Daylon Danks accomplished something most junior college cowboys don't get a chance to accomplish. Dank qualified for his 3rd CNFR in Casper, WY but the most rare thing about this feat is the fact that Danks qualified in a different discipline each year.
Danks first year at MCC was the 2020-21 seasons and he qualified as a tie-down roper. During the fall season, Danks placed in 2 of the 4 fall rodeos and was sitting in 7th place in the Big Sky Region going in to the spring. He kicked off the spring by winning the MSU rodeo #1 and placing in rodeo #2. He injured his knee at rodeo in Great Falls and needed to catch his steer in the long round to qualify for the CNFR and he did just that. At the CNFR in 2021, Danks caught his first calf in 11.2, missed in the 2nd round, and then hit for 13.6 in round 3.
In the 2021-22 season, Danks was a heeler in team roping with Cameron Handy who was the header and the season started with a bang winning the team roping title at the Northwest College Rodeo in Cody, WY. The team got 3rd in the long round at the Dawson rodeo and just missed winning the title in Havre. In the spring the team got 2nd at the MSU rodeo. Danks credits Handy for being the reason that he made it to the CNFR as Handy "did an amazing job of turning steers for me."
The 2022-23 season saw Danks turn to a header with Dawson Jackson as his heeler. Danks did win one rodeo in the fall with his former partner Handy. Danks and Jackson did win the rodeo in Havre, Mt and placed 4th in Dillon for the spring season. They placed 2nd in the MSU rodeo to give themselves a nice cushion coming down the stretch to qualify for the CNFR again.
Danks would like to thank his family, friends, Coach LaCross, and his roping partners for helping him qualify for the CNFR.
Cameron Handy qualified for 2 CNFR during his 2-year run at MCC. He said that the CNFR is such a great experience for any young rodeo athlete because it is probably the biggest performance that most have gotten to compete in. He learned from the 1st year at the CNFR that there is no reason to run yourself over mentally by trying to so someehting unnecessary or trying to go to fast.
After qualifying for the CNFR with Danks in his 1st season, Handy teamed up with MSU cowboy Hayden Taylor for his 2nd season. The pair accomplished their goal of winning the Big Sky Region and qualifying for the CNFR. Handy and Taylor now move on to pro rodeos this summer and competing on the pro circuit with goal to go to the circuit finals. They will also enter some bigger rodeos and will compete against some of the top pro teams to gain experience for when they try to rodeo full time and hopefully qualify for the NFR.
Handy parts with this comment: "To the future athletes in any event or other sports, your mental game is just as important as the physical game. If you are not confident or are in a slump, act confident! Don't let the competition have that one up on you. Always listen to people with experience because you always have room for improvement.?