Cowboys to Watch Archives - Page 2 of 5

CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 21, 2024 — Midway through his rookie season of professional rodeo, Wacey Schalla is making a splash as an all-around hand. The Arapaho, Oklahoma cowboy made his first appearance at Cheyenne Frontier Days memorable when he won Quarterfinals 2 in both the bareback and bull riding.

Schalla started the first contest of the day with an 83.5-point ride on Rocky Mountain Pro Rodeo’s Hondo. He edged college teammate Weston Timberman of Columbus, Montana, by one point to win the round and both advanced to the Semifinals.

Near the end of the rodeo performance, Schalla made the highest marked ride of the day in bull riding, scoring 84 points on Stace Smith Rodeo’s bull named Island Time to win the round by five points.

His efforts also put him in the race for the all-around title at the Daddy of ‘em All, which is awarded to the highest money winner in multiple events.

Schalla is currently ranked fourth in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) world championship standings in the all-around. He is 17^th in the bull riding and needs to be among the top 15 to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in December. Schalla is also ranked 40^th in bull riding.

He’s leading the PRCA rookie of the year standings in the all-around category and is fifth in the bareback and third in the bull riding rookie standings.

Despite his success on the pro level, Schalla, who just completed his freshman year at Clarendon College in Clarendon, Texas, qualified and competed at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper last month where he won both the all-around and the bull riding national championships.

Another college cowboy, Ira Dickinson of Rock Springs, Wyoming, who competes for Tarleton State University of Texas, won the saddle bronc riding with 82 points on Stace Smith Rodeo’s bucking horse named Assets. He was the reserve collegiate champion bronc rider, behind teammate Gus Gaillard of Morse, Texas, who also competed in Quarterfinals 2. Both advanced to the Semifinals.

The world championships of the Women’s Ranch Bronc Riding Association concluded Sunday. Three women each from the U.S.A., Canada and Australia competed in two rounds and when the dust settled there was a tie for the championship. Ally Sprierings from Carthage, Missouri, won her third consecutive championship at Frontier Park and she shared the honor with Katie Coker, a native of Tennessee who now lives in Colorado.

Quarter Finals 2 begins on Sunday at 12:45 where new contestants in every event will be vying for their spots in the Semi Finals and a piece of the the $1 million plus purse at the 128^th Cheyenne Frontier Days.

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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 21, 2024)- The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals 2 (second performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Sunday, July 21. Payoff subject to change.

Bareback Riding: 1, Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla.., 83.5 points on Rocky Mountain Pro Rodeo’s Hondo, $2,448. 2, Weston Timberman, Columbus, Mont., 82, $1,836. 3, Clay Jorgenson, Watford City, N.D., 80, $1,224, 4, (tie) Tristan Hansen, Dillon, Mont., and Sam Peterson, Helena, Mont., 77, $306 each.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Chloe Lambert, Fallon, Nev., 4.3 seconds, $2, 960. 2, Amanda Terrell, LaSalle, Colo., 4.5, $2,220. 3, Joey Williams, Volberg, Mont., 5.2, $1,480. 4, Libby Winchell, Casper, Wyo., 5.4, $740.

Tie Down Roping: 1, Brayden Roe, Wendell, Idaho, 12.0 seconds, $2,000. 2, Britt Bedke, Oakley, Idaho, 12.5, $1,500. 3, Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 12.7. 4, Hayden Ford, Whitehouse, Texas, 12.8, $500.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Ira Dickinson, Rock Springs, Wyo., 82 points on Stace Smith Rodeo’s Assets, $2,354. 2, Joe Harper, Paradise Valley, Nev., 79.5, $1,766. 3, Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 79, $1,177. 4, (tie) Logan Cook, Alto, Texas, and Gus Gaillard, Morse, Texas, 77.5, $294 each.

Team Roping: 1, Paul David Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla., and Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, Neb., 8.7 seconds, $2,000 each. 2, Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas, and Wesley Thorp, Throckmorton, Texas, 9.6, $1,500 each. 3, Clayton Van Aken, Yoder, Wyo., and Culler Teller, Ault, Colo., 9.8, $1,000 each. 4, Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., and Coleby Payne, Stephenville, Texas, 10.8, $500 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Jacob Thomas Wang, Laramie, Wyo., 7.4 seconds, $2,000. 2, Caden Camp, Belgrade, Mont., 7.5, $1,500. 3, Joe Nelson, Watford City, N.D., 7.8, $1,000 . 4 Emmett Edler, State Center, Iowa, 8.0, $500.

Barrel Racing: 1, Jymmy Kay Cox, Ruidoso, Downs, N.M, 17.41 seconds, $2,471. 2, Tarryn Lee, St. David, Ariz., 17.46, $1,854. 3, Karson Bradley, Big Piney, Wyo., 17.48, $1,236. 4, Fallon Taylor, Collinsville, Texas, 17.58, $618.

Bull Riding: (three rides) 1, Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla., 84 points on Stace Smith Rodeo’s Island Time, $2,578. 2, Vinell Mariano, Church Rock, N.M., 79, $1,785. 3, Tristan Mize, Bryan, Texas, 78.5, $1,190.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Clint Read, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, 80 points. 2, Sid Skiver, Nogales, S.D. 3, (tie) Beau Scarborough, Pine Bluffs, Wyo., and Josue Molina, Pampa, Texas, 74.

Wild Horse Race: 1, Graves Team, $600. 2, Team Chizzie, $450. 3, KO, $300.

Ladies Bronc Riding: Round One: 1., Katie Coker, Nashville, Tenn., 84 points. 2, Ally Sprierings, Carthage, Mo., 82. Round Two: 1, Spierings, 77 points. 2, (tie) Coker and Pearl Kersey, Millarville, Alberta, Canada, 75. 4, Dr. Rae-Leigh Pederzolli, Medicine Hat, Alberta, 73. Total on 2: 1, (tie) Spierings and Coker, 159 points.

Fans of rodeo’s classic event got all they could ask for from the first afternoon of saddle bronc riding at Cheyenne Frontier Days. A packed house was howling Saturday especially for the two top riders moving on to the semifinals. Canadian Kolby Wanchuk and Sage Newman from Montana put on spurring spectacles and the traveling partners were very pleased with the bucking horses they climbed aboard

128th Cheyenne Frontier Days Starts Quarterfinal Action

CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 20, 2024 — Garrett Shadbolt, who is in the midst of his most successful regular season in his professional rodeo career, continued on the winning path by winning Quarterfinals 1 at the 128^th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. The Merriman, Nebraska, cowboy scored 85.5 points on the powerful bucking horse named Big Apple from United Pro Rodeo to advance to next week’s Semifinals.

Shadbolt, a father of two, qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in 2021 and 2022, but missed qualifying last year and is on a mission to return to Las Vegas in December.

He is a graduate of Doane University in Crete, Nebraska, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and lettered in wrestling for four seasons.

Wyoming fans had plenty to cheer for in breakaway roping. Taylour Latham of Cheyenne won the day’s Quarterfinal with a time of 4.6 seconds, just one-tenth of a second faster than Jordyn McNamee of Laramie. Latham is a former standout on both the Gillette College and the University of Wyoming’s rodeo teams where she competed in multiple events. She graduated from the University of Wyoming in May. Both teams helped her get in some practice runs this week.

She estimated that she had not entered a rodeo in the breakaway in about 18 months but cracked out at Cheyenne, which she still claims as home although she now lives in Texas.

The highest score of the day was in saddle bronc riding where Melstone, Montana’s Sage Newman scored 89 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Ropin Dreams to win Quarterfinals 1. Newman is currently ranked third in the world championship standings and well on his way to a fourth consecutive NFR.

Newman is one of three bronc riders in a tight race for second in the standings and within striking distance of current leader Damian Brennen of Australia. Newman has a chance to gain ground on Brennan who bucked off and will not have another opportunity to win a share of the $1 million plus purse at the Daddy of ‘em All.

Quarter Finals 2 begins on Sunday at 12:45 where new contestants in every event but bull riding will be vying for their spots in the Semi Finals.

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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 20, 2024)- The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (first performance) at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Saturday, July 20. Payoff subject to change.

Bareback Riding: 1, Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb., 85.5 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Big Apple, $2,448. 2, Caleb Bennett, Corvallis, Mont., 82.5, $1,836. 3, Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas, 81.5, $1,224, 4, Trevar McAllister, Roman, Mont., 80.5, $612.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Taylour Latham, Cheyenne, Wyo., 4.6 seconds, $2, 960. 2, Jordyn McNamee, Laramie, Wyo., 4.7, $2,220. 3, Shelby Whiting, Paola, Kan., 5.2, $1,480. 4, Kelsie Domer, Dublin, Texas, 5.7, $740.

Tie Down Roping: 1, Chantz Webster, Weatherford, Texas, 11.7 seconds, $2,000. 2, Dontae Pacheco, Blanco, N.M., $1,500. 3, Ryan Thibodeaux, Stephenville, Texas, 14.0. 4, (tie) Cash Enderli, Liberty, Texas; and Jason Schaffer, Broadus, Mont., $250 each.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., 89 points, $2,354. 2, Kolby Wanchuk, Glenwood Park, Alberta, Canada, 88, $1,766. 3, Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont., 86.5, $589.

Team Roping: 1, (tie) Casey Ahlstrom, Ault, Colo., and Riley Pedro, Honolulu, Hawaii; and Jared Gonzales, Eloy, Ariz., and Paul Brashears, Casa Grande, Ariz, 9.6 seconds, $1,625 each. 3, Jon Peterson, Belle Fourche, S.D., and Cash Hetzel, Lemmon, S.D., 10.0, $1,250 each. 4, Cole Thomas, Meadville, Miss., and Dylin Ahlstrom, Hooper, Utah, 10.3, $500 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Jay Williamson, Weatherford, Texas, 6.0 seconds, $2,000. 2, Tyler Scheevel, Alva, Okla., 6.5, $1,500. 3, Jace Logan, Yampa, Colo., 7.7, $1,000 . 4 (tie) , Jesse Brown, Baker City, Ore., and Gus McGinn, Hanes, Ore., 8.2, $250 each.

Barrel Racing: 1, LaTricia Duke, Zephyr, Texas, 17.16 seconds, $2,471. 2, Sage Kohr, Gillette, Wyo., 17.18, $1,854. 3, (tie) Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas; and Lindsay Sears, Lipan, Texas, 17.31, $927.

Bull Riding: 1, Brandon Ballard, New Hope, Ky., 83 points on Harper & Morgan Rodeo Co.’s Rondo, $2380. 2, Wilson Tipton, Jackson, Wyo., 78.5, $1,785. 3, Grayson Cole, Fredonia, Pa., $1,190. 4, Cannon Cravens, Porum, Okla., 66, $595.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, (tie) Hank Whitaker, Deeth, Nev., and Clint Read, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, 79 points. 3, Skinny Parsons, Springdale, Ark., 78. 4, Josue Molina, Pampa, Texas, 74.

Wild Horse Race: 1, Team Headless Horseman, $600. 2, 3 of a Kind, $450. 3, Team Nowland, $300.

Oklahoma barrel racer Leslie Smalygo and her horse ‘Gus’ are no strangers to success at Cheyenne Frontier Days. They finished second in 2023 and were third in the qualifying round. They boosted their output to the #1 spot today, beating the field by nearly two-tenths of a second. About 220 barrel racers were entered at ‘The Daddy’ and that number has been trimmed to 72. Smalygo knew she had a dynamo in her hands but kept him in line for a run of 17.09 seconds.

It was a big day of breakaway roping at Cheyenne Frontier Days with contestants split into two groups of 100 and Nicole Hadley from Kansas won the first qualifying round section with a time of 3.1 seconds which is just a tenth of a second from an arena record. She earned a check for more than $4,300. Hadley started dating husband Jhett when they were on the University of Wyoming rodeo team and as a pro Nicole chose to compete in the Mountain States Circuit. Hadley earned her degree at UW in animal science and felt comfortable handling the morning Frontier Park ground that was blitzed by a thunderstorm Monday night.

There may not be a better ambassador for rodeo than Oklahoma roper Coleman Proctor and he’s smiling at Cheyenne Frontier Days having already won nearly $11,000 finishing second in each of two steer roping qualifying rounds on Saturday. He leads the aggregate by a full three seconds. Proctor and team roping partner Logan Medlin were out Sunday and will continue to advance.

CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 27, 2023 — Former world champion Shane Hanchey won his first Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD) tie-down roping championship in 2018. Five years later the Louisiana native is swinging his rope in hopes of catching another title at the “Daddy of ‘em All.”

Although he did not place in the qualifying round at CFD last week, Hanchey won Quarter Finals 6 on Thursday to punch his ticket to Friday’s Semi Final. Another good run on Friday will put him into Championship Sunday for a chance to rope the title.

Hanchey is currently ranked sixth in the world standings and headed to his 14th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR). Hanchey is fresh off wins this month at St. Paul, Oregon, and Salt Lake City where he earned the gold medal and $10,000.

The judges have scored several bull rides in the 90s at the 127th CFD and Boudreaux Campbell of Crockett, Texas, joined that group with a 90-point effort on Dakota Rodeo’s bull named Melanie’s Dream Thursday at Frontier Park.

Campbell needed a high score to win Quarter Finals 6 and qualify for Friday’s Semi Finals. Bull riders here get two chances to advance to the Semi Finals in consecutive performances. The top six each day earn a Semi Finals berth, and Campbell had bucked off his first bull on Wednesday.

Campbell finished 8th in the Professional Bull Rider’s (PBR) Unleash The Beast Tour in May and has been dividing his time between rodeos and PBR events. He competed in Frontier Park on Monday and Tuesday night as a member of the Carolina Cowboys PBR team.

Thursday’s barrel racing was one of the toughest Quarter Finals in barrel racing with 9 of the 11 cowgirls posting times of under 18 seconds. The quickest run of this fast group was made by Pawhuska, Oklahoma’s Wenda Johnson. Johnson, who has qualified for the past three NFRs, rode her bay gelding Steal Money, nicknamed Mo, to win the day with a time of 17.20.

A nurse practitioner, Johnson earned a doctorate of nursing in the spring of 2021. She works part-time in the emergency department, homeschools her two daughters and helps her rancher husband as well as being one of the top barrel racers in the world.

The first Semi Finals begins Friday at 12:45 when the top six in each event will earn a berth in the final round on Championship Sunday.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 27, 2023)- The following are unofficial results from the Quarter Finals (sixth performance) and Semi Finals qualifiers at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo on Thursday, July 27. Payoff subject to change.

Bareback Riding: 1, Jayco Roper, Oktaha, Okla., 84.5 points on King Wentz Rodeo’s Red Velvet, $2,448. 2, Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas, 83.5, $1,836. 3, (tie) Will Lowe, Amarillo, Texas, and Kaycee Field, Genola, Utah, 83, $918 each.

Breakaway Roping: 1, Bryana Lehrmann, Lexington, Texas, 4.6 seconds, $2.901. 2, Jacelyn Frost, Randlett, Utah, 4.7, $2,176. 3, Amanda Coleman, Stephenville, Texas, 5.1, $1,450. 4, Danielle Lowman, Gilbert, Ariz., 5.3, $725.

Tie Down Roping: 1, Shane Hanchey, Carmine, Texas, 11.2 seconds, $2,000. 2, Marcos Costa, Tolar, Texas, 12.0, $1,500. 3, Luke Potter, Maple City, Kansas, 12.3, , $1,000. 4, Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif., 13.9, $500.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Karson Mebane, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 85.5 points on Fettig Pro Rodeo’s Good Time Girl, $2,354 . 2, Tegan Smith, Winterset, Iowa, 84, $1,766 . 3, Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 83, $1,177. 4, Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah, 83., $589.

Team Roping: 1, Cooper and Tucker James White, Hershey, Neb., 8.1 seconds, $2,000 each; 2, Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas, and Wesley Thorp, Throckmorton, Texas, 8.2, $1,500 each. 3, (tie) Bubba Buckaloo, Kingston, Okla., and J.R. Gonzalez, Maypearl, Texas, 9.2, and Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., and Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., 8.2, $750 each.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D., 5.4 seconds, $2,000. 2, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 7.9, $1,500. 3, Reed Kraeger, Waco, Neb., 8.0, $1,000. 4, Payden McIntyre., 8.7, $500.

Barrel Racing: 1, Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, Okla., 17.20 seconds, $2,413. 2, Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 17.37, $1,810. 3, Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, Okla., 17.44, $1,206. 4, Tara Seaton, Winslow, Ariz., 17.50, $603.

Bull Riding: 1, Boudreax Campbell, Crockett, Texas, 90 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Melanie’s Dream, 86, $2,397. 2, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 86, $1,798. 3, Trey Holston, Fort Scott, Kansas, 84.5, $1,199. 4, Cullen Telfer, Plant City, Fla., 84, $599. Other Semi Finals qualifiers: Ky Hamilton, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, and Lukasey Morris, Union City, Okla.

The following events do not have Semi Finals.

Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Clancy Glenn, Parma, Idaho, 79. 2, Tayson Jones, Howes, S.D., 75. 3, Slade Keith, Stanfield, Ariz., 73. 4, Nick Joyce, Juntaura, Ore., 69.
Wild Horse Race: 1, Hooligan Inc., $550. 2, Cowboy Chaos, $413. 3, Wagon Burners, $275. 4, Team Agin, $138.

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding

The cream has definitely risen to the top at the 127th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo and it’s only going to get better. The top six contestants in each of the events from the Semi Finals will advance to Sunday’s Championship Finals. Today’s bareback riding features contestants who have won 10 gold buckles. Kaycee Feild has the most at six, but he has yet to win a championship at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Will Lowe is on the roster too. He has three gold buckles and three championships at Frontier Park. Clayton Biglow won the championship here in 2019, the same year that he earned his world title. There are three men that are in contention for the Rookie of the Year title that want to add their names to the history books here, Kade Sonnier, Jacek Lane Frost and Donny Proffit. Proffit hails from the Cowboy State and a win here in his rookie season would really be special. Cole Reiner has come one step closer to his goal of winning the biggest rodeo in his home state when he qualified for the Semi Finals.

Saddle bronc is a full circle moment for the Hay family today. Not only are brothers Dawson and Logan competing, the horse that Dawson is getting on, Pin Cup owned by New Star Pro Rodeo was actually raised by their father Rod in Wildwood, Alberta. Rod won the saddle bronc riding here in 2000 and along with his sons, his nephew Ben Anderson, is also competing today. If any of today’s saddle bronc riders advance and win the title it will be a first-time on the champions podium for them.

There are 14 bull riders that are vying for six spots in Sunday’s championships. Highlighting today are Sage Kimzey and Stetson Wright who went one and two on Wednesday. Stetson is in the lead of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Standings and Sage is hot on his tail. Sage has won 7 world titles and needs one more to tie for the most gold buckles in that event. Surprisingly, he has yet to win a buckle at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Shane Proctor won this rodeo in 2011 and went on to win a gold buckle. The bull riding veteran grew up in Washington. He started his college career at Northwest College in Powell and did a lot of fine tuning on his rodeo career at the Cody Nite Rodeo, so even though he now lives in Oklahoma, he has a lot of ties to the cowboy state.

Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing

Shane Hanchey is the only tie-down roper in the field to have a CFD buckle in his trophy collection, but there are several other competitors that have had a lot of success here. Shad Mayfield came here in 2019 after winning the title at the National High School Finals Rodeo and the money he earned here helped him qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Marcos Costa came to the U.S. from Brazil and competed here while traveling with world champion Stran Smith. He’s never gotten the title but come close on a couple of occasions. He is known for his horsemanship and that is truly an asset in this big arena. Marcos is the 2017 world champion and was the first Brazilian to win a gold buckle in a single event.

Fellow countryman Junior Nogueira won the world all-around title in 2016 roping calves and team roping. He is one of the best heelers ever and has two gold buckles to prove it. He won both of those heeling for Kaleb Driggers who will be on the head end today. They are one of the most exciting teams to watch and if they do well today, expect Junior to ride out of the arena with his trademark smile just like he did during the Quarter Finals. Team roping has been part of the rodeo here since 2001 and the only one of today’s competitors that has made a victory lap as a champion at “the Daddy” is Erich Rogers who won it with Corey Petska in 2017. Today, he is roping with world champion heeler Paul Eaves.

There are two college rodeo coaches competing in steer wrestling today. Kyle Whitaker is the coach at Montana State University and Cameron Moreman recently took a position as the assistant coach at Dickinson State University in North Dakota. Tyler Waguespack has four world titles to his credit but has yet to win a title here.

Wenda Johnson stopped the clock in 17.20 seconds here on Thursday in the women’s barrel racing, one of the fastest times here so far. To make conditions better for barrel racers and their horses, the committee is working the arena after every six runs. Times are expected to be faster after the tractor and equipment come out. Johnson was the sixth out yesterday and will be the second after the tractor today so her time today could be even better.

Taycie Matthews might want to buy land in Wyoming. She won the College National Finals Rodeo in June, then rodeos in Cody and Casper before coming here. She won her Quarter Finals and is looking to add to her winnings in the Cowboy state today.

Today’s breakaway roping promises to be exciting today as well with veterans and seasoned competitors doing their best to stop the clock in under six seconds. Winning runs here have been around four-seconds and we expect to see that in Frontier Park again.

Rough Stock Events – Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Bull Riding

To win the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, the stars have to align, and everything has to come together in a contestant’s favor. No one knows that more than Kaycee Feild. The Utah cowboy joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2007 and has been coming here nearly every year since to compete in the bareback riding.

In 2020 he became one of the greatest bareback riders of all time when he tied with Joe Alexander for the most world titles at five. The next year when he won his sixth, he became the G.O.A.T. of the event. And he is far from being done. He is currently 8th in the world standings and is very likely to qualify for his 14th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. One of the things missing from his legendary title is a win at the “Daddy of ‘Em All.” Feild will be trying to change that today.

Another of rodeo’s great bareback riders and one that is very familiar with winning here is Will Lowe. Lowe’s career includes three wins here in 2009, 2012 and 2018. And while he is on the downhill side of his career, he just won the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, showing his young competitors what it’s like to love getting on bucking horses for the long haul. Also look for Tanner Aus who was the 2015 CFD champ.

Yesterday, seven-time world champion bull rider Sage Kimzey had an outstanding ride for the win. He is hoping for a repeat, but Stetson Wright and Ky Hamilton both want to see their names at the top of the leaderboard. Wright was also successful on Wednesday, but Hamilton, who was the 2021 champion here, needs a score to advance to the Semi Finals. So does last year’s champion Brady Portenier. They all get their second opportunity today.

A couple of college champions highlight today’s saddle bronc riders. Shea Fournier from Raceland, Louisiana won the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Championship in 2022 for McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Damian Brennan from Injune, Queensland tied for the win last June to get the title for Western Texas College.

Timed Events – Steer Wrestling, Team, Tie-Down, Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing

Breakaway Roping is definitely the fastest event at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo and it will be tough on Thursday. Along with many-time world champion Jackie Crawford, there are several National Finals Breakaway Roping Qualifiers. Crawford has led the charge to have breakaway a part of rodeos and has helped with the increased popularity. It’s been part of CFD three times and these women are leaving their mark here. Watch for Kelsie Domer, Cheyanne Guillory, and Danielle Lowman to all take chances to be fast.

Last year, Cheyenne’s rodeo made a big difference for Leslie Smalygo’s season and she needs that to happen again. While she didn’t win first, she earned enough at Frontier Park to secure her first NFR qualification. Fans will remember she dyed her hair red because she needed to “run like my hair was on fire.” The strategy worked and that became her trademark for the rest of the season.

Smalygo finished second behind Andrea Busby a year ago and will compete against her today. And never count out Hailey Kinsel and DM Sissy Hayday “Sister.” The four-time world champion and 2021 champion here will be the final barrel racer to have an opportunity to advance to the Semi Finals.

Shane Hanchey, the 2018 CFD and former world champion, comes to Frontier Park fresh from a big win on Sunday at the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City. He’s notched some big wins this summer and would love to add another Cheyenne win to his trophy case. 2017 World Champion Marcos Costa is currently just outside the top 20 in the standings and doing well here could help boost the Brazilian to his fifth NFR.

Keep your eye out for anyone named Bridger in the steer wrestling. North Dakota’s Bridger Anderson is aiming for his second NFR and is currently ranked in the top 10 while Montana’s Bridger Chambers is just outside the top 20. He’s been to two NFRs and runs a business training drug dogs with his father. Don’t overlook reigning CFD co-champion Justin Shaffer or Louisiana’s Remey Parrott, whose brother Rowdy won his Quarter Finals earlier this week.

Today’s team roping features a pair of former CFD champion headers – Eric Rogers, who won here in 2017 the same year he won his world title, and Tyler Wade who was the 2016 champ. Rogers, who’s been to 11 NFRs and is currently ranked ninth, will rope with two-time world champion heeler Paul Eaves who’s looking for his first CFD title. Wade has been to five NFRs and is ranked 23rd. He’ll rope with 2019 world champion heeler Wesley Thorp who has made seven trips to the NFR. Regional favorites Kellan and Carson Johnson of Casper won the 2022 college national championship representing Casper College’s team coached by their dad Jhett.