It may have been the weather. It might have been the fans wanting to turn out in force after all the COVID interruptions. 

Whatever the reason, the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals in Great Falls this past weekend drew the biggest crowd in a decade. And the hometown fans were blessed to see a hometown cowboy walk away with some of the biggest attention. 

The Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals were marking their 44th year as great entertainment and competition and Montana's only professional sports championship. The event draws competitors from all over the region and gives fans a nice mid-winter break inside the comfortable confines of Montana ExpoPark. 

Get our free mobile app

And this was a special year for one cowboy in particular, as veteran saddle bronc rider Jesse Kruse, who was the World Champion in 2009, captured an overall win with 235 points, earning $9455 with his rides during the all-weekend competition. That qualifies him to compete in the NFR Open this summer. He's qualified for the national finals three times during his career. 

Bareback rider Caleb Berquist also had a big weekend, nailing $4,574 in prize money and finishing with a year-end total of $29,178.40. 

Over $219,000 in prize money was paid out during the Circuit Finals.

More pictures from MPRC Finals

Here's the complete rundown after Saturday's finals:

Bareback Riding: 1. Tucker Zingg, 88 points on Sankey Rodoes Shoutin Shoes, $2439.68; 2. Tristan Hansen, 83, $1829.76; 3/4. Brice Patterson and Caleb Bennett 82, $914.88 each; 5. Trevar McAllister, 80; 6. Will Norstrom, 76; 7. Tyler Nelson, 72; 8. Ty Owens, 67; No Times – Calder Peterson; George Gillespie; Kaleb Norstrom.

Average: 1. Caleb Bennet 253, $3659.52; 2. Trevar McAllister, 243.5, $2744.64; 3. Tristan Hansen, 242.5, $1829.76; 4. Brice Patterson 238.5, 914.88.

Year End – Caleb Bennett $35,328.76; 2. Tristan Hansen $22,174.54

Steer Wrestling: 1/2. Newt Novich and Jake Nelson, 4.0, $2134.72 each. 3. Austin Whitehouse, 4.3, $1219.84; 4. Ty Erickson, 4.5, $609.92; 5. Bridger Chambers, 4.7; 6. Ross Mosher, 5.9; 7. Kris Anderson 6.5; No Times – Caden Camp; Brady Boyce; Will Powell; Kyle Whitaker; Luke Gee.

Average: 1. Ty Erickson, 12.7/3, $3659.52; 2. Jake Nelson, 14.3/3, $2744.64; 3. Austin Whitehouse, 14.9/3, $1829.76; 4. Newt Novich, 16.2/3, $914.88

Year End: 1. Ty Erickson, $26,071.46; 2. Newt Novich $18,345.20

Team Roping: 1. Dustin Bird/Ike Folsom, 3.8, $2439.68; 2. Radley Day/Jared Bilby, 4.5, $1829.76; 3. Ian Austiguy/Sam Levine, 4.7, $1219.84; 4. Alonzo Skunkcap/Caleb Guardipee, 9.3, $609.92; 5. Caleb Berquist/Landon Williams, 10.0; 6. Miles Kobold/Justin Viles, 10.2; No Times – Brady Tryan/Sid Sporer; Shawn Bird/Zach Schwiegert; Delon Parker/Ryan Zurcher; Ben Folsom/Chase Gauger; Rope Three Irons/Parker Murnion; Jason Carlson/Taner Sorge.

Average: 1. Dustin Bird/Ike Folsom 18.3/3, $3659.52; 2. Miles Kobold/Justin Viles 21.8/3, $2744.64; 3. Caleb Berquist/Landon Williams 23.3/3, $1829.76; 4. Alonzo Skunkcap/Caleb Guardipee 30.4/3, $914.88

Year End – Header: Dustin Bird $16,143.17; 2. Brady Tryan $14,369.77

Year End – Heeler: Justin Viles $20,218.45; 2. Ike Folsom $15,334.77

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Jesse Kruse 83 points on J Bar J’s Stacked Deck, $2439.68; 2. Qwint Stroh, 80, $1829.76; 3. Keenan Reinhardt, 73, $1219.84; 4. Josh Davison, 71, $609.92; 5. Alan Gobert, 66; No Score – Caleb Meeks; J.C. DeSaveur; Cree Minkoff; Judd Applegate; Liam Pauley; Travis Nelson; Andrew Evjene

Average: 1. Jesse Kruse 235/3, $3659.52; 2. Josh Davison 229/3, $2744.64; 3. Alan Gobert 220/3, $1829.76; 4. Qwint Stroh 154/2, $914.88

Year End: 1. Jesse Kruse $17,371.54; 2. Josh Davison $13,463.0

Tie Down Roping: 1. Haven Meged 9.1, $2439.68; 2/3. Ty Hedrick and Dillon Hahnkamp 9.4, $1524.80 each; 4. Landon Williams 10.7, $609.92; 5. J.C. Crowley 10.9; 6. Caleb Berquist 11.1; 7. Shay Keller 12.4; 8. Bode Scott 12.5; 9. EJ Panetta 14.2; 10. Corbin Fisher 14.6; No Times – Trevin Baumann; Jade Gardner

Average: 1. Dillon Hahnkamp 27.3/3, $3659.52; 2. Haven Meged 28.8/3, $2744.64; 3. Shay Keller 33.1/3, $1829.76; 4. Caleb Berquist 34.6/3. $914.88

Year End: 1. Haven Meged $24,110.69; 2. Caleb Berquist $19,376.88

Breakaway Roping: 1. Joey Williams 1.9, $2439.68; 2. Anna Callaway 2.20, $1829.76; 3. Tiffany Ogren 2.40, $1219.84; 4. Katelin Conway 3.10, $609.92; 5. Elizabeth French 12.3; 6. Cadee Williams 12.4; No Times – Shaylee Wahl; Tracey Bolich; Megan Small; Callahan Otoupalik; Molly Salmond; Jacey Fortier

Average: 1. Tiffany Ogren 8.00/3, $3659.52; 2. Katelin Conway 11.40/3, $2744.64; 3. Cadee Williams 19.30/3, $1829.76; 4. Megan Small 6.50/2, $914.88

Year End: 1. Joey Williams $12,090.34; 2. Tiffany Ogren $11,358.64

Barrel Racing: 1. Ashley Day 12.81, $2439.68; 2. Maggie Poloncic 12.98, $1829.76; 3. Heather Crowley 13.00, $1219.84; 4. Abigial Knight 13.02, $609.92; 5. Tia Murphy 13.087; 6. Cierra Erickson 13.12; 7. Erin Williams 13.25; 8. Hailey Garrison 18.01; 9. Tayla Moeykens 18.58; 10. Brittney Sporer 18.11; 11. Tammy Carpenter 24.58; Med Out – Lindsay Kruse

Average: 1. Abigial Knight 38.95, $3659.52; 2. Cierra Erickson 39.52, $2744.64; 3. Maggie Poloncic 39.75, $1829.76; 4. Ashley Day 43.90, $914.88.

Year End: 1. Abigail Knight $30,682.67; 2. Brittney Sporer $17,371.34

Bull Riding: 1. Cole Hould 75 points on Kesler’s Jack Knife, $6099.20; No Other qualified rides

Average: 1. Hawk Whitt 174.5/2, $3659.52; 2. Parker Breding 83/1, $2744.64; 3. Connor Murnion 82, $1829.76; 4. Cole Hould 75/1, $914.88

Year End: 1. Cole Wagner $18,308.32; 2. Hawk Whitt $16,208.47

Circuit Finals All Around – 1. Caleb Berquist $4,574.40

Year End All Around - 1. Caleb Berquist $29,178.40

2022 Montana Griz Homecoming Parade

Missoula, MT - A collection of floats, banners, pageantry and fun during the 2022 University of Montana Homecoming Parade, the 1st in two years.