MSU rodeo: Women in command at Trapper Stampede

By JIM CNOCKAERT Chronicle Sports Writer

The Big Sky Region appears to be in for a replay of last season.

The Montana State women's rodeo team, the defending Big Sky champion, already has a huge lead in the standings after two events at Northwest College's Trapper Stampede in Cody, Wyo. The MSU men's team, second a year ago after a season-long battle with champion Montana Western, has the early lead after winning big on Friday and taking third in a close finish on Saturday.

"It was a good start to the season," MSU coach Mike True said. "The women are off and rolling again. They won even bigger than they did the first night. We're not going to win every rodeo, especially on that men's side. We got points out of everyone, but we weren't as dominating the rough stock as we were the first night. Honestly, we didn't get on anything that bucked very much, and that's going to happen."

Junior Sarah Guenzler won the goat tying for the second consecutive day. Classmate Chennell Brewer was rodeo's all-around cowgirl after finishing third in both the breakaway roping and the goat tying. Sophomore JoBeth Askin scored in all three events and was the runner-up all-around cowgirl. Senior Mercede Knudson finished fourth in the barrel race on a backup horse.

Junior Shelby Blixt ran third in the barrels, and senior Megan Lewis placed in both breakaway and barrels. The freshman class continued its contributions: Kate Sharon was second in the goat tying after finishing third in the breakaway roping, and Tiffany Moullet was second in the breakaway roping.

The MSU finished with 589 points on Saturday and have 1,143 points after two rodeos. Montana, which was second both nights, is second overall with 437 points.

"All in all, it was a fine showing for the girls," True said. "They're off to the same kind of start as last season."

After a dominating Friday performance in which they scored 838 points, the MSU collected 584 Saturday to finish third behind Dawson Community College (645 points) and Montana Western (620). The Bobcats lead the region with 1,442 1/2 points. Dawson is second with 978 1/2. Western is third.

"Western has been so hard for us to get around, so the good news is that we got a jump on them this weekend," True said. "Western is very talented, and they have a lot of depth. That's a problem we're trying to develop on the men's side. We have a lot more depth now. That's something we've been after."

The highlight of the second night for the men was the performance of senior Cliff Toone, who scored his first college win in the saddle bronc with a 73-point ride. Toone also placed in saddle bronc on Friday night, and he placed in the steer wrestling on Saturday.

"Cliff keeps hammering away and getting better," True said. "He turned that bronc riding deal around last spring, and he rode better. I'm tickled for him."

Junior Cort Sheer piled up a lot of points during the weekend. He scored 227 points on Saturday - finishing third in the saddle bronc, fourth in the steer wrestling and sixth in the calf roping - after collecting 233 on Friday.

Sophomore Bobby Peters was third in the bull riding, and Marty Holden was sixth. Blaine Konkel was fourth in the calf roping. Freshman Hutch Haslem was fifth in the bareback. Senior Braidy Davies and freshman Chase Tryan took sixth in the team roping after winning the event the night before. Freshman Jake Vold, who won the bareback riding on Friday night, scored in both bareback and saddle bronc.

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