Rodeo September 1, 2026 Claire Gay, UMW Sports Information

Montana Western Rodeo Adds 19 to 2026-27 Roster

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

A brief profile on each athlete and a quote from Robbins follow below.

"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."

The women's rodeo team was bolstered by 12 newcomers.

Ella Begger | Junior | Breakaway, Goat Tying
Townsend, Mont. | College of Southern Idaho
Begger is a transfer from CSI. She led her team to a first-place finish in the Rocky Mountain Region in 2026. She also was a multi-time state and national champion in pole bending for Broadwater HS. She is the daughter of Clint and Jada Begger and is majoring in Kinesiology.

Cassidy Bradshaw | Senior | Breakaway Roping, Goat Tying
Heyburn Idaho | New Mexico State
Bradshaw is a transfer from New Mexico State, where she was the 2025 Grand Canyon Region Champion in the breakaway roping. She is the daughter of Chester and Kacy Bradshaw and is majoring in Business.

Taylor Cartwright | Freshman | Team Roping, Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing
Townsend, Mont. | Broadwater HS
Cartwright joins the Bulldogs from Townsend, Mont. She finished 14th in team roping at the 2026 state rodeo. She also was the BWD all-around champion and MHSRA Rodeo Queen in 2025. She is the daughter of Shawn and Brianne Cartwright and plans to major in Psychology.

Emily Fernandez | Freshman | Barrel Racing, Goat Tying
Honoka'a, Hawai'I | Kamehameha Schools
Fernandez comes to Dillon from Honoka'a, Hawai'i. She placed fifth in the barrels at the 2026 state competition, qualifying her for nationals. She is the daughter of Troy and Lori Fernandez and will major in Business.

Isabelle Friesen | Senior | Barrel Racing
La Crete, Alberta, Canada | Montana State
Friesen is a barrel racer out of La Crete, Alberta. This is her first year competing in collegiate rodeo after transferring from Montana State. She is the daughter Russel and Suzi Friesen and is majoring in Natural Horsemanship.

Murphy Gaasch | Senior | Breakaway Roping, Team Roping
Dillon, Mont. | Cochise College
Gaasch returns home after rodeoing for Cochise College in the NIRA's Grand Canyon Region. She led her team to two Grand Canyon women's team titles and placed fourth in the breakaway roping at the 2025 CNFR. She is the daughter of Ryan and Lindsay Gaasch and is majoring Business.

Tylee Grantham | Freshman | Barrel Racing
Wickenburg, Ariz. | Wickenburg Christian Academy
Grantham joins Western from Wickenburg, Ariz. She finished in the top 10 in the barrels at three WPRA rodeos in 2026. She is the daughter of Ty and Tanya Grantham and plans to major in Psychology.

Julia Hoagland | Freshman | Breakaway Roping, Barrel Racing
Whitehall, Mont. | Whitehall HS
Hoagland comes to Dillon from just down the road in Whitehall, Mont. She was a NHSRA qualifier. She is the daughter of Shawn Hoagland and Gina Ossello and sister of Bulldog volleyball player Maxine Hoagland and will major in Business Administration.

Kenzie Reber | Freshman | Goat Tying, Breakaway Roping
Valleyview, Alberta, Canada |
Reber joins the Bulldogs from Hillside HS in Valleyview, Alberta. She was a seven-time AHSRA provincial qualifier, four-time Canadian qualifier, and a three-time D3 reserve champion goat tyer. She is the daughter of Cami and Deston Reber and will major in Kinesiology.

Lauren Rook | Freshman | Barrel Racing, Breakaway Roping
Hayden, Idaho | Venture HS
Rook is a freshman out of Hayden, Idaho. She was the IDHSRA Rookie of the year in 2025 and qualified for state in three events. She is the daughter of Nick and Jenn Rook and plans to major in Biology.

Kassie Sweet | Junior | Breakaway Roping, Team Roping
Roberts, Mont. | Casper College
Sweet is a transfer from Casper College. She competed in the NIRA's Central Rocky Mountain Region. She is the daughter of Ben and Kirstin Sweet and is majoring in Elementary Education.

Sierra Telford | Junior | Barrel Racing, Breakaway Roping
Caldwell, Idaho | South Plains College
Telford is a transfer from South Plains College. She helped her team to a second-place finish in the Caprock Region in 2026 and was a CNFR qualifier. She is the daughter of Jessie and Jake Telford and is majoring in Business.

The UMW men's team signed seven to this year's squad.

James Boggus III | Freshman | Bull Riding
Ennis, Mont. | Ennis HS
Boggus joins the Bulldogs from Ennis, Mont. He was the 2026 Idaho High School State bull riding champion and the 2025-26 district 7 bull riding champion. He is the son of Jamie and Hollu Boggus.

Kaweloanu Castro | Freshman | Team Roping, Tie-Down Roping
Kamuela, Hawai'i | Kanu o Ka Āina Public Charter School
Castro comes to Western from Kamuela, Hawai'i. He placed in the top three in light rifle shooting three times at the Hawai'I High School Rodeo Districts and won the event on three occasions at the HHSRA State Finals. He is the son of Kanoa and Kalua Castro and plans to major in Natural Horsemanship.

Rowdy Fischer | Freshman | Saddle Bronc Riding
Helena, Mont. | Big Sky HS
Fischer is a freshman out of Helena, Mont. He won his division in the saddle bronc at the Philomath Frolic and Rodeo in 2025 and finished second at the same event in 2026. He is the son of Ty Fischer and will major in Business.

Quentin Personeni | Freshman | Bareback Riding, Team Roping
Oroville, Calif. | Las Plumas HS
Personeni comes to Dillon from Oroville, Calif. He was the 2026 District 1 all-around champion, and a two-time bareback state champion. He is the son of John and Stacie Personeni and plans to major in Kinesiology.

Tate Poppe | Freshman | Team Roping Heeler
Fallon, Mont. | JMLearning
Poppe is a freshman out of Fallon, Mont. He was the 2025 MHSRA State Champion Heeler. He is the son of Jake and Bree Poppe.

Quaide Skjonsberg | Freshman | Bareback Riding
Bluffton, Alberta, Canada | Rimbey HS
Quaide joins his brother, Denten, in rodeoing for the Bulldogs. He was the 2025 and 2026 champion in bareback riding both the Calgary Stampede and Ponoka Stampede. He also was a 2025 Canadian champion in the event and was the 2022 NJHSRA reserve world champion. He is the son of Jack and Jody Skjonsberg and will major in Business.

Brody Westergard | Freshman | Bull Riding.
Arco, Idaho | Butte County HS
Westergard joins Western from Arco, Idaho. In his senior season he placed third in the average at the state finals and qualified for nationals. He also qualified for the state finals in his sophomore and junior year. He is the son of Debby Westergard and is majoring in Farm and Ranch Management.

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