Sargent cowboy Rowdy Moon will have an advantage when he climbs behind the chutes in Casper, Wyo. next week. He has been there before.

Moon qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo last year as a freshman at Mid-Plains Community College. He returns June 11-17 as a seasoned sophomore and the number one bareback rider in the Great Plains Region.

“Since I’ve been around that arena, I don’t think I’ll have quite the jitters,” said Moon. “I was pretty nervous last time. It’s a big stage.”

Moon was second in the region heading into nationals in 2016. He finished the CNFR in 19th place after riding broncs to scores of 65 and 68.

His competition included Wyatt Denny and Denny’s traveling partner Clayton Biglow. Denny won the bareback riding at the CNFR last year and Biglow came in second. The two competed at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo later in the year, where Biglow finished seventh in the world and Denny ended up 10th.

Being up against that kind of competition pushed Moon to work harder and adjust his technique.

“I think I’ve gotten better,” said Moon. “I have faster feet and don’t lean into my free arm as much as I used to.”

The last time he rode a bronc was early May in Dickinson, N.D. Moon took some time off competing to recover from a groin injury, but hasn’t stopped practicing.

“I’ve been on the spur board and ride horses every other day so I can work on holding my feet in the right position,” said Moon. “I’d like to at least make the short round in Casper.”

His long-term goal is to one day travel the professional rodeo circuit, but until then, Moon plans to focus on college.

He graduated from MPCC with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business and a Business Administration emphasis in May. He will transfer to Chadron State College in the fall.