Montana Western Rodeo Signs 19 Student-Athletes for 2026-27 Season

DILLON, Mont. — The Montana Western rodeo program has signed 19 student-athletes ahead of the 2026-27 season, head coach JT Robbins announced Tuesday.

The incoming class includes 12 women and seven men, with a mix of experienced transfers and accomplished high school competitors.

“We are very excited about this incoming class,” Robbins said. “We’re able to bring a lot of young talent that have seen success at high levels on the men’s team and a huge amount of experience coming into the women’s team. There are several individuals that are going to have an immediate impact on our success.”

Women’s team signees

Ella Begger, a junior from Townsend, transfers from the College of Southern Idaho. She competes in breakaway roping and goat tying and helped CSI finish first in the Rocky Mountain Region in 2026.

Cassidy Bradshaw, a senior from Heyburn, Idaho, transfers from New Mexico State. She won the 2025 Grand Canyon Region breakaway roping championship.

Taylor Cartwright, a freshman from Townsend, competes in team roping, breakaway roping and barrel racing. She finished 14th in team roping at the 2026 state rodeo and was the 2025 BWD all-around champion and Montana High School Rodeo Association Rodeo Queen.

Emily Fernandez, a freshman from Honoka‘a, Hawaii, competes in barrel racing and goat tying. She placed fifth in barrel racing at the 2026 state competition and qualified for nationals.

Isabelle Friesen, a senior barrel racer from La Crete, Alberta, transfers from Montana State and will compete in collegiate rodeo for the first time.

Murphy Gaasch, a senior from Dillon, returns home after competing for Cochise College. She helped the program win two Grand Canyon Region women’s team titles and finished fourth in breakaway roping at the 2025 College National Finals Rodeo.

Tylee Grantham, a freshman barrel racer from Wickenburg, Arizona, recorded top-10 finishes at three Women’s Professional Rodeo Association events in 2026.

Julia Hoagland, a freshman from Whitehall, competes in breakaway roping and barrel racing and previously qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo.

Kenzie Reber, a freshman from Valleyview, Alberta, competes in goat tying and breakaway roping. She was a seven-time Alberta High School Rodeo Association provincial qualifier, a four-time Canadian qualifier and a three-time District 3 reserve champion goat tyer.

Lauren Rook, a freshman from Hayden, Idaho, competes in barrel racing and breakaway roping. She was named the 2025 Idaho High School Rodeo Association Rookie of the Year and qualified for state in three events.

Kassie Sweet, a junior from Roberts, transfers from Casper College, where she competed in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s Central Rocky Mountain Region.

Sierra Telford, a junior from Caldwell, Idaho, transfers from South Plains College. She helped her team place second in the Caprock Region in 2026 and qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo.

Men’s team signees

James Boggus III, a freshman bull rider from Ennis, won the 2026 Idaho high school state championship and the 2025-26 District 7 championship.

Kaweloanu Castro, a freshman from Kamuela, Hawaii, competes in team roping and tie-down roping. He also earned multiple top-three finishes and victories in light rifle shooting through the Hawaii High School Rodeo Association.

Rowdy Fischer, a freshman saddle bronc rider from Helena, won his division at the 2025 Philomath Frolic and Rodeo and placed second at the event in 2026.

Quentin Personeni, a freshman from Oroville, California, competes in bareback riding and team roping. He was the 2026 District 1 all-around champion and is a two-time state bareback champion.

Tate Poppe, a freshman team roping heeler from Fallon, won the 2025 Montana High School Rodeo Association state championship.

Quaide Skjonsberg, a freshman bareback rider from Bluffton, Alberta, joins his brother, Denten, on the Bulldogs’ roster. He won bareback titles at the Calgary Stampede and Ponoka Stampede in 2025 and 2026, captured a Canadian championship in 2025 and was the 2022 National Junior High Finals Rodeo reserve world champion.

Brody Westergard, a freshman bull rider from Arco, Idaho, placed third in the average at the state finals during his senior season and qualified for nationals. He also reached the state finals as a sophomore and junior.