TRAPPERS STRUGGLE IN FINAL RODEO
One final road trip to Montana gave the Northwest Trapper rodeo team one more opportunity to move up the Big Sky Region standings to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper next month — but a difficult weekend led to a fifth place finish, although two cowboys qualified for the national finals.
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
One final road trip to Montana gave the Northwest Trapper rodeo team one more opportunity to move up the Big Sky Region standings to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper next month — but a difficult weekend led to a fifth place finish, although two cowboys qualified for the national finals.
In Missoula, the Trappers were unable to find a ton of momentum throughout the weekend and score points — finishing with 130 points, well behind winner Montana State with 960.
"Things didn't develop the way we would have liked," coach Del Nose said.
The only two placers on the day for the Trappers came from Phillip Bowers taking second in the team roping header and Hagen Wallace taking ninth in the team roping heeler.
Overall in the Big Sky standings the Trappers took fifth for the season on the men's side and sixth on the women's side.
Northwest was able to get two qualified for the CNFR, with Logan Smith qualifying for tie down roping and Zane Young qualifying for bull riding.
"Two is better than nothing," Nose said. "Those guys will keep practicing. They are all set up at their houses to practice."
The CNFR is set to start on June 11 in Casper at the Ford Wyoming Center and conclude on June 17.
Nose said that he is looking forward to the team next year, as the Trappers are having their best year of recruiting since COVID-19 and he is expecting a stronger team next year.