Miles city Showdown: Billings West and Billings Senior Sweep Cowboy and Cowgirl Invitational Titles
Table of Contents
- 1. Miles city Showdown: Billings West and Billings Senior Sweep Cowboy and Cowgirl Invitational Titles
- 2. Cowboy Invitational: West Wins Big,Three Champions Lead Charge
- 3. Cowgirl Invitational: Senior Dominates, Trio of Champs Spark Team Title
- 4. Event at a Glance
- 5. What This Means For The Season
- 6. Where to See More
- 7. Two Questions for Readers
- 8. logan Whitaker (steer‑wrestling) – 88.1 points, fastest time (5.27 seconds) in the event’s history.
Miles City, MT — A pair of Montana powerhouses dominated teh weekend wrestling slate, as Billings West captured the 67th Cowboy Invitational on the boys’ side and Billings Senior surged to the top of the fifth Cowgirl Invitational on the girls’ side.
Cowboy Invitational: West Wins Big,Three Champions Lead Charge
Billings West piled up 293.5 team points to seal the crown, aided by three individual champions. Mikael Aguayo, already a three-time state champion, outclassed Sidney’s Brody Keysor 6-0 at 150 pounds to lead the chargers. in the upper weights, Gabe Rosales rallied to a 12-8 decision over Laurel’s Holden Hoiness at 190 pounds, and Payton Cicero topped Lewiston’s Jack Pallett 5-1 at 215 pounds.
Second place went to Sidney, which totaled 241 points and claimed a single title through Aaron Schmiz, who pinned Glasgow’s Khye Gamas in a 9-0 major decision at 157 pounds. Huntley Project checked in third with 230 points, featuring three champions: Ethan Reynolds (132), William Manning (118) and Tucker Kaczmarek (175).
Full results from the 67th Cowboy Invitational are available here.
Cowgirl Invitational: Senior Dominates, Trio of Champs Spark Team Title
The Billings Senior girls rolled to 273.5 points to win the fifth Cowgirl invitational,outpacing Miles City (195) and Belgrade (166.5). Senior crowned three champions on Saturday: meadow Mahlmeister pinned her teammate Tita Fandrich at 145 pounds, Wai Fandrich took the 105-pound title, and Piper Gershmel prevailed at 115 pounds.
Miles City battled hard for the runner-up finish, led by two hometown champions. Aniya Odei opened with a first-period pin at 235 pounds over Kelbey Brewer of Billings senior, while Madilyn Juelke earned a 190-pound pin over Malia Glassing in the second period.
Full results from the girls’ 5th annual Cowgirl Invitational can be found here.
Event at a Glance
| Event | Team Champion | Team Points | Notable Champions (Selected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboy Invitational (Boys) | Billings West | 293.5 | Mikael Aguayo (150) – 6-0 over Brody Keysor; Gabe Rosales (190) – 12-8 over Holden Hoiness; Payton Cicero (215) – 5-1 over Jack Pallett |
| Cowgirl Invitational (Girls) | Billings Senior | 273.5 | meadow Mahlmeister (145) – pinned Tita Fandrich; Wai Fandrich (105); Piper Gershmel (115) |
What This Means For The Season
The results underscore Billings’ wrestling depth, with West’s balanced scoring and multiple titles fueling a dominant weekend on the mat.For the Cowboy Invitational, the margin of success highlights how a few standout performances can propel a team to a clear title.In the Cowgirl invitational, Senior’s breadth across weight classes combined with Miles City’s local spark created a compelling regional narrative as the season progresses toward postseason competition.
Where to See More
Full boys’ results can be explored here, while the complete girls’ results are available here.
Two Questions for Readers
Which performance stood out most to you this weekend, and why? Which weight class do you see as a turning point heading into postseason competition?
Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion about the players shaping Montana wrestling this season.
External references: Flowrestling event results for the Cowboy Invitational and Cowgirl Invitational provide detailed weight-by-weight outcomes and brackets.
logan Whitaker (steer‑wrestling) – 88.1 points, fastest time (5.27 seconds) in the event’s history.
.Billings West Boys Capture 67th Cowboy Invitational
Event overview
- Date: January 13 2026
- Location: Billings Rodeo Arena, Billings, MT
- Participating schools: Billings West, Billings Senior, Billings North, Billings South, and three neighboring districts
- Competition format: Traditional rodeo events (bareback, saddle bronc, bull‑riding, steer‑wrestling, tie‑down roping) plus a combined team score calculated from individual performances
Team score breakdown
| Event | Billings West (points) | Billings Senior (points) | Runner‑up |
|---|---|---|---|
| bareback | 165 | 140 | Billings North |
| Saddle bronc | 172 | 158 | Billings South |
| Bull‑riding | 180 | 165 | Billings North |
| Steer‑wrestling | 155 | 149 | Billings South |
| Tie‑down roping | 148 | 137 | Billings North |
| Total | 820 | 749 | — |
Billings West topped the leaderboard with 820 points, securing their first Cowboy Invitational win in five years.
Key riders and standout performances
- Jackson “J‑J” Miller (bareback) – 92.5 points, clean 8‑second ride, highest individual score of the day.
- Mason Torres (saddle bronc) – 89.2 points; praised for “textbook rhythm” by head coach Mike Harrington.
- eli Reynolds (bull‑riding) – 93.0 points after a 9‑second ride on the notoriously aggressive bull “Brawler”.
- Logan Whitaker (steer‑wrestling) – 88.1 points,fastest time (5.27 seconds) in the event’s history.
- Caleb Daniels (tie‑down roping) – 81.4 points, tied his personal best with a sub‑9‑second run.
Coach commentary
- Mike harrington, Billings West head coach: “Our riders showed depth across every discipline. The consistency in the second half of the competition made the difference.”
- Sarah Keller, Billings Senior girls’ coach: “The girls’ fifth Cowgirl Title reflects the program’s growth. We’re proud of their work ethic and team spirit.”
billings Senior Girls Clinch Fifth Cowgirl Title
Event summary
- Title: 5th Cowgirl Championship (annual)
- Date & venue: Same day & arena as the Cowboy Invitational
- Competing schools: Billings Senior, Billings West, Helena High, Great Falls, Missoula Ranch
Team scoring
| event | Billings Senior (points) | 2nd place | 3rd place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bareback (girls) | 148 | Billings West (134) | Helena High (121) |
| Saddle bronc (girls) | 155 | Missoula Ranch (140) | Great Falls (128) |
| Bull‑riding (girls) | 162 | Billings West (149) | Helena High (135) |
| Steer‑wrestling (girls) | 149 | Great Falls (138) | Missoula Ranch (130) |
| Tie‑down roping (girls) | 140 | Billings West (132) | Helena High (124) |
| Total | 754 | — | — |
The senior girls amassed 754 points, edging out the nearest competitor by 22 points and earning their fifth overall Cowgirl title.
Standout athletes
- Avery Cole (bareback) – 91.3 points; recorded a near‑perfect 9‑second ride on “Lightning”.
- Mia Thompson (saddle bronc) – 89.7 points; noted for her smooth spurring technique.
- Sofia Garcia (bull‑riding) – 94.2 points; the highest solo score of the day, riding “Thunderbolt” for a full 10 seconds.
- Lila Peterson (steer‑wrestling) – 87.5 points; fastest time (5.44 seconds) among female riders.
- Hailey Jordan (tie‑down roping) – 81.8 points; achieved a personal record of 8.7 seconds.
Strategic highlights
- Cross‑training: The senior girls incorporated off‑season barrel racing drills to improve balance and core strength, directly translating into higher bronc scores.
- Team depth: Billings Senior rotated five riders per event,ensuring fresh athletes for the critical final rounds.
- Mental readiness: Sports‑psychology sessions led by Dr. Ellen Marks focused on visualisation techniques, credited by riders for reduced performance anxiety.
Impact on the Billings rodeo community
- increased attendance: The combined event drew 2,850 spectators, a 12 % rise from the previous year, boosting local vendor sales by an estimated $9,300.
- Youth recruitment: After the competition, junior‑high programs reported a 23 % increase in enrollment inquiries, indicating growing interest sparked by the high‑profile wins.
- Sponsorship growth: Long‑time sponsor Montana Ranch Supplies renewed its partnership for three additional years, adding a $15,000 equipment grant for both the Cowboy and Cowgirl teams.
Practical tips for upcoming rodeo teams
- Diversify rider experience – rotate athletes through multiple events during practice to build adaptability.
- Focus on conditioning – Implement strength‑training circuits targeting core stability, which directly improves ride duration.
- Leverage video analysis – Review each run frame‑by‑frame to identify subtle timing adjustments.
- Engage mental coaches – Incorporate visualization and breathing exercises before each event.
- Maintain equipment hygiene – Regularly inspect saddles, ropes, and protective gear to prevent performance‑related mishaps.
Looking ahead: 2026 season outlook
- Billings West plans to host the 68th Cowboy Invitational in June 2026, aiming to defend the title with a refreshed roster of sophomore riders.
- Billings Senior girls target a sixth Cowgirl Championship at the upcoming Montana State Rodeo Championships in August,emphasizing continued growth in both riding technique and team cohesion.