Charlo's Abby Knight competes in National College Rodeo

By KYLIE RICHTER

Lake County Leader

Charlo’s Abby Knight is one of three University of Great Falls rodeo members who qualified to compete at the National College Rodeo next week in Casper, Wyo. 

The 2014 graduate of Charlo High School will be participating in barrel racing.

The Argonauts’ rodeo team is in its fifth season, with 34 athletes competing. According to Knight, the program is one of the smallest teams in the area and is still trying to get established. She said that played a part in why she chose to go there. “Being from Charlo, I wanted to go to a smaller college,” she said.

Knight’s rodeo career started at a very young age. “My parents both rode horses and I grew up around them,” she said. Knight started competing in eighth grade, and continued into high school, where she was very successful. 

Three out of four years, Knight brought home state championships, including two in pole bending and one in barrel racing. She qualified for nationals all four years of her high school career. That got the attention of a few different schools including Sam Houston State and the University of Great Falls. Head coach Dick Lyman called Knight up her junior year. 

Lyman said he is excited to have her in Great Falls. “We have a strong group of freshmen,” Lyman said. “Abby has adapted to competing in college really well. I’m proud of her. My priority is to get these kids a good education and for them to have good grades. Abby has done that.” Knight said she wasn’t sure about becoming an Argo at first. “I looked at schools by the programs offered first. I was a little skeptical about it, but then I fell in love with it,” Knight said.  She is currently studying biology, and said she is thinking about becoming a veterinarian. 

Knight’s rookie rodeo season has went very well. She competed in barrel racing, goat tying, team roping, and breakaway roping against a very tough Big Sky region that includes much larger teams including the University of Montana and Montana State University. “Our region is difficult. I’m happy with how the season went,” she said.

To qualify for nationals, Knight had to score points over 10 rodeos in the season. The three competitors with the most points move on to the nationals.

The Charlo grad is one of 14 freshman recruited by Lyman this year. All three national competitiors are freshmen. Of the three, Lyman said Knight might have the most experience. “She has her pro card and ran pro last summer. She will be better prepared for the pressure at nationals,” Lyman said. Lyman added that he is excited for all of the kids to be able to participate, and thinks all three have a good chance of doing well.