Bulldog Rodeo Prepares For College National Finals Rodeo

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information

DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western men's and women's rodeo teams secured second place finishes in the Big Sky Region to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR). This marks the first time since 2021 that both teams will be traveling to the CNFR in the same season.

"On the men's team, I'm excited to take a group of veterans. Four of the six men have been there, and I think this group can do something special," Head Coach JT Robbins said.

The men's team will be sending a group of six men to the finals, including four repeat finalists.

"Our women's team had an impressive season, claiming victories at several rodeos within one of the most competitive regions in the country. They're young, driven, and dedicated to putting in the work—I'm excited to see what they accomplish next," Robbins continued.

Four Bulldog women claimed bids to the finals after they finished in second as a team in the region. This year's finals will be a first for three of the four women competing at the CNFR.

Entries

Gavin Knutson from Polson, Mont. finished in second in the region in bull riding this season. This will be his third trip to the finals. Knutson finished the season winning four of the 10 rodeos this season and placed second in two more. Knutson is the fourth ranked Bull Rider in the nation and makes his third trip to the finals.

Cole Trexler (header) from Corvallis, Mont., and Kyler Erickson (heeler) from Rigby, Idaho, won the region title in team roping and earned their spot at the finals. The pair was unstoppable this season, winning three rodeos and placing in the top six in six rodeos this season. Trexler sits in 14th in the nation as a header and Erickson is in 13th as a heeler.

Chase Martin from Molalla, Ore. finished third in the region for saddle bronc riding and will take his first trip to the finals to represent Montana Western in the event. Martin won a pair of rodeos this season and placed in the top five in all but two rodeos this season. Martin enters the rodeo as the 24th ranked rider in the country.

After sitting out most of the fall season due to an injury, Trevor Kay, Chester, Idaho came out strong this spring and finished in third in bareback riding to secure his third trip to the CNFR. He enters as the 14th ranked rider in the country.

Jake Deveraux from Newcastle, Wyo. placed second in the region in tie down roping and will round out the Bulldog men competing at the finals this summer. Deveraux earns his second trip to the finals for the Bulldogs and sits in 24th in the national standings heading into the CNFR.

On the women's side, two Bulldogs won the region in their events. Tavy Leno won the region in goat tying and Tynell Mclnenly finished on top in breakaway roping.

Leno from Sheridan, Wyo. returns to the CNFR for her second appearance in goat tying. Last season, she advanced to the short-go and finished 12th overall. This year, she delivered a consistently strong performance—placing in the top five in goat tying at eight of the ten rodeos—and captured first-place buckles at three events. She enters as the eighth ranked goat tyer in the nation.

Mclnenly from Vulcan, Alberta takes her first trip to the finals after winning the region title in breakaway roping. She finished in the top five in six of the ten rodeos this spring, winning a first-place buckle at the second Montana State rodeo. She enters as the third ranked breakaway roper in the country.

Laura Haight from Blackfoot, Idaho and Charlee Resch from Stettler, Alberta each secured their spot on the team heading to the finals this summer, making this their first time at the finals. Haight finished in fourth place in the region in barrel racing and Resch finished in fourth place in breakaway roping.

Up Next

The College National Finals Rodeo will be in Casper, Wyo. from June 15 through June 21. The position draw for the event will be announced on June 8 for the athletes competing in the event.

To view more about the event, click here.