the college finals this year who was a holdover from the year before I got here," Whitaker said. "I've learned that it's hard coming in and taking over a group that was recruited and coached by another coach. A lot of them didn't know who I was, but Bode's listened right away and has really been on board with what I tell them. I've always appreciate that. You need guys to buy in and be leaders, and I really appreciate that about Bode."
Whatever happens in Casper the rest of the week, rest assured that the environment won't overwhelm Spring or anyone from the Big Sky Region. "The MSU Rodeo is probably the biggest rodeo you can go to as far as fans, even compared to pro rodeos," he said. "It's probably the loudest one I've been in so it's great for your horses and dealing with the pressure, it makes (other rodeos) a lot easier because you know other rodeos won't be louder or more nerve wracking."
Spring has competed in professional rodeos off and on for the last several years, and "I want to continue rodeoing after this," he said. He credits Whitaker and the Bobcat program and its supporters for creating that opportunity. "College rodeo has been a great help, MSU's progressed me so far, it's been great. It takes a lot of practice, all the time. A lot of calf roping is about finding good horses and I've got a lot of help from (program supporters) Mike Ingram and Mike Hope, and other people, too. The next step is entering (pro rodeos, and I think I'm ready for the next step."
Whitaker concurs. "I think Bode will have success at the pro rodeos. He's already had a little success. In the fall of 2022 when we came back to school Big Timber was having their weekly pro rodeo and I jumped in and went over there with him. He won one of those Big Timber pro rodeos and that's where I noticed he's really taken it seriously and can compete."
Spring competes Wednesday night sometime after 7 pm – the event is available on ESPN3 and results are here – and if all goes well again in Saturday's championship go. Whitaker is excited. "I think he has a chance."
#GoCatsGo
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