Two local college rodeo athletes are headed back to the big stage in June.

Abby Knight, a Charlo high school graduate and a sophomore barrel racer at the University of Great Falls, qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo for the second year in a row. Last year as a freshman, Knight finished 15th at the CNFR. This year, she is coming off a great spring. She won the last two rodeos of the college season.

“As a freshman, everything was new. This year, I’m feeling a lot more confident,” she said.

The top three competitors from each of the 11 regions qualify for the CNFR. In the Big Sky Region, which includes colleges from all over Montana like MSU and UM, Knight finished in third place in the barrel racing competition.

Will Powell, a St. Ignatius graduate and a freshman at Montana State University, will make his first appearance at the College National Finals Rodeo. However, Powell is no stranger to the pressure of the national rodeo stage.

Last year around this time he was gearing up for the High School National Finals Rodeo. He said he is looking forward to the CNFR. “I let a national championship slip through my fingers last year,” he said, “I think going to the finals in high school helps a lot.”

Powell will be competing in steer wrestling and tie-down roping at the CNFR this year. Along with finishing in the top three of the region, Powell also finished five and a half points behind to take second in the all-around competition for the region, and helped his MSU team win in overall points.

Powell said practices at the college level are a little different than his high school days. “I practiced a lot one on one with my dad in high school. Now there are 60 kids. I get really good practice with lots of steers and can stay as long as I want. It’s a little different.”

Knight and Powell will travel to Casper, Wyoming for the CNFR, which takes place June 12-18.