CASPER, Wyo. -- Bismarck State rodeo will send three entries into Saturday's Championship Saturday short-go finals at the College National Finals Rodeo, with Tyler Hansen and Parker Sandstrom both sitting inside the top two in their respective events heading into the final round.

Hansen enters the short go as the No. 1 average leader in tie-down roping, capping a dominant week in Casper. After winning Sunday's opening round outright with an 8.4-second run, Hansen backed it up with a 10.9 in the second round and a 9.1 in Tuesday's third round, good for second in that round, to build a three-run average of 28.4 seconds, the best mark in the field entering the finals. Hansen's strong showing across multiple events has also vaulted him to the top of the all-around standings.

Sandstrom punched his ticket in steer wrestling, sitting second in the average standings with a three-run total of 13.6 seconds. The sophomore opened with a third-place tie at 3.9 seconds in the first round, followed with a 5.1 in the second, and turned in a 4.6 in Thursday's third round, the second-fastest time of that round, to lock up his spot among the finalists.

Hansen will also return to the arena Saturday in team roping, partnering with Justin Gukenberger of Iowa Central Community College. The duo sits 10th in the average standings after three rounds, highlighted by a sharp 5.7-second run in the second round that briefly had them tied for second in that go. A 16th-place finish in Friday's third round settled their average at 25.6 seconds, still good enough to advance into the finals.

Not every Mystic will compete on Saturday. Kale Hansen's run in tie-down roping ended with a no-score in the third round, finishing 28th overall, while Cael Hilzendeger and Daylon Danks were eliminated in team roping after a no-score in their third-round run, finishing 41st. TJ Andrews wrapped up his bareback riding week with a 76.25 in the third round, the third-best score of that go, but finished 16th in the final standings, just outside the cutoff for the short go.

Bismarck State qualified six athletes across seven events for this year's national finals, a continued sign of growth for a program now in just its second season of competition. Saturday's short-go finals air on ESPN+ beginning at 8 p.m. CT, with Hansen, Sandstrom, and the Hansen-Gukenberger team all in pursuit of national titles for the Mystics.

See the results updated daily for the Mystics, along with full streaming, results and schedule information.
 

Be sure to visit BSCMystics.com and download the MysticNation app to continue to stay up to date with everything going on in Mystic Athletics.

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