Rodeo Life

Blog

  • Guy becomes the man, takes first place

    Guy becomes the man, takes first place

    LAS VEGAS – Nick Guy became the first Wisconsin timed-event cowboy ever to win a round at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and it catapulted him to the top of the steer wrestling world on the opening night of action before a sellout crowd of 17,591 at the Thomas & Mack Center Arena.

    Guy, who entered rodeo’s Super Bowl in fourth place among steer wrestlers in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings, won Round 1 with a time of 3.6 seconds.

    That earned the 30-year-old cowboy from Sparta, Wis., a paycheck of $19,002 – he has $96,757 for the season – and pushed him past Trevor Knowles, K.C. Jones and Casey Martin into the top spot.

    “It feels good to get a nice paycheck in Round 1,” Guy said. “We talked about winning Round 1 the whole way out here to Las Vegas.”

    Guy, who is making his second appearance at the Finals, felt even more confident after learning which steer he’d drawn for Round 1.

    “I ran that steer when we broke these steers in a couple of weeks ago,” he said. “We videoed all the runs down there, so I probably watched my run on that steer 10 times before we came in here. I knew he was just a good steer, but I didn’t know if he was a 3.6 steer. I got a great start and the horse worked great, and I caught him quick and I just made a good run from there.”

    Martin tied four-time World Champion Steer Wrestler Luke Branquinho – who has been sidelined since he injured his right lat muscle at the California Rodeo Salinas on July 18 – for second place in 3.7 seconds, just one-tenth of a second behind Guy. Martin moved into second place in the world with $93,457. Branquinho, who led the world before getting injured, is fifth.

    Guy is just the fifth Wisconsin cowboy to win a round at the Finals, joining bareback rider Jack Buschbom and bull riders B.J. Schumacher, Cory Check and Fred Boettcher. Buschbom was the world champ in 1959-60, and Schumacher won the world in 2006.

    Guy said not everyone in Wisconsin understands rodeo.

    “It’s not a rodeo part of the country, and that’s why when I win, it makes me feel good about being where I’m from,” he said.

    Guy said the fast start will help put him at ease for the next nine days of the Finals.

    “I’m going to sleep well tonight and try to keep doing exactly what I did tonight for the rest of the NFR,” he said. “The horse I was on (Roanie, 10 years old), gives me a chance to win every time.”

    While Guy is trying to win his first world championship, bareback rider Kaycee Feild is gunning for his fourth consecutive gold buckle. Feild got off to a fast start by winning Round 1 when he rode for 84.5 points on Sutton Rodeos’ Cactus Juice.

    “This feels awesome,” Feild said. “It’s great to get off to a good start. That’s a horse I saw in Omaha (Neb.); he gets off the ground and gets good hang time. It was a fun ride.”

    Last year, Feild became the first contestant to win a third straight average title at the Finals while also winning his third consecutive world title. He often thinks about stretching that streak to four of each.

    “I dream of it,” he said, “at least once a week.”

    Feild is the seventh bareback riding defending champion to win Round 1, joining his ProRodeo Hall of Fame father, Lewis Feild (1987), on that list that includes Jack Buschbom (1960), Gary Tucker (1970), Bruce Ford (1980), Marvin Garrett (1989-90) and Justin McDaniel (2009).

    In 2011, Feild won the first three rounds – an amazing feat he’d love to repeat – en route to his first gold buckle and average title.

    “In 2011, I wrapped it up in the seventh round,” he said.

    In his first Wrangler NFR, bull rider Joe Frost accomplished an unprecedented feat by staying aboard the previously unridden Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Rattler for eight seconds and 85.5 points.

    “It’s what everyone dreams about doing from the time they’re a little kid,” Frost said. “I knew since I was 3 years old that I would be riding at the NFR someday. It feels good to finally be here in person, because this is the only sport I’ve ever really known or cared about. I’ve dedicated my whole life to this sport, and will continue to do so.”

    Before the performance, Frost was anxious, though. The senior at Oklahoma Panhandle State University tried to ease his apprehension by calling his college coaches – former NFR contestants Craig Latham and Robert Etbauer.

    “I have to be honest, I was extremely nervous starting at about 3 o’clock this afternoon,” he said. “I had big-time butterflies and I wanted to take a nap, but there was no chance I was going to be able to close my eyes. I called Craig Latham, Robert Etbauer and (former bull rider) Denny Flynn for some advice, and then talked to my parents. My dad told me to treat it like another rodeo, even though that’s impossible.”

    Frost was thrilled to continue his family’s legacy of success.

    “My Uncle Clyde was at the first-ever NFR, and was the only guy from Utah there and carried the flag in, and then my cousin Lane won the world championship here in 1987,” he said. “It was important for me to fulfill my lifelong dream and get here to represent my family.”

    Team ropers Turtle Powell and Dakota Kirchenschlager posted the fastest Round 1 time in NFR history when they won in 4.0 seconds. The previous mark was 4.1 by Speed Williams and Rich Skelton in 1997, and by Matt Sherwood and Cory Petska in 2011.

    “It’s the greatest thing in the world to come back to the Finals and get a ‘W’ in the first round,” said Kirchenschlager, who is in his second WNFR. “This is what we work all year for.”

    Powell, who is competing in his ninth Finals and won the world with Jhett Johnson in 2011, was also thrilled with the fast start.

    “This means a lot to get the momentum rolling for us,” Powell said. “Winning the first round gives us a lot of momentum and confidence. The year I won the world with Jhett, we came in with the same mindset; to be aggressive on the first one. We placed in the first six rounds doing it.”

    Not everyone takes such strategic chances so early in the week.

    “People think it’s crazy to go at it in the first round when it’s a 10-head average, but we’re not going to let off,” Powell said. “I’m going to rope this way all week. That’s the pep talk I gave Dakota before we came here. This is what we practiced for. Dakota knows when I get my adrenaline going my handles aren’t going to be layups.”

    Kirchenschlager said it’s a winning formula when Powell is fired up.

    “I love it when Turtle goes at ’em,” he said. “Every time he ducks, we win. He tries to apologize for wild handles and I tell him, ‘Do it again. That’s fun.’”

    Rookie tie-down roper Marty Yates won his event with a time of 7.4 seconds, one-tenth faster than 20-time World Champion Trevor Brazile, who moved up a spot to second in the world standings behind leader Tuf Cooper, a two-time champ.

    Yates, 20, is the youngest tie-down roper at the Finals.

    “Words can’t explain what I’m feeling right now,” Yates said. “It’s amazing and awesome. My first NFR to come out winning Round 1 gives me a lot more confidence for the remaining nine rounds. I was a little bit nervous and I was a little bit worried about myself. But when I backed in there and nodded my head, it felt like just another rodeo.”

    Saddle bronc rider Cort Scheer moved into second place in the world standings by winning Round 1 when he rode for 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Short Stop. Scheer trails saddle bronc riding standings leader Taos Muncy – who tied for third on opening night – by $15,118, or less than a round win.

    “It’s tremendous to get out there in the first round and ride well and win,” Scheer said. “It gets your confidence going 110 percent, and you just hope to keep riding and drawing well.”

    This is the fourth trip to the Finals for the cowboy from Elsmere, Neb. He was second in the average in 2013, when he finished fifth in the world. He was ninth in the world in 2012 and fourth in 2010.

    Still, Scheer was thrilled to get off to a fast start, something that’s eluded him in previous years.

    “I’ve been here three times before and never really rode well to start,” he said, “So this was really important to me.”

    Fallon Taylor won the barrel racing with a time of 14.09 seconds – even though she wasn’t going for the top spot, she said.

    “I am completely stoked,” Taylor said. “I’m shooting for fifth every night and I’ll keep doing so, and if the runs land me in first place that will be just fine with me. I couldn’t be happier.”

    Taylor was dressed in a colorful tie-dyed outfit that definitely garnered attention.

    “Tie-dye is my signature,” Taylor said. “I am not sure what the outfit for tomorrow night is just yet. I’ll just have to open the closet and see what jumps out at me each night.”

    The 56th annual Wrangler NFR continues Friday with the second round at the Thomas & Mack Center. The action will be televised live and in HD on CBS Sports Net (DirecTV channel 221 and DISH Network channel 158) from 7-10 p.m. (PT) with Jeff Medders and Butch Knowles announcing.

  • Are You Ready? WNFR 2014

    Are You Ready? WNFR 2014

    NFR 2014 from The Rodeo News on Vimeo.

  • Rodeo’s rising stars will compete in Las Vegas

    Rodeo’s rising stars will compete in Las Vegas

    LAS VEGAS – Dec. 3, 2014— Before competition starts at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on Thursday night at the Thomas and Mack Center, rising stars of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) will be competing in Las Vegas.

    Becoming a member of the PRCA starts when rodeo contestants buy their permits. They then have to fill that permit by earning money competing at sanctioned rodeos before they can become a full-fledged member. The top permit holders based on money won will be competing at the 2014 PRCA Permit Holder of the Year Challenge at the South Point Equestrian Center beginning at 12 p.m. on Dec. 4, just a few hours before the first performance of the WNFR.

    This is the sixth year for the Permit Holder Challenge but the first year that timed-events have been included. The competition is being held in conjunction with Benny Binion’s World Famous Bucking Horse and Bull Sale. Five contestants in each of the standard events, bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and bull riding will each compete in two rounds. Winners will be determined by the highest total score and fastest total time.

    The bareback, saddle bronc and bull riders will be getting on animals that are part of the sale. That has proved to be a beneficial combination for former permit holders that won here. Last year, Sage Kimzey from Strong City, Okla., won the bull riding at the Permit Holder Challenge. This year he enters the WNFR in first place, is the Resistol Rookie of the Year and is on pace to win his first world championship.

    “Competing in Las Vegas last year really lit a fire in me to be back at the WNFR this year,” Kimzey said. “I’ve dreamt and worked for this my whole life and last year was definitely a stepping stone.”

    Highlighting this year’s competition is CoBurn Bradshaw from Beaver, Utah in the saddle bronc riding. Bradshaw won the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s championship at the College National Finals Rodeo last June in Casper, Wyo. He is the highest money earner of all of the permit holders with over $30,000 in earnings.

    Bradshaw is married and his wife just happens to be the sister of the four Wright brothers that are competing at this year’s WNFR. Cody Wright’s oldest son Rusty is also on the contestant roster in saddle bronc riding.

    Another contestant with strong WNFR ties is team roper Shawn Bird from Cut Bank, Mont. Bird will rope in the Permit Challenge with Levi Lord from Sturgis, S.D., hoping to win a title. Then he will head over to the Thomas and Mack Center to watch his older brother Dustin Bird compete in the team roping.

    Along with $21,000 in cash, a variety of prizes will be won by the 2014 Permit Holer of the Year Challenge contestants. It has been made possible with support from the following sponsors: RAM Rodeo; San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo; Davie Pro Rodeo; Tucson Rodeo; Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo; Association of Rodeo Committees; Brighton Field Day Festival and Rodeo; National Western Stock Show; Barstow Rodeo; Wrangler; Resistol; South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa; Cactus Ropes and the Justin Sportsmedicine Team.

     

     

  • ProFile: Austin Wahlert

    ProFile: Austin Wahlert

    ‘Long live cowboys, may the legacy never fade, ‘cause honor is his code, it’s all he’s ever known and he’d die just to keep it that way. Throwing caution to the wind for the life he defends ‘cause he knows that’s what’s right. So long live cowboys, from now till the end of time!’
    The chorus to Austin Wahlert’s song, “Long Live Cowboys”, co-written with Baxter Black, reverberates with the 25-year-old singer songwriter and former bull rider from Gill, Colo. So do the words to Austin’s song “Las Vegas Gold”, which he is singing at the opening of the tenth round of the 2014 WNFR. Austin’s dream from childhood was to rodeo, but at age 23, nearly 25 broken bones from rodeo’s most dangerous sport, made him face the fact that his rodeo career was over. Yet the death of one dream led to the prelude of another. Austin had a talent for songwriting, and a guitar waiting to sing at his fingertips. He had written his first song when he was 16, and several years later put together a demo CD.
    Austin grew up on a 3,000 acre cattle ranch in northern Colorado with his brother and sister, learning rodeo from his parents and from being a competitor. His dad, Scot Wahlert, was the president of the Mountain States ProRodeo Circuit, and his mom, Chelle Wahlert, was the director of the WPRA. Austin decided that if he couldn’t compete in the sport, then he was going to sing about it and the western way of life.
    He learned to play guitar from his grandpa, Robert Gulvas, spending his afternoons after school soaking in everything he could about music. “Austin has always been very self motivated, and he feels there’s always something he can learn from others,” says his mom, Chelle. Following graduation from Eaton High School, Austin attended Odessa College on a full-ride scholarship, and his guitar took a backseat to his bull rope. However, he would play in the parking lot after rodeos, then began performing in bars and other venues to earn money. During his freshman year of college, Austin broke his back riding a bull and took a year off, which he used to write music while studying for his degree in business and marketing. After returning to rodeo and breaking his back a second time, Austin knew his competition days were at an end.
    Yet again, rodeo steered Austin toward music. His travels around the country for bull riding introduced him to gifted songwriters like David Lee and Wynn Varble, who quickly recognized Austin’s talent. Several of Austin’s music friends encouraged him to call Bruce Bouton, a steel guitarist who has played for Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, Garth Brooks, and Reba McEntire, among other notable artists. Despite the declarations that Austin would likely never reach Bouton on the phone, he called anyway, and caught the musician while he waited for a flight. “It was one of those God things,” says Austin. “Bruce told me to send him some of my songs, called me back after hearing the first two, and said we’d meet when he got back from touring in Europe.” That was the beginning of many trips to Nashville, which opened Austin up to a world of singers, songwriters, musicians, publishers, and record labels. Guitar legends like Bob Seger and Jim “Moose” Brown, who wrote “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” for Jimmy Buffett, sat in on several of Austin’s recording sessions and even played with him. “I was just like a young cowboy that gets to rodeo with Ty Murray for a week,” Austin describes. “It changed my career.”
    Austin released his first album, Austin Wahlert, in 2011, and a second, Dirt Road Blues, in 2013. He is now working on a third album which should come out in late 2015. “For the songwriting, it takes about a year, while I work on the message of my album. When I’m playing these songs thousands of times for concerts, I want lyrics that help a person get through something in life, or celebrate something. There’s a lot of music out there that you can’t sink your teeth into, and we’ve lost any deeper meaning in our songs.” “The Day She Went to Heaven” is particularly special to Austin, written in honor of his late mother-in-law, and another favorite is “Las Vegas Gold”. The song is inspired by Chris LeDoux’s music, and Austin fantasized about it replacing Elvis’s “Viva Las Vegas” to kick off the tenth round of the WNFR. On December 13, two and a half years to the day he wrote the song, he will be singing it on the arena floor of the WNFR.
    As an independent artist, Austin is his own manager, and business and marketing agent. This has been one of his best years as a professional musician, touring from late April until the third week of August. He flies to Nashville every six weeks to record and write, but spends every other moment with his wife, Justine, and their two-year-old daughter, Reagan. Reagan was born with Down Syndrome and had to have open heart surgery when she was three months old. She pulled through and is an avid fan of her dad’s music. She’ll leave anything she’s doing to listen to Austin play when he brings out his guitar, with ‘music’ being one of the first words she learned in sign language. Justine  was a high school and middle school art teacher until Reagan was born, and now continues teaching at home with Reagan, coaching her in sign language and doing three hours of therapy every day. Justine recently took up running and ran the 26.5 mile Denver Marathon in October.
    Ever looking to advance his music, Austin is taking a music theory class, previously learning everything by ear. “I never want to be complacent,” he says. “To this day, I can pull into play at a rodeo, close my eyes, and I could be there riding bulls. I still miss it, but music was a dream always burning at the back of my mind too. Singing at the tenth round of the Finals is great, yet I still have so many things to learn. I keep setting new goals, and I’m always working to be better than I was yesterday.”

  • ProFile: Vickie Shireman

    ProFile: Vickie Shireman

    Central Plains coaches and Vicki Shireman, Central Plains Secretary for the past 20 years.
    Central Plains coaches and Vicki Shireman, Central Plains Secretary for the past 20 years. – Photo by Dale Hirschman

    Vickie Shireman has lived around the Elk City (Oklahoma) area all of her life. “My family rodeoed – that’s all we did,” said the daughter of Una and Jiggs Beutler. “My dad was part owner of Beutler and Son, he was the son. And my mother kept the books and timed.” Vickie and her brother, Bennie, and sister, Dollie Riddle, rode to the rodeos in a car when their mom secretaried. “We stayed in motels; we didn’t have a camping trailer. We were raised in a rodeo office. Back then, you opened the books before the rodeo opened so you answered the phone and after you got it set up, they would call back to see what the draw was.” They entertained themselves with fighting with each other and there were always things to do. “A lot of times the rodeo office was in the lobby of the hotel, and sometimes people would take us to the pool. I didn’t know anything else. That’s all we did.”
    Vickie learned to trick ride with her sister from JW Stocker, a Hall of Fame trick rider and roper that stayed with the family one winter. “My sister and I went to the West Coast in the early 1970s. She trick rode and I was the ‘extra.’ By the next summer, my dad had us trick riding at the rodeos.” Dollie continued to perform, but after Vickie broke her back, she decided to stick with secretarying. Vickie went to Southwestern Oklahoma State for a year. “I secretaried rodeos and that turned into a full time job.”
    She met her husband, Dennis, when he came to work for her dad. “He drove a truck for him and that’s how we met.” The two married a year after that and have two children, a boy and a girl. Vickie kept up with her secretary jobs, raising her two children in the rodeo office. “My daughter, Jennie Murray, has carried on the tradition, and is a rodeo secretary and timer.” Justin works for Hallburton and his rodeo career consisted of helping Bennie with the stock for a few summers.Vickie and Dennis Shireman
    Vickie took over as the secretary for Central Plains in1994. “My mother was the Southwest Regional secretary for 20 years, so I knew about the work, and I applied for the job and got it.” She has done it ever since. “I still like to go, and I enjoy them.” The region is the largest in the NIRA and she describes each rodeo as a marathon. When she got the job, they didn’t enter with a fax, the entries were mailed in. “I encouraged them to use the fax machine the next year and now most of it is emailed. The region has grown over the years – there were more than 500 this past year. When I started in 1994, Jim Boy Hash was the student director, and now he’s the faculty director. There’s only one coach left that was coaching when I started – Allen Russell from Colby.”
    Vickie has been the NIRA Secretary of the Year, the PRCA Secretary of the Year and the WPRA Secretary of the Year. “I couldn’t have a better job – and this will be my 20th year working the NFR, and my tenth year as the office manager.” Her job while at the NFR consists of running the contestant rodeo office with the help of an assistant. She is responsible for the draws, the points, and the money.“I’ve raised my kids and I have five granddaughters.” She and her husband (Dennis) just built a new home out in the country, and that was one of her goals. Now she is working on the landscape. Other than that, “I’ve had a good career. I’ve worked lots of the top rodeos, and I love what I do.”

  • On the Trail with KC Jones

    On the Trail with KC Jones

    KC Jones keeps organized with lists. The 43-year-old bull dogger from Southeastern Colorado has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo eight  times since joining the PRCA in 1995. When not on the rodeo trail, KC works on his lists, which include two successful businesses he created: Rodeo Vegas (the Official NFR After Party of the PRCA) and Pro Fantasy Rodeo (the official fantasy rodeo game of the PRCA and WNFR).
    KC has been rodeoing for 20 years with a pro card. “When I started I never got to rodeo like a lot of others,” he said.  I was late to get my PRCA card as my parents wanted me to get a college degree before joining the pro ranks.  Early in KC’s life, “Mom and dad (Ruby and Charlie) did everything for me, taking me to gymkhanas, jackpots and junior rodeos. It was all about making sure we had everything we needed. It was more important to have a good horse than a fancy rig. So we were always mounted well, and they went out of their way to haul us around.” KC and his sister Kelly competed in about every event in every division of rodeo except the rough stock events.

    He grew up with National Little Britches rodeos and high school rodeos. “I won enough scholarship money to go to college,” he said, starting his college career at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo. “I wanted to be an Architectural Engineer, so I got an Associate Degree at Sterling and went on to the University of Wyoming.” He switched his major to Business Marketing, graduating in 1994. He went back to the farm and started working and rodeoing. “My rodeo habit was costing a lot, so I started shoeing horses and went to Equine Dentistry School. I could work really hard doing Equine Dentistry and still go rodeo.” He had a fair amount of success in the circuit and decided to branch out in 2000. He bought a big green truck that he named “Mean Green” which was one of the first “Big” trucks that was converted and used for rodeo and it carried everything he owned – shoeing tools on one side and equine dentistry on the other. “I was $600 short of making the cut to the WNFR that year.”
    He met his wife, Gayle, a barrel racer and flight attendant for Southwest Airlines, in 2002 in Oakdale, Calif. “I gave her a ring a month later, in November, we got married. “Neither one of us was looking and it was meant to be at first site…it happened fast and we’ve been running ever since,” he said. “I’ve been successful ever since I met her. She’s got my back 100% so that gives me the confidence to do anything.   She is in charge of the horses…she gets up and feeds all the horses, giving them their supplements and exercises them.  During the winter we have a lot of guys staying here (Decatur, Texas) for the winter rodeos. She cooks and cleans for everybody – I don’t want her job.”

     

    Full story available in the December 2014 issue.

  • Back When They Bucked with Deb Copenhaver

    Back When They Bucked with Deb Copenhaver

    Deb Copenhaver grew up in a ranch family in Wilbur, Wash. “I worked for a lot of different ranches riding colts,” said the 89-year-old World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider. Born January 21, 1925, Deb is considered one of the greatest bronc riders to come out of the Pacific Northwest He lived through the Depression and at 17, enlisted in the Navy during World War II. “I was in the construction battalion of the Navy, the Seabees. I had always liked construction work as a kid, so that was my reason for joining the Seabees. It was a branch of the Navy put together during WWII – the Seabees kid the Marines that they came in on the road the Seabees built.” Deb spent two years in North Africa running a bull dozer for $70 a month.
    “When I got out, I made up my mind I was going to rodeo and I started going to a few rodeos close to home.” The first year, 1946, he went to Calgary and won day money in the bull riding. “I was riding broncs and barebacks, but I got a little sore and kept to bronc riding. I had a good beginning -God gave me the ability to win right off the bat. I was fortunate to win Calgary three times, New York (Madison Square Garden) twice; Denver, Ft. Worth, Houston, Phoenix, Pendleton, Cheyenne, and Salinas.”
    In the 1950s, Deb teamed up with Paul Templeton, and Bill Linderman and went airborne in Paul’s 180 Cessna. “We were all over the country for rodeo—Calgary, Elko, Omaha, Kalispell, Butte. We did them all.” Dedication paid off and Deb came in second in the world in 1951, ’53, and ‘54 to his good friend, South Dakota roughstock rider, Casey Tibbs. He won it the next two years.
    Deb was elected to the RCA Board of Directors in 1958. “While on that Board I had a vote in having the first National Finals Rodeo. It was held in Dallas, Texas, in 1959.”
    He took his earnings from rodeo and invested in land near Creston, Wash., where he bred and raised quality quarter horses and operated Deb’s Cafe in town. “This little restaurant had belonged to my dad and was in the town that I was born in,” said Deb, who had made the last ride of his career in Pendleton in 1974 and was looking for a source of income for his family. “At that time it was a small restaurant and gas station. We bought a big building, 40 x 80, and moved it across the road and tied it into the existing building and had enough floor space for nice consequences.” The decision paid off; Deb and Cheryl built the restaurant into the heyday of Deb’s Cafe, decorated in true western style, and his ‘Steak Nights” were a hit with the town’s people as well as the country bands that he’d bring in to play on Saturday nights. Hank Thompson, Bonnie Guitar, and Earnest Tubb, and other country music greats all played at “Deb’s”.
    Cheryl was not as excited about the purchase of the restaurant. “It was open 7 days a week from 5 am until the last dog went home. We did that for 16 years and raised three kids in the midst of it.” Deb’s daughter Debra is a former Miss Rodeo Washington and a respected bronze sculptor (see Art of Rodeo, page 42). His son Jeff was ’75 World Champion Calf Roper and founding  pastor of the store of the New Frontier Cowboy Church in Texas (see Christian Corner, page 7). Deb is proud of his boys Matt and Guy, who are in the construction business, and his daughter Kelly, who is a Florida businesswoman and mom to three.
    It was Jeff that led Deb and Cheryl to the Lord in 1979. It wasn’t long after that they sold the restaurant. “If we are going to serve God, we are not going to serve booze,” Deb had said. “And that was the end of the restaurant. In two months time we had it sold, so our lives went on – we run cattle and quarter horses. If you are doing something that is not in God’s good will, if you pray about it, He will take you out of it.” After that, Deb and Cheryl sold the restaurant and settled into raising quarter horses and spreading the Gospel. “The most important thing that I could add is our Love for God – that’s more important now than anything you might write about us.”
    Today, Deb and Cheryl Copenhaver keep busy with their quarter horses, and Deb spends time in the log chapel he built down the road from his house.  Deb says proudly. “I want to be remembered for serving
    the Lord.”
     

    Story also available in the December 2014 issue.

  • Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping

    Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping

    Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping
    Kansas Star Arena Arena
    Nov. 7-8, 2014
    First round: 1. Trevor Brazile, 9.8 seconds, $5,331; 2. Vin Fisher Jr., 10.0, $4,281; 3. Jason Evans, 10.2, $3,231; 4. Rocky Patterson, 11.0, $2,181; 5. Scott Snedecor, 11.1, $1,131.
    Second round: 1. Scott Snedecor, 9.1 seconds, $5,331; 2. Trevor Brazile, 9.9, $4,281; 3. J.P. Wickett, 10.3, $3,231; 4. Tony Reina, 10.6; 5. Jason Evans, 11.3. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, 19.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Scott Snedecor, 20.2; 3. Jason Evans, 21.5; 4. Mike Chase, 22.9; 5. J.P. Wickett, 23.1.
    Third round: 1. Scott Snedecor, 11.0 seconds, $5,331; 2. Trevor Brazile, 11.5, $4,281; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., 11.6, $3,231; 4. Brodie Poppino, 12.7, $2,181; 5. Jess Tierney, 13.4, $1,131. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Scott Snedecor, 31.2 seconds on three runs; 3. Jess Tierney, 37.3; 4. Jason Evans, 37.5; 5. Troy Tillard, 38.6.
    Fourth round: 1. Jason Evans, 9.5 seconds, $5,331; 2. (tie) Mike Chase and J.P. Wickett, 10.3, $3,756 each; 4. Rocky Patterson, 11.1, $2,181; 5. Jess Tierney, 11.3, $1,131. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, 43.9 seconds on four runs; 2. Jason Evans, 47.0; 3. Jess Tierney, 48.6; 4. J.P. Wickett, 49.8; 5. Mike Chase, 51.5.
    Fifth round: 1. Mike Chase, 10.2 seconds, $5,331; 2. Trevor Brazile, 10.3, $4,281; 3. Brodie Poppino, 10.7, $3,231; 4. (tie) J.P. Wickett and Troy Tillard, 10.8, $1,656 each. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, 54.2 seconds on five runs; 2. J.P. Wickett, 60.6; 3. Mike Chase, 61.7; 4. Jason Evans, 63.5; 5. Jess Tierney, 67.5.
    Sixth round: 1. Brady Garten, 9.5 seconds, $5,331; 2. Trevor Brazile, 9.6, $4,281; 3. Troy Tillard, 10.1, $3,231; 4. J.P. Wickett, 10.7, $2,181; 5. Cody Lee, 10.8, $1,131. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, 63.8 seconds on six runs; 2. J.P. Wickett, 71.3; 3. Mike Chase, 74.9; 4. Jason Evans, 77.0; 5. 78.3.
    Seventh round: 1. Brady Garten, 9.5 seconds; 2. Trevor Brazile, 11.2, $4,281; 3. Tony Reina, 11.7, $3,231; 4. Jess Tierney, 12.5, $2,181; 5. J.P. Wickett, 14.4, $1,131. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, 75.0 seconds on seven runs; 2. J.P. Wickett, 85.7; 3. Jason Evans, 97.3; 4. Tony Reina, 100.5; 5. Mike Chase, 74.9 seconds on six runs.
    Eighth round: 1. Brady Garten, 9.8 seconds, $5,331; 2. Rocky Patterson, 10.8, $4,281; 3. Chance Kelton, 10.9, $3,231; 4. Cody Lee, 12.1, $2,181; 5. (tie) Mike Chase and Brodie Poppino, 12.4, $565 each. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, 89.5 seconds on eight runs; 2. J.P. Wickett, 99.4; 3. Tony Reina, 114.4; 4. Mike Chase, 87.3 seconds on seven runs; 5. Chance Kelton, 96.0.
    Ninth round: 1. Scott Snedecor, 9.9 seconds, $5,331; 2. Jason Evans, 10.1, $4,281; 3. Cody Lee, 10.8, $3,231; 4. J.P. Wickett, 10.9, $2,181; 5. Chance Kelton, 11.3, $1,131. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, 103.6 seconds on nine runs; 2. J.P. Wickett, 110.3; 3. Tony Reina, 133.9; 4. Chance Kelton, 107.3 seconds on nine runs; 5. Jason Evans, 107.4.
    Tenth round: 1. Vin Fisher Jr., 9.6 seconds, $5,331; 2. Chet Herren, 9.7, $4,281; 3. Brady Garten, 9.9, $3,231; 4. Ricky Patterson, 10.2, $2,181; 5. Trevor Brazile, 10.5, $1,131. Average: 1. Trevor Brazile, 114.1 seconds on 10 runs, $15,992; 2. J.P. Wickett, 126.3, $12,842; 3. Chance Kelton, 120.4 seconds on nine runs, $9,692; 4. Jason Evans, 121.3, $6,542; 5. Tony Reina, 133.9, $3,392. Total NFSR money: 1. Trevor Brazile, $43,858; 2. $26,977; 3. Jason Evans, $20,515; 4. Brady Garten, $19,223; 5. Scott Snedecor, $17,123. Final world standings: 1. Trevor Brazile, $112,692; 2. Chet Herren, $72,191; 3. J.P. Wickett, $60,017; 4. Jess Tierney, $58,003; 5. Vin Fisher Jr., $56,341; 6. Mike Chase, $55,739; 7. SCody Lee, $51,957; 8. Brady Garten, $41,766; 9. Chance Kelton, $51,517; 10. Scott Snedecor, $48,348; 11. Rocky Patterson, $43,152; 12. Mike Chase, $42,932; 13. Tony Reina, $41,969; 14. Brodie Poppino, $26,170; 15. Troy Tillard, $33,155.

  • Richards, de la Cruz win appeal, join WNFR field

    Richards, de la Cruz win appeal, join WNFR field

    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The grievance appeal filed by team ropers Tom Richards and Cesar de la Cruz has been ruled to be valid by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and they have been placed in the draw for the Dec. 4-13 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

    The decision bumps header Chad Masters and heeler Kinney Harrell down one spot to 16th in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings, and out of the WNFR lineup.

    Masters and Harrell now have the right to enter into the same three-stage Grievance Procedure (Rule B11.3) which granted relief to Richards and de la Cruz.

    News & Notes from the Rodeo Trail

    When the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping moves to Mulvane, Kan., Nov. 7-8, it will be the first time a national championship rodeo event will happen in the Jayhawk State. Trevor Brazile leads the world standings, and will be looking for his second straight steer roping world title. If Brazile wins the steer roping gold buckle, it would be his fifth in that discipline, moving him out of a tie for third place with Shoat Webster and into third place all by himself, one back of Everett Shaw (and 13 back of Guy Allen) … Bill Stephens, representing the Crossett (Ark.) Riding Club PRCA Rodeo, is the 2014 Justin Committeeman of the Year. Stephens, an Ag Loan Officer, has been involved with the rodeo for 18 years, and has served on the Board of Directors for the past 12 years. The John Justin Standard of the West Award program, developed in the late 1980s, annually recognizes 100 behind-the-scenes recipients for their outstanding volunteer contribution to their local rodeo, with a grand prize winner being named the Justin Committeeman of the Year. Stephens will be recognized at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December … Canadian bareback rider Clint Laye can only hope that the Great American Cowboy Rodeo in Casper, Wyo., is as reliable a pathway to the Wrangler NFR as it seems. Each of the last four bareback riding champions there went to the WNFR the following year – Casey Colletti twice, Ty Breuer and then J.R. Vezain. Laye can take particular encouragement from Colletti in 2010 (2011 season) and Breuer in 2012 (2013), who earned their first WNFR berths at the end of that season. Laye, who won in Casper Nov. 1 with a 76.5-point ride on Triple V Rodeo’s Lone Bear, is looking for his first WNFR qualification in 2015 after finishing 19th this past season and 26th in 2013 … The late Larry Condon, who qualified for the 1962 National Finals Rodeo as a bull rider and finished ninth in the world, will be inducted into the Indian National Finals Rodeo Hall of Fame Nov. 8 at the South Point Hotel, Spa and Casino in Las Vegas. Condon and former PRCA members Lyle Cochran, C.L. Johnson, Archie Becenti and Gary Not Afraid will be honored at a luncheon in the South Point Arena VIP Bar at 3:30 (tickets are $20) and then recognized in the arena during the final performance of the Indian National Finals Rodeo that night … PRCA sponsor Boot Barn Holdings Inc. entered the New York Stock Exchange Oct. 30 when it had its initial public offering (IPO) underwritten by J.P. Morgan, Wells Fargo, Piper Jaffray, Baird and Jeffries. Shares for the IPO were originally priced at $16 on five million shares, raising $80 million. The pricing went on the high end of the range of $14-16. However shares entered the market at $19, and the range on the day fluctuated between $17.94 and $19.50. Coming into this IPO, Boot Barn had boasted 19 consecutive quarters of positive same-store sales growth with net sales increasing to $345.9 million in 2014 from $168.7 million in 2012, representing a compound annual growth rate of 43.2 percent …Former PRCA steer wrestler and tie-down roper Ted Cannon of Silver Creek, Neb., died Oct. 26 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln. He was 92. Cannon served in the South Pacific during World War II and was subsequently part of the occupying force in Japan before returning home to Nebraska to ranch, farm and compete in ProRodeo … The local American Legion in Drummond, Mont., is replacing the weathered wooden bucking chutes, pens, alleys and back fence across the arena with $20,000 worth of steel before the rodeo takes place next July. It’s the first step in a makeover for the rodeo arena that may cost upward of $100,000. The project will improve the way livestock is loaded into the bucking chutes, while also improving safety throughout the rodeo grounds … The top rodeo awards for the Mountain States Circuit were announced, based on contestant voting. The Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days won Best Large-Sized Rodeo, the Rooftop Rodeo in Estes Park (Colo.) took best Mid-Sized Rodeo and the Steamboat Springs (Colo.) Pro Rodeo Series was the top Small-Sized Rodeo. The Most Improved Rodeo award went to the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo in Castle Rock, Colo., and the best ground award went to Eagle (Colo.) County Fair & Rodeo … Larry Mahan was presented with the 2014 Western Horseman Award during the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering, Oct. 24-26 in Fort Worth, Texas … Tarleton State University’s Rodeo Hall of Fame will celebrate the induction of five new members during the fifth annual steak dinner and auction on Nov. 15 at the Stephenville, Texas, campus. Inductees will include longtime rodeo team supporter Darla Doty, wife of former Tarleton rodeo coach and 2014 Hall of Fame inductee Bob Doty;former Tarleton rodeo team member J.J. Hampton; 2004 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) All-Around Cowboy and national tie-down roping champion and 2005 All-Around Cowboy reserve champion Ryan Watkins; and Wanda Mercer, former vice president of student life at Tarleton and supervisor of the Office of Rodeo Activities. Admission to the event is $80 per couple, and includes a steak dinner. Tickets are still available for purchase through 5 p.m. on Nov. 7, by contacting the Office of Rodeo Activities at 254.968.9187.

  • Back When They Bucked with Olin Young

    Back When They Bucked with Olin Young

    In 1954, Olin Young started his professional rodeo career at Pecos, Texas.  From there, the young cowboy competed in, and placed in all the major and small town rodeos of the time, vying for a chance at the World Title, a dream he would achieve many times in the coming years. In fact, the cowboy was so dedicated to his career, that in the early 1960’s, Young designed his own roping saddle, that was built by Windy Ryon. Later, Ryon manufactured and sold “The Olin Young Roper” at his store, Ryon’s Saddle Shop & Western Store in Ft. Worth.
    Of course, winning multiple world titles requires much travel. Some memories of traveling are not always good ones, like the night he and a crew of fellow ropers were traveling from Salinas, California in separate vehicles. Glen Franklin, and Herschel Romine had new cars. Olin and Jake Bogard were in an older 1957 Chevrolet pulling a horse trailer.  Coming out of Salinas Olin was driving, vividly recalling the horrific traffic. He witnessed a vehicle almost hitting Glen. Because of it, Olin had to swerve hitting cement causing two tires on the trailer to blow out.
    “That was pretty scary,” Young admits.
    According to Young, during his travels, following a long day on the road, he would try to locate rodeo grounds to spend the night. He carried with him as part of his gear, an army cot so he could sleep near his horses. Of course, this wasn’t the case when his wife, Letha, traveled with him. Hotels/motels were not as commonplace as they are today, and according to Letha, there were no accommodations at all in Burwell Nebraska, Sidney Iowa, and Cheyenne Wyoming.  However, local residents would open their homes to cowboys, and their wives, if traveling with them.   As far as restaurants go, not only did Sidney, Iowa not have a motel, the town didn’t have a restaurant. The ladies from the local Baptist Church would feed the cowboys in the basement of their church.
    Young didn’t always travel by vehicle, but sometimes flew to rodeos. Flying, however, didn’t come without it’s share of excitement.  Once, six cowboys decided to ride in a small plane to quickly get to another rodeo. Although six were aboard, the plane was only rated to hold five passengers.  Leaving Salinas, California headed to Nampa, Idaho, the passengers were Shawn Davis, John W. Jones (a steer wrestler), Barry Burk, Jim Kenney, the pilot, Harley May, and Young. Jones was riding in the front of the plane, and announced to the passengers ‘we got a problem.’ The hydraulic light and the landing gear came on indicating a possible malfunction.  Obviously relaying the message from the pilot, Jones announced they would have to land in the dirt beside a track. He instructed the group to ‘get out’ when the plane slowed down enough to do so. Kenney ‘abandoned ship’ before the plane even stopped.

    Full story available in November 1, 2014 issue.

  • On the Trail with Tim O’Connell

    On the Trail with Tim O’Connell

    The Missouri Valley College rodeo team in Marshall, Mo., claims WNFR qualifier Tim O’Connell as one of their own. The 23 year old is sitting fourth in the bareback, having reached the $100,000 mark for the first time in his rodeo career. Tim was the 2013 PRCA Rookie of the Year, but didn’t qualify for the WNFR that year, making his 2014 qualification all the sweeter.

    Tim’s dream of riding bareback nearly didn’t come to realization. In high school, Tim’s original goal was to be, as his dad put it, “A Ty Murray”, and compete in all three roughstock events. He soon discovered that saddle bronc riding was too technical for his taste. He was considered small for his age, and the bareback riding left Tim flying high and doing face plants, so he zeroed in on bull riding. Tim’s hometown is Zwingle, Iowa, but he rodeoed with the Wisconsin High School Rodeo Association and was their year-end bull riding champion in 2010. He also poured himself into high school wrestling and was a three time state qualifier, placing fourth in the state his senior year. But the bareback riding was ever at the back of his mind. After a bad wreck while bull riding at the NHSFR his senior year, Tim soon decided to quit riding bulls. He attended a rodeo school in Iowa that PRCA saddle bronc rider Wade Sundell helped put on. “I don’t really know to this day what made me decide to start riding bareback again,” says Tim. “I would pay thousands of dollars to go back to that day at the school and know what was going through my mind!” He rode three barebacks that day, a new enthusiasm springing up in him for the event.

    Roughstock runs steady in the O’Connell family. Tim’s dad, Ray O’Connell, competed in saddle bronc riding in high school, then began working as a pickup man. By the time Tim and his older brother Will were born, Ray was working mainly for Cervi Rodeo Company and Three Hills Rodeo Company. He took his boys with him whenever their school allowed. They loved to help their dad cool his horses out after the rodeo, and at many of the high school rodeos that Ray worked, he would leave young Tim riding double with the kids in the warm up pen. When they were on deck, Tim was passed along to someone else.

    Growing up in the shadow of the bucking chutes made an impression on Tim early on. “Tim enjoyed being around the livestock, and if he decided to rodeo, you could tell that roughstock was where he was leaning,” says Ray. Tim started riding sheep, then worked his way through calves, steers, and bulls before finally settling on bareback. His mom, Joann O’Connell, admits that watching Tim and his brother Will – who also rode bulls – took her out of her comfort level. “I’m their biggest fan, but I worried every time they got on,” she remembers. Joann would watch the other kids ride, but left the stands when her boys rode, listening, but not watching. Today, she’s cheering from the stands – and watching with both eyes open. “I ride that horse jump for jump with Tim.” She and Ray add, “These last few weeks, Tim has been on fire, and we couldn’t be more proud of him.” Will, who is five years older than Tim, went on to be a pickup man like his dad, and fights bulls. Ray and Will have also started Diamond R Bucking Horses together, and will be taking two of their colts to the futurity sale at the WNFR.

    Full story is available in the November 1, 2014 issue.

     

  • Vieira extends lead in PBR world title race; Triplett and Alves top two in average

    Vieira extends lead in PBR world title race; Triplett and Alves top two in average

    Vieira extends lead in PBR world title race;
    Triplett and Alves top two in average
    Asteroid takes lead in World Champion Bull race

    LAS VEGAS (Oct. 23, 2014) – With the highest score of the event thus far, Matt Triplett won Round 2 of the Built Ford Tough World Finals, moving to first place in the event average with 179.25 points. His 92-point ride on Walk Off (Jeff Robinson Bucking Bulls) marked the highest score of his career and earned the Montana native $25,000 for the round win.

    “This is something I’ve dreamed of my entire life,” Triplett said, “and what better way is there to live my dream? This is pretty awesome. I’m just going to try to stay positive and go jump for jump and have fun.”

    Triplett is one of three men to ride each of his first two bulls. No. 2 Silvano Alves covered Mr. Clark (Wolf Creek Cattle & Rodeo Co. LLC) for 87.75 points on Thursday to move to second place in the event average with 174 points, putting the pressure on No. 1 Joao Ricardo Vieira, who had failed to cover his bull in Round 1.

    However, Vieira held tight under the pressure and earned the second 90-point ride of the event. His 90.25-point score on Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey (Cantankerous LLC) earned him second place in the round and increased his lead over Alves to 627.44 points in the race for the PBR World Championship.

    No. 3 Fabiano Vieira, No. 4 Guilherme Marchi and No. 5 Mike Lee all failed to cover their Round 2 bulls.

    Rounding out the Top 5 for Round 2, behind Triplett and Joao Ricardo Vieira, were Kody Lostroh, Stetson Lawrence and Ty Pozzobon. Despite a broken ankle, Lostroh turned in 89.25 points on The Rocker (Wyatt Crowder Bucking Bulls) for third place; Lawrence conquered previously-unridden Wicked (J.A.R.S. Bucking Bulls/Gene Owen) for 88.75 points for fourth place; and Pozzobon received 88 points for his effort on Fire & Smoke (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve).

    Round 2 also marked the first night of competition for the bulls in the race for the World Champion Bull title. Asteroid (Circle T Ranch & Rodeo) put up the highest score, receiving 46.50 points as he bucked off Chase Outlaw. Mick E Mouse (Marlene Henry) sits second with 46 points, while Roy (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls) is third with 45.25 points.

    Reigning World Champion Bull Bushwacker (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls) made short work of Brady Sims, tossing him in 3.9 seconds for 45 points. He is currently in fourth place in the bull title race. The final round of competition for the top bulls will take place Sunday, Oct. 26.

    Round 3 of the PBR World Finals takes place Friday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. PT, and will air on CBS Sports Network at 9 p.m. ET.

    Built Ford Tough World Finals

    Thomas & Mack Center

    Las Vegas

    Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Event Points)…

    1. Matt Triplett, 87.25-92-179.25 points.

    2. Silvano Alves, 86.25-87.75-174.00 points.

    3. Tanner Byrne, 87-83.75-170.75 points.

    4. Joao Ricardo Vieira, 0-90.25-90.25 points.

    5. Kody Lostroh, 0-89.25-89.25 points.

    6. J.W. Harris, 88.75-0-88.75 points.

    (tie). Stetson Lawrence, 0-88.75-88.75 points.

    8. Stormy Wing, 88.5-0-88.50 points.

    9. J.B. Mauney, 88-0-88.00 points.

    (tie). Ty Pozzobon, 0-88-88.00 points.

    11. Gage Gay, 0-87.75-87.75 points.

    12. Claudio Crisostomo, 0-87.25-87.25 points.

    (tie). Mike Lee, 87.25-0-87.25 points.

    14. L.J. Jenkins, 87-0-87.00 points.

    15. Brady Sims, 86.25-0-86.25 points.

    (tie). Fernando Henrique, 0-86.25-86.25 points.

    (tie). Marco Eguchi, 86.25-0-86.25 points.

    (tie). Ryan Dirteater, 0-86.25-86.25 points.

    19. Eduardo Aparecido, 86-0-86.00 points.

    (tie). Guilherme Marchi, 86-0-86.00 points.

    21. Lachlan Richardson, 85.5-0-85.50 points.

    22. Jordan Hupp, 84-0-84.00 points.

    23. David Kennedy, 0-83.5-83.50 points.

    (tie). Nathan Schaper, 83.5-0-83.50 points.

    25. Kasey Hayes, 0-79.25-79.25 points.

    Billy Robinson, 0-0-0.00 points.

    Chase Outlaw, 0-0-0.00 points.

    Cody Nance, 0-0-0.00 points.

    Douglas Duncan, 0-0-0.00 points.

    Emilio Resende, 0-0-0.00 points.

    Fabiano Vieira, 0-0-0.00 points.

    Gustavo Pedrero, 0-0-0.00 points.

    Josh Faircloth, 0-0-0.00 points.

    Renato Nunes, 0-0-0.00 points.

    Robson Palermo, 0-0-0.00 points.

    Scott Schiffner, 0-0-0.00 points.

    Sean Willingham, 0-0-0.00 points.

    Valdiron de Oliveira, 0-0-0.00 points.

    Zane Lambert, 0-0-0.00 points.

    2014 Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series World Finals Standings          
    10/23/2014

    (Place, Rider, Events, Wins, Top 5’s, Points, Total Winnings)

    1. Joao Ricardo Vieira, 28, 2, 10, 9,960.500, $274,729.94

    2. Silvano Alves, 28, 0, 7, 9,333.060, $154,586.62

    3. Fabiano Vieira, 26, 3, 8, 9,008.620, $250,951.64

    4. Guilherme Marchi, 28, 1, 6, 8,587.060, $267,889.70

    5. Mike Lee, 26, 2, 7, 8,399.060, $234,041.03

    6. Matt Triplett, 28, 0, 4, 8,297.830, $173,384.78

    7. Gage Gay, 24, 1, 4, 6,764.120, $179,359.08

    8. Eduardo Aparecido Silva, 27, 1, 5, 6,584.680, $129,541.01

    9. Cody Nance, 28, 3, 5, 6,551.620, $181,802.79

    10. L.J. Jenkins, 27, 1, 2, 6,398.230, $136,646.16

    11. Marco Eguchi, 27, 2, 3, 5,913.060, $160,188.76

    12. Chase Outlaw, 23, 1, 2, 5,778.290, $179,397.40

    13. Valdiron de Oliveira, 28, 2, 5, 5,733.060, $139,251.51

    14. J. B.  Mauney, 22, 2, 5, 5,361.500, $255,081.96

    15. Stormy Wing, 25, 1, 2, 5,293.870, $168,319.32

    16. Kasey Hayes, 22, 0, 2, 5,082.000, $84,488.18

    17. Emilio Rezende, 26, 1, 3, 5,073.250, $101,533.90

    18. Markus Mariluch, 21, 0, 5, 5,036.370, $74,265.42

    19. Tanner Byrne, 15, 0, 4, 4,937.790, $108,023.76

    20. Renato Nunes, 26, 2, 4, 4,708.430, $113,200.64

    21. Ryan Dirteater, 25, 0, 5, 4,647.370, $79,532.80

    22. Sean Willingham, 21, 1, 1, 4,187.000, $83,414.37

    23. Brady Sims, 20, 0, 3, 4,127.370, $58,835.27

    24. Stetson Lawrence, 12, 0, 1, 3,869.290, $99,486.65

    25. Cláudio Crisóstomo, 22, 0, 3, 3,864.500, $82,103.53

    26. Zane Lambert, 19, 0, 2, 3,701.910, $110,370.84

    27. Ty Pozzobon, 22, 0, 2, 3,621.370, $101,505.78

    28. J.W. Harris, 14, 0, 2, 3,612.000, $89,939.00

    29. Kody Lostroh, 16, 0, 2, 3,329.750, $58,655.87

    30. Nathan Schapper, 15, 1, 1, 3,323.750, $74,785.28

    31. Douglas Duncan, 26, 0, 4, 3,217.870, $51,312.97

    32. Lachlan Richardson, 24, 0, 0, 3,213.620, $66,783.90

    33. Jordan Hupp, 20, 0, 1, 3,187.370, $62,221.22

    34. Josh Faircloth, 9, 0, 1, 3,111.180, $49,791.65

    35. Robson Palermo, 14, 0, 1, 2,909.370, $37,610.64

    36. Billy Robinson, 24, 0, 1, 2,864.250, $45,976.55

    37. Jason Malone, 10, 0, 1, 2,851.870, $68,210.39

    38. Harve Stewart, 18, 0, 0, 2,422.660, $42,822.01

    39. Guytin Tsosie, 10, 0, 1, 2,409.620, $39,306.34

    40. Luis Blanco, 3, 0, 0, 2,326.060, $48,110.36

    41. Ben Jones, 10, 0, 0, 2,262.080, $56,310.78

    42. Tyler Harr, 4, 0, 0, 2,192.680, $55,061.98

    43. Jory Markiss, 13, 0, 0, 2,021.620, $44,887.01

    44. Budd Williamson, 2, 0, 0, 1,874.660, $46,707.00

    45. Scottie Knapp, 3, 0, 0, 1,815.950, $53,842.98