Idaho State University rodeo team members will compete at College National Finals Rodeo

Two Idaho State University Rodeo Team members are headed to the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR), June 14-20 in Casper, Wyo. Trevor Townsend and Kasie Roe will represent the University as they compete for a chance to win national titles.

Townsend, a Rexburg resident, placed third in the tie-down roping event in the Rocky Mountain Region lending him one of the spots to represent ISU and the region at the CNFR.

Townsend competed in high school rodeo. He was an ISU Rodeo Team member in 2005 and after taking a two-year hiatus to complete a LDS Mission in Dallas, Texas, he returned this year to ISU and rodeo. He is an Intermountain Professional Rodeo Association card holder and competes in both team roping and tie-down roping. Trevor served as the team’s president this year and is working on completing a business degree with the hopes of attendingdental school in the near future.

Roe, a Twin Falls native, earned a spot at the CNFR in breakaway roping. She placed third in the region and will represent the Rocky Mountain Region and ISU in this event at the CNFR.

Throughout the year Roe competed in breakaway roping and goat tying. She served as the team’s secretary. Roe is a senior, majoring in Secondary Education, with an Emphasis in Business Education. Prior to her membership on the ISU Rodeo Team, Kasie was a member on the College of Southern Idaho and Montana Western rodeo teams. This is her fourth and final year to rodeo at the college level.

The CNFR is the "Rose Bowl" of college rodeo. It is where the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association crowns individual event champions in saddle bronc riding,bare back riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying.

National team championships also are awarded to both men's and women's teams. More 400 cowboys and cowgirls from more than 100 universities and colleges compete in Casper each year.

Contestants compete all year in one of the NIRA's 11 regions for a chance to rope or ride at the CNFR.