About: Ted

SAN ANGELO, Texas – The San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo has become a bit of a honey hole for saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston. Over the previous three years, he has earned $10,864, including a spectacular run in 2019. He won the first round, placed in the final round and finished second overall, pocketing $6,798 in the process. It was one of the guiding forces that led to his second world championship in four years. He’ll add to that total this year. “You’ve got to stay consistent at these rodeos, especially when you get on more than one horse,” said Thurston, who rode Hampton Pro Rodeo’s Rising Tide for 90 points in Saturday’s matinee to take the lead. “To do good helps out. I’ve done pretty well there before.” That familiarity helps, but so does riding good bucking horses. Though he wasn’t sure what to expect out of Rising Tide, he found out quickly the horse has some moves. Part of the learning curve comes with the Hampton firm being new to ProRodeo. “That horse had some really good things about it,” said Thurston, 25, of Big Valley, Alberta. “She bucked really good and had some direction changes. It was just action-reaction. That little horse was really bucking. Usually if you’re 90 and things are going right, it’s all happening pretty fast.” He may have earned good cash early in the season a year ago, but he really added to it over the course of the regular season and the National Finals Rodeo. He finished the campaign with $347,056, with more than $170,000 of it coming in Vegas this past December. “Being a two-time world champion is awesome,” he said. “I always dreamed I’d win the world title, and for it to happen as fast in my career was amazing. Everybody dreams of it, and they very seldom get one. To do it more than once is incredible.” Thurston, though, has proven why he has those opportunities. He first qualified for the NFR in 2015 to close out his rookie campaign. He won the world title a year later and hasn’t missed a chance to battle for the gold buckle since. He’s finished among the top five in three of the last four seasons. His Saturday ride was just the fifth horse he’s been on since the new year, so he’s just getting started. “I feel like I’ve been riding good, but (Saturday) was the first one I’ve been on that really bucked,” Thurston said. “The draw’s a big part of that. Because there are so many guys that ride so good and so consistently, you’ve got to have the right dancing partner.” He found that and more inside Foster Communications Coliseum. “San Angelo is not just any rodeo,” he said. “They put on a good production, an they’ve got lots of pyro and lights to start the rodeo. It seats quite a few people, but it’s always full, even on Saturday afternoon. I’ve never been to that rodeo when they had extra seats. “It’s a really good rodeo.” San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Jan. 30-Feb. 14 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Kody Lamb, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hometown Girl; 2. Leighton Berry, 87.5; 3. Austin Foss, 87; 4. Tim O’Connell, 86; 5. Richmond Champion, 85; 6. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Chad Rutherford, 84; 8. (tie) Bill Tutor and Cauy Pool, 83.5; 10. Spur Lacasse, 82; 11. Jesse Pope, 81; 12. Jade Taton, 80. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Ty Erickson, 3.8 seconds; 2. Taz Olson, 3.9; 3. Stockton Graves, 4.1; 4. (tie) Tait Kvistad and Dalton Massey, 4.3; 6. (tie) Ryan McKay Nettle and Jacob Talley, 4.4; 8. (tie) Gary Gilbert and Jason Thomas, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. Cameron Morman, 3.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Chance Howard and Cade Staton, 4.0; 4. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Tanner Brunner, 4.1; 6. Jesse Brown, 4.2; 7. (tie) Sterling Lambert, Luke Branquinho and Cade Goodman, 4.3. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Dalton Massey and Jacob Talley, 8.9 seconds on two runs; 3. Tanner Brunner, 9.2; 4. Cade Staton, 9.3; 5. Cody Harmon, 9.4; 6. Ty Erickson, 9.6; 7. (tie) Taz Olson, Bridger Anderson and Jule Hazen, 9.7; 10. (tie) Scott Guenthner and Heath Thomas, 10.0; 12. Joe Nelson, 10.1. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Spencer Mitchell/Cesar de la Cruz, 3.7 seconds; 2. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 3.8; 4. (tie) Laramie Allen/Whit Kitchens and Colton Campbell/Jordan Ketscher, 3.9; 6. Reno Cash Stoebner/Colton Brittain, 4.1; 7. Tanner Tomlinson/Coleby Payne, 4.2; 8. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett and Manny Equsquiza Jr./York Gill, 4.3. Second round leaders: 1. Dustin Eguesquiza/Travis Graves, 3.7 seconds; 2. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 3.8; 3. (tie) Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham and Clint Summers/Douglas Rich, 3.9; 5. Trey Blackmore/Kory Bramwell, 4.0; 6. Jake Orman/Daniel Braman, 4.3; 7. (tie) Gavin Foster/Daniel Reed, Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, Steven Duby/Jason Duby and Laramie Allen/Whit Kitchens, 4.4. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Clay Smith/Jade Corkill and Laramie Allen/Whit Kitchens, 8.3; 3. Manny Equsquiza Jr./York Gill, 9.1; 4. Colton Campbell/Jordan Ketscher, 9.3; 5. Spencer Mitchell/Cesar de la Cruz, 9.9; 6. Cory Smothers/Brandon Gonzales, 10.0; 7. (tie) Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan and Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch, 10.4; 9. Jaguar Terrill/Travis Woodard, 11.8; 10. J.B. James Jr./Brock Hanson, 12.5; 11. Billy Bob Brown/Chad Williams, 12.9; 12. Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 14.2. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 90 points on Hampton Pro Rodeo’s Rising Tide; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 88; 3. Carter Elshere, 85.5; 4. Cody DeMoss, 85; 5. Jesse Wright, 84.5; 6. (tie) Kolby Wanchuk and Rusty Wright, 84; 8. Tegan Smith, 83.5; 9. Leon Fountain, 83; 10. (tie) Jacob Lewis and Riggin Smith, 82.5. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Lane Livingston, 7.2 seconds; 2. Shad Mayfield, 7.4; 3. (tie) Caleb Smidt and Bryson Sechrist, 7.5; 5. L.D. Meier, 7.7; 6. (tie) Blane Cox and Marcos Costa, 7.8; 8. Bo Pickett, 7.9. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Smith, 7.0 seconds; 2. Marty Yates, 7.1.; 3. (tie) Ike Fontenot and Riley Pruitt, 7.4; 5. (tie) Cory  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – As a child growing up in Texas, Matt Reeves recalls the days of traveling to the stock shows around his home state. For the last 17 years, he’s returned to his old haunts to compete in ProRodeo, and he’s done pretty well at it. In fact, he’s still finding success in these historic events and proved as much this weekend at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. “I’ve had a lot more success rodeoing at all these events than I did stock showing,” said Reeves, who posted two runs in a cumulative time of 8.7 seconds to take the overall steer wrestling lead. “I’ve never won Angelo; that’d be a cool thing to win.” He was solid during his first round, posting a 4.8-second run to give himself a chance. On Sunday afternoon, he posted a 3.9-second run to share the second-round lead with Cameron Morman. Now, he will return to Foster Communications Coliseum to compete in the championship round, set for Friday, Feb. 14. He credits a great deal of his success to his horses, Roy and Rattle; both have been instrumental in some of his seven National Finals Rodeo qualifications. Rattle, an 8-year-old bay mare, did much of the heavy lifting last year and was named the PRCA AQHA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year. She then guided Reeves to the 2019 NFR average championship; he earned $103,641 in Las Vegas last December and finished the year with $183,181, good enough for sixth place in the world standings. “Rattle’s actually been 3.9 twice in the second round in Angelo,” said Reeves, 41, of Cross Plains, Texas, just 100 miles northeast of San Angelo. “Cameron rode her last weekend, so the mare’s splitting first.” There’s something special about that horse, and Reeves is reaping the benefits of it. In addition to doing well in west Texas, he also placed in Denver and Fort Worth, Texas. “That mare’s just different,” he said. “It’s easier than it was. Roy is unreal. He’s just longer-strided, a little straighter. He’s a great horse, but she’s just better. At my age, I think this horse is just stretching out the career a little bit more.” He’s had a pretty stellar career. He’s done well in San Angelo before, but he’s hoping this is the year he gets that breakthrough he wants. “Angelo has a small arena, but it’s a packed house, and it doesn’t matter when you’re there,” Reeves said. “The crowd knows rodeo. It’s like Fort Worth was at the old arena. They’ve got a lot of people that watch slack. It’s a neat rodeo. “Rodeo is still their sport here, and it’s a big deal to them. When you come to Angelo, you still feel that rodeo is the No 1 sport in America.” San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Jan. 30-Feb. 14 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Kody Lamb, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hometown Girl; 2. Leighton Berry, 87.5; 3. Austin Foss, 87; 4. Tim O’Connell, 86; 5. (tie) Richmond Champion and Taylor Broussard, 85; 7. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Chad Rutherford, 84; 9. (tie) Bill Tutor and Cauy Pool, 83.5; 11. Spur Lacasse, 82s. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Ty Erickson, 3.8 seconds; 2. Taz Olson, 3.9; 3. Stockton Graves, 4.1; 4. (tie) Tait Kvistad and Dalton Massey, 4.3; 6. (tie) Ryan McKay Nettle and Jacob Talley, 4.4; 8. (tie) Gary Gilbert and Jason Thomas, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Cameron Morman and Matt Reeves, 3.9 seconds; 3. (tie) Chance Howard and Cade Staton, 4.0; 5. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Tanner Brunner, 4.1; 7. Jesse Brown, 4.2; 8. (tie) Sterling Lambert, Luke Branquinho and Cade Goodman, 4.3. Average leaders: 1. Matt Reeves, 8.7 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Tait Kvistad, Dalton Massey and Jacob Talley, 8.9; 5. Tanner Brunner, 9.2; 6. Cade Staton, 9.3; 7. (tie) Josh Clark and Cody Harmon, 9.4; 9. Ty Erickson, 9.6; 10. (tie) Taz Olson, Bridger Anderson and Jule Hazen, 9.7. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Spencer Mitchell/Cesar de la Cruz, 3.7 seconds; 2. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 3.8; 4. (tie) Laramie Allen/Whit Kitchens and Colton Campbell/Jordan Ketscher, 3.9; 6. Reno Cash Stoebner/Colton Brittain, 4.1; 7. Tanner Tomlinson/Coleby Payne, 4.2; 8. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett and Manny Equsquiza Jr./York Gill, 4.3. Second round leaders: 1. Jaxon Tucker/Jake Clay, 3.5 seconds; 2. Dustin Eguesquiza/Travis Graves, 3.7; 3. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 3.8; 4. (tie) Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham and Clint Summers/Douglas Rich, 3.9; 6. Trey Blackmore/Kory Bramwell, 4.0; 7. Jake Orman/Daniel Braman, 4.3; 8. (tie) Gavin Foster/Daniel Reed, Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, Steven Duby/Jason Duby and Laramie Allen/Whit Kitchens, 4.4. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Clay Smith/Jade Corkill and Laramie Allen/Whit Kitchens, 8.3; 3. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 8.9; 4. Manny Equsquiza Jr./York Gill, 9.1; 5. Colton Campbell/Jordan Ketscher, 9.3; 6. Spencer Mitchell/Cesar de la Cruz, 9.9; 7. Cory Smothers/Brandon Gonzales, 10.0; 8. (tie) Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan and Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch, 10.4; 10. Jaguar Terrill/Travis Woodard, 11.8; 11. J.B. James Jr./Brock Hanson, 12.5; 12. Billy Bob Brown/Chad Williams, 12.9. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 90 points on Hampton Pro Rodeo’s Rising Tide; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 88; 3. Carter Elshere, 85.5; 4. Cody DeMoss, 85; 5. Jesse Wright, 84.5; 6. (tie) Kolby Wanchuk, Rusty Wright and Allen Boore, 84; 9. (tie) Tegan Smith and Spencer Wright, 83.5; 11. Leon Fountain, 83. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Lane Livingston, 7.2 seconds; 2. Shad Mayfield, 7.4; 3. (tie) Caleb Smidt and Bryson Sechrist, 7.5; 5. L.D. Meier, 7.7; 6. (tie) Blane Cox and Marcos Costa, 7.8; 8. Bo Pickett, 7.9. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Smith, 7.0 seconds; 2. Marty Yates, 7.1.; 3. (tie) Ike Fontenot and Riley Pruitt, 7.4; 5. Cooper Martin, 7.5; 6. (tie) Cory Solomon and Kincade Cullen Henry, 7.6; 8. (tie) Blane Cox and Luke Potter, 7.8. Average leaders: 1. Blane Cox, 15.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Caleb Smidt, 16.0; 3. (tie) Dakota Felton and Kincade Cullen Henry, 15.4; 5.  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Tim O’Connell missed last year’s San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, and he’s glad to return. On Friday night, he rode United Pro Rodeo’s Pow Wow Rocks for 86 points to move into second place in bareback riding at Foster Communications Coliseum and is a virtual lock to compete in the championship round next Friday, Feb. 14. “The ride was good,” said O’Connell, a three-time world champion from Zwingle, Iowa. “She took a scoot for about three seconds and was a third of the way down the pen when she broke. Once she did, it was a dog fight. “I just made a businessman’s ride.” He sits second overall with five nights of preliminary rounds remaining. Once those conclude next Thursday, the top 12 times or scores in each event will advance to the final round. That’s when the champions will be crowned in San Angelo. O’Connell would like to be one of the contestants to earn that title. Through all of the success he’s had in his young career – in addition to the three gold buckles, he has qualified for the National Finals Rodeo each of the past six years – he’s only advanced to the short round one other time. “This is the one rodeo that’s eluded me in my career,” he said, referring to having some sort of success in a given arena. “But they’re going to give me another shot. I don’t need the best horse. I just need a chance.” Once given that opportunity, he’s proven he does quite well. He sits No. 1 in the world standings with just more than $18,000 earned. Most of that came with his second-place finish in Denver last month, where he pocketed $14,664. He also earned money in Des Moines, Iowa, and has pocketed more than $3,000 so far in Fort Worth, Texas, with the championship round set there for Saturday night. “The year’s been great, and it’s nice to rodeo in the winter again,” said O’Connell, who was injured on the final night of the 2018 NFR, had surgery on his riding shoulder and rehabbed until mid-June; he then went on to earn more than $100,000 in three months an 10 days to return to Vegas in December. “I’m having fun and have been enjoying riding bucking horses. I think the injury relit a passion. I re-fell in love with why I do this.” O’Connell not only put on a show at the end of the regular season, but he then earned $147,923 in 10 nights in the Nevada desert. He finished third in the world standings and, for the first time in three years, watched someone else leave Las Vegas with the gold buckle. “That has crazy-motivated me,” he said. “I’m happy for Clayton (Biglow), because he deserved to win the world title. I have goals and aspirations to be the best ever, so going a year without winning a world title motivates me to be better, to push myself harder. I want to work so that at the end of the 10th night in Vegas, I’m the one stepping out with the world title. “It’s tough. It’s as filthy as it’s ever been when you look at rank bareback riders. But that’s the way it should be. We may be a small group, but we’re mighty.” After spending a good portion of 2019 away from the game and with his wife, Sami, and son, Hazen, O’Connell has gained a new affection for time with his family. That’s why the two have joined him this winter and are enjoying moments on the rodeo trail, along with fellow bareback rider Jesse Pope of Marshall, Missouri. “Having them experience this with me is great,” he said. “I don’t have to miss them like I normally would.” And they got to experience the vibrant crowd that San Angelo offers every year. That’s another reason why he’s excited to ride another bucking horse next week. “The coliseum is a smaller version of the one in Denver, and they jam pack it,” O’Connell said. “They get the sound up and the pyro, and it’s energetic. The people love rodeo. They get your motor running. It’s weird, because I usually get fired up at rodeo’s I’ve one good at, but I really like this rodeo even though I’ve never done that well. It’s got to be something about that crowd.” San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Jan. 30-Feb. 14 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Kody Lamb, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hometown Girl; 2. Tim O’Connell, 86; 3. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Chad Rutherford, 84; 5. Bill Tutor, 83.5; 6. Spur Lacasse, 82; 7. Jesse Pope, 81; 8. Jade Taton, 80; 9. Tim Murphy, 79.5; 10. Kash Wilson, 79; 11. Kyle Charley, 78; 12. (tie) Pascal Isabelle, Lane  McGeehee and Paden Hurst, 77. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Ty Erickson, 3.8 seconds; 2. Taz Olson, 3.9; 3. (tie) Tait Kvistad and Dalton Massey, 4.3; 5. (tie) Ryan McKay Nettle and Jacob Talley, 4.4; 7. (tie) Gary Gilbert and Jason Thomas, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. Cameron Morman, 3.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Chance Howard and Cade Staton, 4.0; 4. Dakota Eldridge, 4.1; 5. Jesse Brown, 4.2; 6. (tie) Sterling Lambert, Luke Branquinho and Cade Goodman, 4.3. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Dalton Massey and Jacob Talley, 8.9 seconds on two runs; 3. Cade Staton, 9.3; 4. Cody Harmon, 9.4; 5. Ty Erickson, 9.6; 6. (tie) Taz Olson, Bridger Anderson and Jule Hazen, 9.7; 9. (tie) Scott Guenthner and Heath Thomas, 10.0; 11. Joe Nelson, 10.1; 12. Justin Shaffer, 10.2. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Spencer Mitchell/Cesar de la Cruz, 3.7 seconds; 2. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 3.8; 4. (tie) Laramie Allen/Whit Kitchens and Colton Campbell/Jordan Ketscher, 3.9; 6. Reno Cash Stoebner/Colton Brittain, 4.1; 7. Tanner Tomlinson/Coleby Payne, 4.2; 8. Manny Equsquiza Jr./York Gill, 4.3. Second round leaders: 1. Dustin Eguesquiza/Travis Graves, 3.7 seconds; 2. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 3.8; 3. (tie) Dawson  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Kolton Schmidt and Hunter Koch have quite a few things in common. Both have earned one qualification to the National Finals Rodeo: Schmidt in 2016; Koch last December. Both are Canadian Professional Rodeo Association champions, with Schmidt winning the heading title in 2013, and Koch claiming the heeling crown last year. Now, they’re roping for the title at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. On Saturday, they put in two solid times and share the top spot in the aggregate standings with another team, Brenten Hall and Chase Tryan. Schmidt and Koch were 5.0 seconds Saturday afternoon to sit third in the first round, then followed that with a 5.4-second run to hold on to sixth place in the second round. That 10.4-second cumulative time on two runs puts them in a good position to return to Foster Communications Coliseum on Feb. 14 to compete in the championship round. “We caught two steers, and that’s big,” said Schmidt, who indicated another tie between the two: Koch is dating Schmidt’s sister. “It’s early in the rodeo, and I don’t think the rounds will stay to where we can place in both, but we were hoping to make the short-go. That’s what we came here to do, and I’m pretty excited to get it done.” It’s a good start to the season for the two ropers who joined forces last October with hopes of returning to the NFR together in December. Last year, Schmidt roped with Jeremy Buhler, a fellow Canadian who earned the 2016 heeling world title, while Koch made the NFR with two-time world champion header Matt Sherwood. “I’m really excited about the partnership,” said Schmidt of Barrhead, Alberta. “The guy heels great, and I think it’s going to be a good fit. I trust him, so all I have to do is catch the steers on my end and turn them so he can do his job. That’s the mentality I have.” He should. He and Koch sit 14th in their respective disciplines early in this new season. They have eight more months to remain among the top 15 if they hope to return to Las Vegas and compete for that elusive world championship. “The great thing about Hunter is that he’s a great guy who is grounded,” Schmidt said of Koch, who lives in Vernon, Texas. “He’s very talented and works hard. He has a good mindset. Really, he’s got all the right stuff.” That’s what it takes to win in ProRodeo … well, that and a little luck. Still, both men have proven they have tremendous talent, and they were able to showcase it in San Angelo on a Saturday. “If I want to get back to the NFR, I need to keep my horses right and keep my head on straight,” he said. “We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. We don’t want to let the highs get too high or the lows get too low. I just want to do my job and let my partner do his.” If they can do that, success will quickly follow. San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Jan. 30-Feb. 14 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Kody Lamb, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hometown Girl; 2. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Chad Rutherford, 84; 4. Bill Tutor, 83.5; 5. Spur Lacasse, 82; 6. Jade Taton, 80; 7. Tim Murphy, 79.5; 8. Kash Wilson, 79; 9. Kyle Charley, 78; 10. (tie) Pascal Isabelle, Lane  McGeehee and Paden Hurst, 77. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Ty Erickson, 3.8 seconds; 2. Heath Thomas, 4.6; 3. Bridger Chambers, 5.1; 4. Scott Guenthner, 5.2; 5. Cody Cabral, 5.8; 6. Dakota Eldridge, 6.3; 7. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Dirk Tavenner, 7.9. Second round leaders: 1. Cameron Moorman, 3.9 seconds; 2. Dakota Eldridge, 4.1; 3. (tie) Sterling Lambert, Luke Branquinho and Cade Goodman, 4.3; 6. Austin Courmier, 4.4; 7. Tyler Waguespack, 4.6; 8. Will Lummus, 4.7. Average leaders: 1. Ty Erickson, 9.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Scott Guenthner, 10.0; 3. Heath Thomas, 10.0; 4. Dakota Eldridge, 10.4; 5. Cody Cabral, 10.7; 6. Tyler Waguespack, 12.5; 7. Cameron Morman, 13.4; 8. Dirk Tavenner, 14.3; 9. Stetson Jorgensen, 15.0; 10. Will Lummus, 16.5; 11. Cade Goodman, 21.8; 12. Bridger Chambers, 32.3. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Reno Cash Stoebner/Colton Brittain, 4.1 seconds; 2. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 4.5; 3. Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch, 5.0; 4. Cody Snow/Paul Eaves, 5.1; 5. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 5.5; 6. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 9.4; 7. Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford, 9.8; 8. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 14.3. Second round leaders: 1. Dustin Eguesquiza/Travis Graves, 3.7 seconds; 2. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 3.8; 3. Levi Simpson/Shay Carroll, 4.8; 4. Brenton Hall/Chase Tryan, 4.9; 5. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 5.0; 6. Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch, 5.4; 7. Cody Snow/Paul Eaves, 9.6; 8. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan and Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch, 10.4 seconds on two runs; 3. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 14.4; 4. Cody Snow/Paul Eaves, 14.7; 5. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 24.0; 6. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 3.7 seconds on one run; 7. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 3.8; 8. Reno Cash Stoebner, 4.1; 9. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 4.5; 10. Levi Simpson/Shay Carrol, 4.8; 11. Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford, 9.8; 12. Tyler Wade, Billie Jack Saebens, 14.4. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 88 points on Lancaster & Jones ProRodeo’s Total Equine Ruffy; 2. Carter Elshere, 85.5; 3. Jesse Wright, 84.5; 4. Kolby Wanchuk, 84; 5. Jacob Lewis, 82.5; 6. (tie) Isaac Diaz and Brody Cress, 82; 8. (tie) Sterling Crawley and Ben Andersen, 81; 10. Chase Zweifel, 80; 11. (tie) Dean Wadsworth and Jade Taton, 79.5. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Lane Livingston, 7.2 seconds; 2. Blane Cox, 7.8; 3. (tie) Ty Harris, Westyn Hughes and Catfish Brown, 8.2; 6. Jake Pratt, 8.3; 7. Rhen Richard, 8.7; 8. Andrew Burks, 8.9. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Smith, 7.0 seconds; 2. Marty Yates, 7.1.; 3. (tie) Ike Fontenot and Riley Pruitt, 7.4; 5. Blane Cox, 7.8; 6. Tyler Milligan, 7.9; 7. Zach  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Just 50 days ago, Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, left the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas with the most cherished prize in the game: the all-around world championship gold buckle. On Sunday afternoon, he staked claim to another unique title: He became the first cowboy in history to win the San Angelo Xtreme Bulls. As one of just two cowboys to ride two bulls inside Foster Communications Coliseum, he walked away with the championship and $5,476. Xtreme Bulls was an added attraction to the tradition that is the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, and 30 of the top bull riders in ProRodeo took their shot at claiming the title. Wright rode his first bull, Stace Smith’s Heartache & Grease, for 84 points to finish eighth in the opening round. That earned him a spot in the 10-man championship round, where he matched moves with Rafter H Rodeo’s Left Lane for 87.5 points. His two-ride aggregate was worth the lion’s share of the cash he earned in San Angelo on Sunday. It’s been a remarkable ride for the 20-year-old cowboy, the third son born to two-time world champion saddle bronc rider Cody Wright. He’s also the third son to qualify for the NFR, though he took a different path that also aligned him with that all-around race. While he followed the family genetics and competes in bronc riding, Stetson Wright proved to be quite a bull-riding hand early in his career: He finished the 2019 season No. 3 in the bull riding world standings. He also became the fifth person in his family to win rodeo’s gold, not only joining his dad but also his uncles, Jesse and Spencer, and his older brother, Ryder. Dallee Mason, a 32-year-old bull rider from Weiser, Idaho, set the standard as the third cowboy to compete, scoring 91 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Nose Bender to win the first round. Sage Kimzey, the reigning six-time world champion from Strong City, Oklahoma, won the short round with an 88-point ride on Rafter H’s Bet on Black. As the only other cowboy to cover two bulls, Kimzey finished second and earned $4,863 in the process. Mason finished third. San Angelo Xtreme Bulls Feb. 2 First round: 1. Dallie Mason, 91 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Nose Bender, $1,963; 2. Roscoe Jarboe, 89.5, $1,505; 3. (tie) Parker McCown, Brady Portenier an Cole Meloncon, 88, $763 each; 6. Josh Frost, 86.5, $327; 7. Aaron Williams, 86, $262; 8. Stetson Wright, 84, $196. Championship round: 1. Sage Kimzey, 88 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Bet on Black, $2,355; 2. Stetson Wright, 87.5, $2,006; no other qualified rides. Average: 1. Stetson Wright, 171.5 points on two rides, $3,271; 2. Sage Kimzey, 170.5, $2,508; 3. Dallee Mason, 91 points on one ride, $1,854; 4. Roscoe Jarboe, 89.5, $1,199; 5. (tie) Parker McCown, Brady Portenier and Cole Meloncon, 88, $582 each; 8. Josh Frost, 86.5, $327.