Bobcat Rodeo Teams Head to Casper with High Hopes

BOZEMAN, Montana – Ask Kyle Whitaker who on his Bobcat men's and women's rodeo team he expects to do well during the sport's national championship event, the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, June 15-21, and you'll likely get a blank stare.

"It's a tough group," he says. "In past years we've had people that qualified but was probably not a threat. But this year, I feel that everybody is a threat."

This season's 'everybody' consists of nine cowboys and seven women. Both Bobcat teams won the Big Sky Region, and the men's team enters this year's CNFR leading the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association's (NIRA) national standings. The MSU women are eighth.

The nine men heading to Casper feature Big Sky Region champions Cole Detton (steer wrestling), Cole Gerhardt (bareback and all-around champion) and Wyatt Jensen (tie down roping). Michael McCormick won the region's all-around title, while Anneliese McCurry took home top barrel racer honors.

One of the key factors for the men's team is its experience. "On the men's side, a lot of these guys have been there," Whitaker said. "Cole Detton hasn't, this is his first time, but he finished in the top four in the high school finals two or three times so he has that experience.

That is hardly the case on the women's side, where all seven student-athletes make their CNFR debuts. That fact hasn't increased Whitaker's stress level, he said. "I'm not worried about that," he said. "They're all tough competitors and they'll be fine."

Assistant coach Savanna Bolich appreciates the energy generated by the women's qualifiers. "We have seniors who have been working for this for years all the way to freshmen, and they're all excited and looking forward to it.," she said.

Bolich said the lack of experience at this particular rodeo isn't crucial because of the work and preparation habits built over the course of the season and their careers. "I think obviously experience is valuable because of how many go-rounds, but we're going to stress being consistent and just making runs and getting it in the average. They're used to that because that's our approach for every rodeo."

The CNFR begins with roughstock competition on Sunday, June 15, before slack on Monday and Tuesday night. Then, beginning Tuesday evening, the event rolls through three long go-rounds that lead to Saturday's championship performance. The increased number of rounds – most Big Sky Region rodeos feature two go-rounds – and the length of time in one locale stand as the big differences between regular season rodeos and the CNFR.

"That's a long time to be at one rodeo," Whitaker said, "so that's probably the biggest difference. The crowds are good, there's good energy, but our rodeo in the Brick (Breeden Fieldhouse) prepares us for that. So just having three rounds is the biggest difference."

The "Bulls, Broncs and Breakaway" sessions on Sunday begin at 1 pm and 4 pm at the Ford Center in Casper. Slack begins at 7 am Monday and Tuesday, then performances begin at 7 pm nightly. All evening performances stream on ESPN3 via the ESPN app.

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Schedule

Players Mentioned

Cole Detton

Cole Gerhardt

Wyatt Jensen

Anneliese McCurry

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Upcoming Event: Men's Rodeo versus UM Western Rodeo on Sep. 26, 2025 at All Day