Bobcats Head to Casper for 2026 CNFR Beginning Sunday, June 14

Sunday, June 14

Casper, WY

TBA

Montana State University

College National Finals Rodeo

Bobcats Head to Casper for 2026 CNFR Beginning Sunday, June 14

6/10/2026 6:30:00 AM | Men's Rodeo, Women's Rodeo

MSU chases team, individual accolades at college rodeo's championship event

By: Bill Lamberty

BOZEMAN, Mont. (June 10, 2026) – Montana State sends 16 student-athletes to the 2026 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming, beginning on Sunday, June 14.

Veteran head coach Kyle Whitaker said that this Bobcats team is the most complete he's sent to college rodeo's championship event. "We have an opportunity to win every event," he said, "and I've never been able to say that before."

The Bobcats stand second in the final men's national standings, while the women's team is fourth. Several MSU individuals enter the CNFR in the upper echelon of individual events. Tahj Wells (third, bull riding), Ryley Mapston (third, tie down roping), Jaden Whitman (third, steer wrestling) and Haven Wolstien (first, barrel racing) each stand in the top five of their events. Marshall finished third nationally in women's all-around.

Several Bobcats have experienced success in Casper's Ford Center, site of the CNFR. Marshall finished 12^th and Wolstein 16^th in goat tying a year ago. Cole Gerhardt, Wyatt Jensen and Jaden Whitman have each competed in the CNFR in the past.

Last year's CNFR Reserve Champion steer wrestler, Cole Detton, won't participate at this year's event. After competing with an injury throughout the spring, the senior from Great Falls underwent season-ending surgery.

The event begins with matinee action during Sunday's "Bulls, Broncs and Breakaway," and continues with slack beginning at 7 am on Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday's 7 pm public performance begins a string of five straight nights of action, culminating with Saturday's 7 pm Championship Go. All public performances air on-line on ESPN3 and the ESPN app.

Whitaker is looking forward to seeing his athletes perform on college rodeo's biggest stage. "We have a lot of tough competitors," he said, "and this is what they work for all season. I'm excited for them to show what they can do."

BOBCATS IN NATIONAL STANDINGS
Team Standings: MSU Men-2^nd, MSU Women-4^th
Men's All-Around: Tahj Wels-12^th, *Cole Detton-15^th, Wyatt Jensen-24^th
Women's All-Around: Faith Marshall-3^rd,
Bareback Riding: Cole Gerhardt-18^th
Bull Riding: Tahj Wells-3^rd, Holden Atkinson-10^th
Tie Down: Ryley Mapston-3^rd, Wyatt Jensen-20^th
Steer Wrestling: Jaden Whitman-3^rd, *Cole Detton-7^th, Ryder Gaasch-16^th
Barrel Racing: Anneliese McCurry-13^th, Piper Cordes-21^st
Breakaway Roping: Haven Wolstein-1^st, Rachel Ward-10^th, Hailey Burger-16^th
Goat Tying: Faith Marshall-7^th, Michaela McCormick-8^th

BOBCAT EVENT DRAWS – By Day
SUNDAY, June 16: Tahj Wells, SB, Go 1/Sect 1; Cooper McNiven, SB, Go 1/Sect 4; Tahj Wells, BR, Go 1/Sect. 1; Holden Atkinson, BR, Go 1/Sect. 2; Cole Gerhardt, SB, Go 1/Sect. 3; Hailey Burger, BKW, Go 1/Sect. 2; Rachel Ward, BKW, Go 1/Sect. 5; Haven Wolstein, BKW, Go 1/Sect. 5.

MONDAY, June 17: Tahj Wells, SB, Go 2/Sect. 1; Cooper McNiven, SB, go 2/Sect. 1; Cole Gerhardt, BB, Go 2/Sect. 2; Tahj Wells, BR, Go 2/Sect. 1; Wyatt Jensen, TDR, Go 1/Sect. 1; Ryley Mapston, TDR, Go 1/Sect. 1; Jaden Whitman, SW, Go 1/Sect. 1; Ryder Gaasch, SW, Go 1/Sect. 1; Wyatt Jensen/Preston Bird, TMR, Go 1/Sect. 1; Anneliese McCurry, BAR, Go 1/Sect. 1; Faith Marshall, BAR, Go 1/Sect. 1; Rachel Ward, BAR, Go 1/Sect. 1; Piper Cordes, BAR, Go 1/Sect. 1; Haven Wolstein, BKW, Go 2/Sect. 1; Rachel Ward, BKW, Go 2, Sect. 1; Michaela McCormick, GT, Go 1/Sect. 2; Faith Marshall, GT, Go 1/Sect. 2.

TUESDAY, June 18: Tahj Wells, SB, Go 3/Perf.; Holden Atkinson, BR, Go 2/Sect. 3; Tahj Wells, BR, Perf.; Ryley Mapston, TDR, Go 2/Sect. 1; Wyatt Jensen, TDR, Go 2/Sect. 1; Ryder Gaasch, SW, Go 2/Sect. 2; Jaden Whitman, SW, Go 2/Sect. 2; Ryder Gaasch, SW, Go 3/Perf.; Wyatt Jensen/Preston Bird, TMR, Go 2/Sect. 1; Wyatt Jensen/Preston Bird, Go 3/Sect. 1; Perf.; Piper Cordes, BAR, Go 2/Sect. 1; Rachel Ward, BAR, Go 2/Sect. 1; Faith Marshall, BAR, Go 2/Sect. 1; Anneliese McCurry, BAR, Go 2/Sect. 1; Hailey Burger, BKW, Go 2/Sect. 2; Faith Marshall, GT, Go 2/Sect. 1; Michaela McCormick, GT, Go 2/Sect. 1.

WEDNESDAY, June 19: Wyatt Jensen, TDR, Go 3/Perf.; Jaden Whitman, SW, Go 3/Perf.; Anneliese McCurry, BAR, Go 3/Perf.; Faith Marshall, BAR, Go 3/Perf.; Rachel Ward, BKW, Go 3/Sect. 2; Michaela McCormick, GT, Go 3/Perf.

THURSDAY, June 20: Cole Gerhardt, BB, Go 3/Perf.; Ryley Mapston, TDR, Go 3/Sect. 3.

FRIDAY, June 21: Cooper McNiven, SB, Go 3/Perf.; Piper Cordes, BAR, Go 3/Perf.; Rachel Ward, BAR, Go 3/Perf.; Hailey Burger, BKW, Go 3/Sect. 4; Haven Wolstein, BKW, Go 3/Sect. 4; Faith Marshall, GT, Go 3/Perf.

SATURDAY, June 22: Championship Go TBA

BOBCAT EVENT DRAWS – By Athlete
HOLDEN ATKINSON
Bull Riding – Sunday (Go 1/Sect. 2), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect. 3), Tuesday (Go 3/Perf)

PRESTON BIRD
Team Roping – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 3/Perf)

RYDER GAASCH
Steer Wrestling – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 2), Tuesday (Go 3/Perf)

COLE GERHARDT
Bareback – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 3), Monday (Go 2/Sect 2), Thursday (Go 3/Perf)

WYATT JENSEN
Tie Down Roping – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 2), Wednesday (Go 3/Perf)
Team Roping – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 3/Perf)

RYLEY MAPSTON
Tie Down Roping – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 1/Sect 2), Thursday (Go 3/Perf)

COOPER McNIVEN
Saddle Bronc – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 4), Monday (Go 2/Sect 1), Friday (Go 3/Perf)

TAHJ WELLS
Bull Riding – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 1), Monday (Go 2/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 3/Perf)
Saddle Bronc – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 1), Monday (Go 2/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 3/Perf)

JADEN WHITMAN
Steer Wrestling – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 2), Wednesday (Go 3/Perf)

HAILEY BURGER
Breakaway Roping – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 2), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 2), Go 3/Perf)

PIPER CORDES
Barrel Racing – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Friday (Go 3/Perf)

FAITH MARSHALL
Barrel Racing – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Wednesday (Go 3/Perf)
Goat Tying – Monday (Go 1/Sect 2), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Friday (Go 3/Perf)

MICHAELA McCORMICK
Goat Tying – Monday (Go 1/Sect 2), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Wednesday (Go 3/Perf)

ANNELIESE McCURRY
Barrel Racing – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Wednesday (Go 3/Perf)

RACHEL WARD
Breakaway Roping – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 5), Monday (Go 2/Sect 1), Wednesday (Go 3/Perf)
Barrel Racing – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Friday (Go 3/Perf)

HAVEN WOLSTEIN
Breakaway Roping – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 5), Monday (Go 2/Sect 1), Friday (Go 3/Perf)

WOMEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying events)
Hailey Burger, so., Helena (Breakaway Roping)
Breakaway Roping – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 2), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 2), Go 3/Perf)
Finished 3rd in the Big Sky Region in breakaway roping in 2025-26… won Northwest #2 in breakaway and logged two 3^rd place finishes… finished 6^th in the region in 2024-25

Piper Cordes, so., Wall, SD (Barrel Racing)
Barrel Racing – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Friday (Go 3/Perf)
Finished 3^rd in the Big Sky Region in barrel racing in 2025-26, posting five top-five finishes in the region's 10 rodeos… as a freshman in 2024-25, finished 5^th in barrel racing and all-around and 12^th in breakaway roping in the region

Faith Marshall, jr., Junction City, OR (Goat Tying, Barrel Racing)
Barrel Racing – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Wednesday (Go 3/Perf)
Goat Tying – Monday (Go 1/Sect 2), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Friday (Go 3/Perf)
Won the Big Sky Region Women's All-Around title in 2025-26… finished 1^st in the region in goat tying… also finished 5^th in barrel racing and 13^th in breakaway roping… won the all-around title at four of the region's 10 rodeos, capturing or sharing the goat tying title three times… placed 12^th in goat tying at the 2025 CNFR… finished 3^rd in goat tying in the Big Sky Region 2024-25, 5^th in 2023-24

Michaela McCormick, jr., Salem, SD (Goat Tying)
Goat Tying – Monday (Go 1/Sect 2), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Wednesday (Go 3/Perf)
Finished second in the Big Sky Region in goat tying in 2025-26… won or shared four goat tying titles, and shared all-around honors once… placed 16^th in goat tying and 40^th in breakaway at the 2025 CNFR… finished 7^th in the Big Sky Region in goats in 2023-24

Anneliese McCurry, so., Nampa, ID (Barrel Racing)
Barrel Racing – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Wednesday (Go 3/Perf)
Finished 2^nd in barrel racing in the Big Sky Region in 2025-26 after marking top-five finishes in six straight rodeos… won barrels in both sessions of the MSU Spring Rodeo, with two other reserve champion finishes… won the region and finished 8^th at the CNFR in barrels in 2024-25 as a freshman

Rachel Ward, jr., Philipsburg (Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing)
Breakaway Roping – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 5), Monday (Go 2/Sect 1), Wednesday (Go 3/Perf)
Barrel Racing – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Friday (Go 3/Perf)
Finished 2^nd in the Big Sky Region in breakaway in 2025-26, and also finished 2^nd in all-around… six top-five finishes in barrel racing, two in breakaway… won breakaway at the UM Rodeo… two fourth-place all-around finishes… finished 6^th in barrel racing this season… finished 13^th in the region breakaway in 2024-25

Haven Wolstein, gr., Helena (Breakaway Roping)
Breakaway Roping – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 5), Monday (Go 2/Sect 1), Friday (Go 3/Perf)
Won the Big Sky Region breakaway roping title in 2025-26, and enters the CNFR leading the nation in that event… won four rodeos in breakaway, and finished tied for second once… one second-place all-around finish… finished 2^nd in the region in all-around, 4^th in goat tying and 7^th in breakaway roping in 2024-25… finished 4^th in breakaway and 44^th in goat tying at the 2025 CNFR… finished 5^th in the region in all-around, 6^th in goats and 7^th in breakaway in 2023-24

MEN'S QUALIFIERS (Qualifying events)
Holden Atkinson, so., Black Diamond, Alberta (Bull Riding)
Bull Riding – Sunday (Go 1/Sect. 2), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect. 3), Tuesday (Go 3/Perf)
Finished third in the region in spite of missing the fall season with an injury… won the MSU #2 and UM rodeos, finishing second at MCC #2

Preston Bird, jr., Cut Bank (Team Roping heeler)
Team Roping – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 3/Perf)
Big Sky Region reserve champion as heeler… won both MCC rodeos and finished third at MSUN… runnerup at UMW to close the fall… finished 32^nd at the 2025 CNFR competing for MSU Northern, including a top 15 finish in the first go

Ryder Gaasch, fr., Dillon (Steer Wrestling)
Steer Wrestling – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 2), Tuesday (Go 3/Perf)
Finished fourth in the Big Sky Region in steer wrestling and 10th in tie down roping, and sixth in all-around... also ninth in team roping as heeler... won the UM Rodeo steer wrestling, posting five second place finishes... six top 10 finishes in tie down roping, three in team roping

Cole Gerhardt, jr., Mandan, ND (Bareback)
Bareback – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 3), Monday (Go 2/Sect 2), Thursday (Go 3/Perf)
Finished fifth in the Big Sky Region in all-around, second in bareback and 11th in steer wrestling in spite of missing the fall season with injury... won the region's final three rodeos in bareback... two top 10 finishes in tie down and three in steer wrestling... won top honors in all-around three times in the spring's six rodeos… as a sophomore in 2024-25, won the Big Sky region in all-around and bareback, finished 4th in steer wrestling and 5th in tie down roping... national rankings: 1st in all-around, 2nd in bareback... won bareback five times and steer wrestling once at the Big Sky's 10 2024-25 rodeos... took top all-around honors six times and 2nd place three times… capped a sensational freshman season by qualifying for the 2024 CNFR in bareback riding and steer wrestling... finished 2nd in the Big Sky Region in bareback, 3rd in steer wrestling, 12th in team roping as a heeler... won the region's top all-around honors, standing 7th nationally... finished 1st or 2nd in bareback in nine of the region's 10 rodeos... seven top 10 finishes in steer wrestling... 8th nationally in bareback

Wyatt Jensen, jr., Blackfoot, ID (Team Roping header, Tie Down Roping)
Tie Down Roping – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 2), Wednesday (Go 3/Perf)
Team Roping – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 3/Perf)
Team roping reserve champion… finished third in tie down roping… scored points in nine of the region's 10 events in tie down roping, and in six of the team roping events… earned three team roping wins as header and five tie down roping events… in 2024-25, won the region in tie down and finished second in team roping… also fourth in all-around… finished 26^th at the 2025 CNFR in tie down roping and 38^th in team roping… won the Big Sky Region tie down roping title and finished 2nd in team roping (as header with Hayden Taylor) in 2024-25, when he finished 4th in all-around... finished 1st twice and second three times in tie down at Big Sky Region's 10 rodeos as a sophomore... finished third in tie-down roping in the 2024 CNFR after winning the Big Sky Region tie-down roping title, standing 13th nationally, as a freshman... won MSU Spring Rodeos #1 and #2 that year, with two other top five finishes in the spring to go with three top five finishes in the fall

Ryley Mapston, jr., Belt (Tie Down Roping)
Tie Down Roping – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 1/Sect 2), Thursday (Go 3/Perf)
Big Sky Region tie down roping champion… finished 13th in team roping (header)... won tie down roping titles of both NWC rodeos, both MCC rodeos, and MSU #1... also scored points in two other rodeos... finished third in team roping at NWC #2 and fifth at MSU #2

Cooper McNiven, fr., Mundare, Alberta (Saddle Bronc)
Saddle Bronc – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 4), Monday (Go 2/Sect 1), Friday (Go 3/Perf)
Rides a strong finish to the 2025-26 season to the CNFR… won the MSUN saddle bronc competition, finishing second three times and third one other

Tahj Wells, fr., Browning (Bull Riding, Saddle Bronc)
Bull Riding – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 1), Monday (Go 2/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 3/Perf)
Saddle Bronc – Sunday (Go 1/Sect 1), Monday (Go 2/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 3/Perf)
2025-26 Big Sky Region Men's All-Around and bull riding champion… won saddle bronc and bull riding at MSU #1, when he captured all-around honors… also won bull riding at UMW… second in saddle bronc twice and in bull riding twice… also won all-around at MSUN… finished third in team roping at NWC #2

Jaden Whitman, sr., Belgrade (Steer Wrestling)
Steer Wrestling – Monday (Go 1/Sect 1), Tuesday (Go 2/Sect 2), Wednesday (Go 3/Perf)
Big Sky Region steer wrestling champion… won NWC #1 and both MCC rodeos and finished second three times and third once… won the DCC rodeo in team roping and finished second at MSU #2… finished in the top six in all-around four times… injured most of 2024-25… qualified for the 2023-24 steer wrestling after winning the region and finishing fourth nationally in steer wrestling… won all-around honors twice in 2023-24

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