KIMBERLY — Once Kimberly High School’s Michael Nannini figured out what he liked to do, he was able to turn it into a way to compete in college.

The senior signed his letter of intent Tuesday with Montana State University’s rodeo team. He had been involved in rodeo from a young age, but his top event, steer wrestling, was one he started late.

“I did it as a kid, then I king of spit the bit and quite, so I’ve been rodeoing for my main event, bulldogging, for a year now,” Nannini said. “So I just got into it at the last second.”

It was when he competed at his first junior National Finals Rodeo that he said a light came on about his future.

“This is what I like doing,” he said. I like being on the road and I like traveling, and most of all, I love doing what I do. It’s just a feeling.”

Nannini gets to travel for rodeo now, and road trips are a big part of the college rodeo experience, too. He chose Montana State, which is in Bozeman, because of their strong programs and outdoor opportunities.

“I like Montana because I like do all of the recreational stuff like skiing, and I really like the forest area out there,” he said. “Most of all, they have a good rodeo program and a good nursing program, so I’m pretty excited about that.”