J.D. Struxness slows his steer during his 3.8-second bulldogging run in Sunday’s championship round of Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. The 2024 world champion won the aggregate title with a three-run cumulative time of 12.6 seconds.
(PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN)
DODGE CITY, Kan. – J.D. Struxness is standing on a steer wrestling ledge.
He entered this week of ProRodeo 15th in the world standings. It’s precarious this time of year, when there are just two months remaining in the regular season. He knows that he needs to be among the top 15 in the world standings if he hopes to return to the National Finals Rodeo for the eighth time in his career.
That’s why winning the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo title was a big deal. He placed in two of three go-rounds – he finished in a three-way tie in the opener, then posted a 3.8-second run to be the runner-up in Sunday’s championship round – and won the aggregate. All told, he left western Kansas with $9,110.
“This is one I’ve wanted to win since I ever started coming out here,” said Struxness, the 2024 world champion from Milan, Minnesota. “Running with Stockton Graves back in the day, the first year I came to it he was the champion. Ever since then, this is one big rodeo I’ve been wanting to win. I still like coming here, even though I haven’t been in a couple years.
“To finally capture the title is a big deal to me.”
He circled the calendar with hopes of cashing in big, and that game plan worked out. Riding Ice, an 8-year-old gray gelding that went through a year of seasoning in 2025, Struxness was back in top form. Having that trust in horsepower is an important factor in success.
“He’s been working good,” he said of his mount. “Last year, he only got about half a year out on the road, so this is his first full year out here. Ever since I started him, he’s really wanted to be a good horse, and I feel like he’s settling in and starting to shine out there, giving us lots of opportunities to win.
“I’ve got Kyle Irwin over there on the hazing side with his horse, Bruno. He’s doing an excellent job. That’s really made a big difference here in the middle of the summer when I started using him.”
Irwin has proven to be an asset. He’s been down this road before. Not only has Irwin qualified for the NFR seven times, he won its average title in 2022. He’s also has been co-owner of a former Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year.
“You’ve got to give credit to Kyle and to those two good horses and having other good guys helping you win,” Struxness said. “That hazing horse teams up good with Ice, and Kyle does a great job hazing.
“Ever since we started doing that deal in Calgary, it’s been real good. We’ve had some successful weeks, so hopefully we can keep it rolling.”
Dodge City Roundup Rodeo
Dodge City, Kan.
July 30-Aug. 3
All-around cowboy: Coleman Proctor, $3,749 in team roping and steer roping.
Bareback riding: First round: 1. Cole Reiner, 89.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Terry, $4,132; 2. Jess Pope, 88.5, $3,168; 3. Garrett Shadbolt, 87, $2,342; 4. Cooper Filikpek, 86.5, $1,15; 5. Kash Loyd, 86, $964; 6. Tim O’Connell, 85.5, $689; 7. Mason Stuller, 85, $551; 8. Lane McGehee, 84.5, $413. Final round: 1. Tim O’Connell, 89.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire, $1,650; 2. Jess Pope, 87.5, $1,250; 3. Mason Stuller, 86, $900; 4. (tie) Kash Loyd and Cole Reiner, 85.5, $475 each; 6. Cooper Filipek, 81, $250. Average: 1. Jess Pope, 176 points on two head, $4,132; 2. (tie) Tim O’Connell and Cole Reiner, 175, $2,755 each; 4. Kash Loyd, 171.5, $1,515; 5. Mason Stuller, 171, $964; 6. Cooper Filipek, 167.5, $689; 7. Roedy Farrell, 163.5, $551; 8. Garrett Shadbolt, 87 on one head, $413.
Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Rowdy Parrott, 3.6 seconds, $4,059; 2. (tie) Mason Couch and Kall Mayfield, 4.1, $3,265 each; 4. (tie) Tristan Martin, Talon Roseland and J.D. Struxness, 4.2, $1,941 each; 7. (tie) Chance Howard and Darcy Kersh, 4.3, $618 each. Second round: 1. Boyd Sawyer, 3.8 seconds, $4,059; 2. Trisyn Kalawaia, 3.9, $3,530; 3. (tie) Logan Kenline and Will Lummus, 4.0, $2,736 each; 5. (tie) Tanner Brunner, Emmett Edler, Trace Harris, Jeff Miller and Cooper Orr, 4.2, $918 each. Final round: 1. Chance Howard, 3.7 seconds, $1,305; 2. J.D. Struxness, 3.8, $1,080; 3. Tristan Martin, 4.1, $855; 4. Rowdy Parrott, 4.2, $630; 5. Riley Duvall, 4.3, $405; 6. Trisyn Kalawaia, 4.8, $225. Average: 1. J.D. Struxness, 12.6 seconds on three head, $6,089; 2. Rowdy Parrott, 13.4, $5,295; 3. Mason Couch, 13.5, $4,500; 4. Chance Howard, 13.9, $3,706; 5. Tristan Martin, 14.1, $2,912; 6. Riley Duvall, 14.4, $2,118; 7. Darcy Kersh, 14.5, $1,324; 8. Cole Walker, 14.6, $529.
Team roping: First round: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Wesley Thorp, 4.9 seconds, $3,937 each; 2. Tyler Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 5.1, $3,423; 3. Clay Tryan/Will Woodfin, 5.2, $2,910; 4. (tie) Dawson Graham/Dillion Graham and Clayton Van Aken/Jaydon Warner, 5.4, $2,139 each; 6. (tie) Kavis Drake/Denim Ross and Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 5.6, $1,113 each; 8. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 5.7, $342. Second round: 1. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, Cody Snow/Lane Mitchell and Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.9 seconds, $3,423 each; 4. Kolton Schmidt/Paden Bray, 5.2, $2,396; 5. (tie) Cole Eiguren/Dylan Hancock and Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 5.3, $1,626 each; 7. Kelvin Medeiros/Tyson Thompson, 5.4, $856; 8. (tie) Kellan Johnson/Trae Smith and Tanner Tomlinson/Wesley Thorp, 5.5, $171 each. Final round: 1. Clay Tryan/Will Woodfin, 5.4 seconds, $1,233 each; 2. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 5.6, $1,020; 3. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 5.8, $808; 4. Tyler Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 5.9, $595; 5. Clayton Van Aken/Jaydon Warner, 7.0, $383; 6. Tanner Tomlinson/Wesley Thorp, 15.1, $213. Average: 1. Tyler Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 16.7 seconds on three head, $5,905 each; 2. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 17.0, $5,135; 3. Clay Tryan/Will Woodfin, 17.3, $4,365; 4. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 18.2, $3,594; 5. Clayton Van Aken/Jaydon Warner, 18.7, $2,824; 6. Tanner Tomlinson/Wesley Thorp, 25.5, $2,054; 7. Curry Kirchner/Tanner Braden, 29.0, $1,284; 8. Jaxson Tucker/Brushton Minton, 31.0, $513.
Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Skinny Parsons, 88.5 points on Double J Rodeo Company’s Miss Charcoal, $4,185; 2. (tie) Brody Cress, Dane McPhail and Mitchell Story, 84.5, $2,372 each; 5. Blake Steuck, 84, $977; 6. (tie) Waitley Sharon and Tom Webster, 82, $628 each; 8. (tie) Traven Sharon and Jett Williams, 81, $209 each. Final round: 1. Waitley Sharon, 90.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Rebel Yell, $1,650; 2. (tie) Brody Cress, Dane McPhail and Tom Webster, 88, $917 each; 5. Traven Sharon, 87, $350; 6. Jake Finlay, 86, $250. Average: 1. (tie) Brody Cress, Waitley Sharon and Dane McPhail, 172.5 points on two head, $3,255 each; 4. (tie) Tom Webster and Mitchell Story, 170, $1,256 each; 6. Blake Steuck, 168.5, $698; 7. Traven Sharon, 168, $558; 8. Jake Finlay, 166.5, $419.
Breakaway roping: First round: 1. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli-Meged and Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, 2.4 seconds, $2,502 each; 3. (tie) Madison Outhier and Macy Young, 2.5, $1,796 each; 5. (tie) Jackie Crawford, Reagan Davis, Molly Hamilton and Amy Ohrt, 2.6, $898 each; 9. Martha Angelone, 2.7, $385; 10. Kinlie Brennise, 2.8, $257. Second round: 1. Taylor Munsell, 1.7 seconds, $2,695; 2. Suzanne Williams, 1.9, $2,310; 3. (tie) Timber Allenbrand, Tiffany Schieck and Winter Williams, 2.1, $1,625 each; 6. (tie) Hannah Giger and Kendyl Rogers, 2.3, $898 each; 8. (tie) Jessi Everett and Madalyn Richards, 2.5, $449 each; 10. Kiley Slavin, 2.6, $257. Final round: 1. Jade Mitchell, 2.8 seconds, $1,996; 2. Rylee A George, 3.0, $1,497; 3. Madison Outhier, 3.1, $998; 4. Josie Conner, 3.3, $499. Average: 1. Madison Outhier, 8.6 seconds on three head, $4,042; 2. Rylee A George, 9.2, $3,464; 3. Josie Conner, 9.3, $2,887; 4. Jade Mitchell, 10.5, $2,502; 5. Cali Griffin, 11.8, $1,925; 6. Jordi Edens-Mitchell, 19.5, $1,540; 7. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 5.8 on two head, $1,155; 8. Delani Kay Beatty, 6.1, $770; 9. Alli Masters, 6.7, $577; 10. Jackie White, 7.0, $385.
Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Semaj Collins Jr., 8.1 seconds, $4,282; 2. Shad Mayfield, 8.2, $3,723; 3. Haven Meged, 8.9, $3,165; 4. Zane Rampey, 9.3, $2,606; 5. Bryce Derrer, 9.4, $2,048; 6. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Joel Harris, 9.7, $1,210 each; 8. Cole Clemons, 10.0, $372. Second round: 1. Sam Lewis, 7.2 seconds, $4,282; 2. Joel Harris, 7.4, $3,723; 3. John Douch, 7.6, $3,165; 4. Austin Lawrence, 7.7, $2,606; 5. (tie) Kincade Henry, Cory Solomon and Riley Mason Webb, 8.2, $1,489 each; 8. Bryce Derrer, 8.4, $372. Final round: 1. Blane Cox, 8.5 seconds, $1,276; 2. Riley Mason Webb, 8.7, $1,056; 3. (tie) Joel Harris and Haven Meged, 8.8, $726 each; 5. Semaj Collins Jr., 8.9, $396; 6. (tie) Bryce Derrer and Kincade Henry, 9.2, $110 each. Average: 1. Joel Harris, 25.9 seconds on three head, $6,423; 2. (tie) Riley Mason Webb and Bryce Derrer, 27.0, $5,166 each; 4. Kincade Henry, 27.7, $3,910; 5. Blane Cox, 28.0, $3,072; 6. Haven Meged, 28.1, $2,234; 7. Semaj Collins Jr., 29.2, $1,396; 8. Shane Hanchey, 37.3, $559.
Barrel racing: First round: 1. Loralee Ward, 17.01 seconds, $2,676; 2. Carlee Otero, 17.12, $2,294; 3. Summer Kosel, 17.15, $1,911; 4. Emily Beisel, 17.22, $1,656; 5. Kylie Kanngiesser, 17.23, $1,274; 6. Emma Parr, 17.25, $1,019; 7. Piper Cordes, 17.31, $765; 8. Lanita Peirce, 17.38, $510; 9. Devon Brown, 17.42, $382; 10. Acey Pinkston, 17.44, $255. Second round: 1. Makenzie Mayes, 16.92 seconds, $2,676; 2. Summer Kosel, 17.10, $2,294; 3. Piper Cordes, 17.17, $1,911; 4. Kim Squires, 17.19, $1,656; 5. Tillar King, 17.25, $1,274; 6. Loralee Ward, 17.30, $1,019; 7. Faith Nolte, 17.31, $765; 8. Blake Molle, 17.39, $510; 9. (tie) Ari-Anna Flynn and Raelin Jurgens, 17.40, $319 each. Final round: 1. Makenzie Mayes, 16.84 seconds, $1,982; 2. Emma Parr, 17.13, $1,487; 3. Morgan Addison, 17.17, $991; 4. Kaden Burger, 17.20, $496. Average: 1. Makenzie Mayes, 51.42 seconds on three head, $4,014; 2. Emma Kate Parr, 51.82, $3,440; 3. Piper Cordes, 51.83, $2,867; 4. Loralee Ward, 52.09, $2,485; 5. Morgan Addison, 52.19, $1,911; 6. Kaden Burger, 52.25, $1,529; 7. Torrie Edge, 52.48, $1,147; 8. Ari-Anna Flynn, 53.42, $765; 9. Summer Kosel, 56.22, $573; 10. Devon Brown, 34.91 on two head, $382.
Steer roping: First round: 1. Jason Burson, 11.2 seconds, $1,778; 2. (tie) Mike Chase and Clay Long, 11.5, $1,430 each; 4. Taylor Santos, 11.6, $1,082; 5. (tie) Will Eddleman and Vin Fisher Jr., 11.8, $734 each; 7. Cole Patterson, 11.9, $386; 8. (tie) Tanner Stec and Troy Tillard, 12.0, $77 each. Second round: 1. Riley O’Rourke, 8.7 seconds, $1,778; 2. Thomas Smith, 8.8, $1,546; 3. Laramie Allen, 9.0, $1,314; 4. Scott Snedecor, 9.3, $1,082; 5. Vin Fisher Jr., 9.7, $850; 6. Cody Lee, 9.9, $618; 7. Jake Clay, 10.1, $386; 8. Seth Schafer, 10.6, $155. Third round: 1. Cole Patterson, 9.0 seconds, $1,778; 2. J. Tom Fisher, 9.2, $1,546; 3. Billy Good, 9.4, $1,314; 4. Coleman Proctor, 9.5, $1,082; 5. (tie) Cody Lee and Ryan Rochlitz, 9.8, $734 each; 7. Colt Williams, 10.1, $386; 8. Scott Snedecor, 10.2, $155. Average: 1. Coleman Proctor, 33.8 seconds on three head, $2,666; 2. Tanner Stec, 35.7, $2,319; 3. Cole Patterson, 36.5, $1,971; 4. Ryan Willberg, 38.2, $1,623; 5. Troy Tillard, 38.4, $1,275; 6. Scott Snedecor, 38.7, $927; 7. Clay Long, 39.3, $580; 8. Dustin Bassett, 39.9, $232.
Bull riding: First round: 1. Hudson Bolton, 89.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Riser, $4,340; 2. Colorado Kid Mackey, 87, $3,327; 3. Noah Lee, 86, $2,459; 4. (tie) Jax Mills and Jackson Ward, 85.5, $1,302 each; 6. Mecate Trammell, 84.5, $723; 7. Colton Byram, 84, $579; 8. Seth Prejeant, 82, $434. Final round: 1. Braxton Whitesell, 89 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Conway, $2,700; 2. Luke Mackey, 84, $2,300; no other qualified rides. Average: 1. Luke Mackey, 171 points on two head, $4,340; 2. Braxton Whitesell, 169.5, $3,327; 3. Hudson Bolton, 89.5 on one head, $2,459; 4. Noah Lee, 86, $1,591; 5. (tie) Jackson Ward and Jax Mills, 85.5, $868 each; 7. Mecate Trammell, 84.5, $579; 8. Colton Byram, 84, $434. *(all totals include ground money).