Another difficult weekend saw the Northwest College rodeo team struggle in Glendive, Montana, as the Trappers managed just 50 points on the men’s side and failed to score on the women’s at the Dawson Community College Rodeo on Sept. 13-14.

The highest placers for the Trappers were Christopher Staley in bull riding, who earned 122 points over two days to place third.

Jayson Carl finished in a three way tie for fifth place in the tie down roping, as the Trappers finished seventh in the second competition of the season.

Coach Del Nose said the Trappers did see more success in this rodeo with more making it to the short go, but they were unable to score points in those final attempts.

“The guys got to the short round but after the short round it didn’t work,” Nose said. “They’re nickel and diming but things just aren’t coming together.”

Montana State University won with 910 points, well ahead of second place Montana State University Northern with 580 points.

Since that rodeo the Trappers have returned home and are taking time to focus on the mental aspects of the competition before heading to their final rodeo of the fall.

“We went back to the basics,” Nose said. “I’m amping up the pressure on them and getting them to think and read the field. Take your shot when it comes to you and not have to swing through it again. Just little things like that.”

Despite the slow start to the season, the Trappers are sitting fourth in the Big Sky standings as a team for the men and fifth for the women, with an opportunity to improve on that in the final rodeo of the fall.

That will be held in Dillon, Montana, as Northwest heads to the University of Montana Western Rodeo on Friday and Saturday.

“I’ve still got hopes,” Nose said. “The talent is there, hopefully we can get to Dillon and turn it around.”

Following the rodeo this weekend the Trappers will take the winter off before picking things back up in April 2025.