After making program history at regionals, the Idaho State rodeo teams fell flat when it mattered most, with both men’s and women’s squads finishing 33rd at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming on June 21.

The men scored 110 points, falling well short of winner Tarleton State’s 817.5 points. The women, meanwhile, mustered up just 15 points with Southwest Texas College claiming the title with 445 points. The Bengals were hoping to end their 12-year championship drought that dates back to the women’s historic title in 2013. They had also hoped to crown their first individual champion since Zoie Bedke’s breakaway roping victory in 2021, but those dreams fell short as well.

The results were particularly disappointing given the program’s breakthrough season. Both teams had won the Rocky Mountain Regional for the first time in the program’s 75-year history — the men capturing their first regional championship while the women earned their fourth title in five years. The men were considered one of the favorites heading into nationals after having the nation’s fifth-best point total during the regular season.

The struggles were epitomized by senior Jett Van Biezen’s performance in the men’s all-around. After dominating regionally with 2,355 points — finishing 830 points ahead of teammate Logan Corta and winning nearly every all-around title this season — Van Biezen finished dead last at nationals with just 90 points. Brad Moreno from New Mexico State won the all-around with 255 points.

Van Biezen was 16th in tie-down roping (after winning regionally), 25th in team roping and 37th in steer wrestling. His teammates didn’t fare any better. Logan Corta took 40th in both tie-down roping and steer wrestling, Cole Gunter 25th in team roping, Degan Patton 40th in team roping and Brandon Williams tied for 15th with 21 other riders in bull riding.

On the women’s side, Lili Bell placed 31st in breakaway roping, Torrey Glaser finished 44th in the same event, Raegan Steed was 27th in breakaway roping, and Taylar Smith placed 24th in goat tying.