MSU-N's Wagner headed back to CNFR

For the second straight season, Montana State University-Northern rodeo star Robert Wagner has qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo.

Montana State University-Northern junior Charlie Mack competes in the bareback riding at the final Big Sky Region rodeo earlier this month in Missoula.

The Lights and Skylights rodeo teams recently wrapped up the spring season in Missoula at the Big Sky Regional finals rodeo. Charlie Mack finished strong in Missoula with top placings in the bareback riding. Wagner came away as the champion Saddle Bronc rider in Missoula. The MSU-N men's team finished the season in fifth place after 10 Big Sky Region rodeos. Wagner and Mack ended the year near the top of the standings in their individual events as well for the year with Wagner, a senior qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, WY June 9-15. Mack narrowly missed his first trip to the CNFR in both the bull riding and the bareback standings.

"I am very proud of all of our athletes this year," said Northern head coach Doug Kallenberger. "It was a great season that came down to the last performance to see how it all turned out and our athletes did a fantastic job. I am very confident that Robert will have a shot at a national title in Casper. He's been there before and has some experience and he is riding well. It was very tough to see how close Charlie Mack was to qualifying and he worked so hard, but he'll be back next year, and he'll be tough. I am very proud of my entire team, it's a long season and they face many different challenges and it takes hard work and dedication to be a successful student rodeo athlete."

In the final Big Sky season standings, Mack finished 10th in the Men's All-Around. Wagner finished third in the saddle bronc, while teammate Phillip Sutherland finished 12th. Mack also finished fourth in both the bareback and bull riding, while Sutherland was 13th in the steer wrestling. The MSU-N women's team placed ninth.