MSU rodeo teams sweep to Big Sky wins in Havre

By JIM CNOCKAERT Chronicle Sports Writer

The Montana State men's and women's rodeo teams continued their early domination of the Big Sky Region last weekend, winning both sides of the Montana State Northern Rodeo in Havre.

The MSU men finished with 810 points to Montana Western's 660, with Dawson Community College and Northwest College at 380 and 340, respectively. Led by junior Sarah Guenzler, the women were even more dominant, scoring 445 points to Western's 165.

"There's no question we're off to a good start," MSU coach Mike True said. "We'll take it."

Combined with its first- and third-place finishes the previous weekend at rodeos in Cody, Wyo., the MSU men lead the region with 2,232.50 points. Western moved into second place with 1,551 points, followed by Dawson at 1,358.50.

The MSU women, who won all but won region rodeo last season, have swept three this fall. The Bobcats have 1,578.50 points. Montana is a distant second, just ahead of third-place Western.

Guenzler delivered another sizzling performance for the MSU women, scoring all but 100 of their points en route to the all-around title. She won the short round in the barrel race in 17.6 seconds - the fastest time of the rodeo - as well as the average. She won the short round and finish third in the average in the breakaway roping, and she split second and third in the average and the short round in the goat tying.

"Sarah's really rolling," True said. "(Her 345 points) is a huge score for a girl. She was just spectacular."

Senior Mercede Knudsen, sophomore Morgan Knudsen and freshman Kate Sharon all placed in the barrel racing. Freshman Kayla Jorgensen was fourth in the goat tying.

On the men's side, junior Cort Scheer won the all-around title for the second weekend with 225 points. Sophomore Bobby Peters was second with 205.

Scheer won the long round and split second and third in the average in the saddle bronc, and he won the short round and took third in the average in steer wrestling. Peters was second in the short round and in the average in the bull riding, and he split second and third in the short go and was fourth in the average in bareback riding.

The Bobcats took second through fifth in the calf roping. Freshmen Jake Newton and Levi Guenzler were second and third, respectively, junior Blaine Konkel was fourth and senior Braidy Davies was fifth. Davies and freshman Chase Tryan combined for fifth in the team roping. Freshman Hutch Haslem was second in the average in the bareback and second in the first round of the bull riding.

The rodeo was a rough one for both Scheer and freshman bareback rider Jake Vold. Scheer sprained in his ankle in the bronc riding, and Vold was stepped on in the bareback.

"Both of them are pretty sore, but they're both pretty tough," True said it's pretty sore. "Those injuries are more than a nick, but I don't expect it to keep them from competing."

Two more rodeos remain on the fall Big Sky schedule. The teams are at Miles City next weekend and in Dillon the following weekend.

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