The Semifinals have concluded, leaving just two spots open in each event for Championship Sunday at RodeoHouston.

On Thursday night, four more competitors in each event secured their place, keeping their dreams of the $65,000 first-place payday alive.

Bareback rider Clay Jorgenson had an up-and-down Super Series, winning the first two rounds before getting bucked off in Round 3. However, that misstep didn’t linger in his mind during Semifinal 2, as he rode Andrews Rodeo’s Fresno for 87 points, securing his third Go-Round win of the rodeo. He has now earned $9,000, with all three of his qualified rides scoring 86 points or better. Behind him was a star-studded trio – Jess Pope with 85.5 points, Rocker Steiner at 84.5, and Dean Thompson with 83.5.

In steer wrestling, five-time World Champion Tyler Waguespack clocked a 4.4-second run to win a Go-Round that featured three times of 4.5 seconds or better. The two 4.5s belonged to Holden Myers and Dakota Eldridge, while the final qualifying spot went to Tyler Pearson, who won a tiebreaker over defending champion Eldridge.

Team roping saw Clay Smith and Coleby Payne, both ranked No. 2 in the PRCA World Standings, edge out Clint Summers and Paul Eaves by just one-tenth of a second, 4.8 to 4.9. The final two spots went to Derrick Begay/Colter Todd and Erich Rogers/Kollin VonAhn, meaning some of the PRCA’s most decorated active team ropers advanced from Semifinal 2.

In saddle bronc riding, Logan Hay matched his best score of the year with an 86-point ride on Pete Carr’s River Ghost, winning by 2.5 points over reigning champion Damian Brennan. Also advancing were Zac Dallas, the 2025 National Western Champion, and Layton Green.

Joey Williams won breakaway roping with a clean 3.0-second run. She had previously turned in a 2.9-second run in Super Series 5. Jackie Crawford, Cheyanne McCartney, and Beau Peterson all clocked times in the 3s to advance.

In tie-down roping, Riley Pruitt was the first roper out and set the pace at 8.9 seconds—a time no one could match. The next closest was Shane Hanchey at 9.5, with Kincade Henry and Blane Cox rounding out the top four.

In barrel racing, reigning World Champion Kassie Mowry stopped the clock at 14.65 seconds as she looks to win here for the first time after finishing second in 2022. The three other barrel racers who advanced all posted sub-14.8 times: Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi (14.67), Acey Pinkston (14.75), and Emily Beisel (14.79).

For the second straight night, the bull riders made things simple by delivering four qualified rides. Tristen Hutchings, Lane Vaughan, Mason Moody, and Luke Mast all advanced.

RodeoHouston continues with Wild Card 1 Friday night on The Cowboy Channel and Cowboy Channel+.

QUICK DRAW

In his RodeoHouston debut in 2024, Clay Jorgenson averaged 80 points. This year, he is averaging 86.5.

The last two Barrel Racing World Champions, Kassie Mowry and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, went 1-2 in Semifinal 2.

The fastest time of the rodeo in the steer wrestling is 4.4 seconds and it has been done four times. Tyler Waguespack has two of them.

Clay Smith/Coleby Payne have now made the Finals in all three Texas Swing rodeos.

RESULTS

BAREBACK RIDING

Semifinal 2: 1. Clay Jorgenson, 87 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Fresno, $3,000; 2. Jess Pope, 85.5, $2,000; Rocker Steiner, 84.5, $1,000; 4. Dean Thompson, 83.5, $750; 5. Kade Sonnier, 83; 6. R.C. Landingham, 82.5; 7. Cooper Cooke, 82; 8. Mason Stuller, 76; 9. Cole Franks, 75; 10. Sam Petersen, NS.

STEER WRESTLING

Semifinal 2: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 4.4 seconds, $3,000; 2. (tie) Holden Myers and Eli Lord, 4.5, $1,500 each; 4. (tie) Tyler Pearson and Dakota Eldridge, 5.7, $375 each; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, 6.3; 7. Dalton Massey, 13.6; 8. Scott Guenthner, 14.0; 9. Trisyn Kalawaia, 15.5; 10. Riley Duvall, NT.

TEAM ROPING

Semifinal 2: 1. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 4.8 seconds, $3,000 each; 2. Clint Summers/Paul Eaves, 4.9, $2,000; 3. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 5.1, $1,000; 4. Erich Rogers/Kollin VonAhn, 5.4, $750; 5. Billy Bob Brown/Landen Glenn, 5.5; 6. Tee McLeod/Sid Sporer, 5.9; 7. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, Coy Rahlmann/Cole Curry, Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson and Pedro Egurrola/Justin Davis, NT.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

Semifinal 2: 1. Logan Hay, 86 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s River’s Ghost, $3,000; 2. Damian Brennan, 83.5, $2,000; 3. Zac Dallas, 83, $1,000; 4. Layton Green, 82, $750; 5. Ben Andersen, 81.5; 6. Dawson Dahm, 81; 7. (tie) Weston Patterson and Dawson Hay, 80 each; 9. Cole Elshere, 78; 10. Leon Fountain, 76.

BREAKAWAY ROPING

Semifinal 2: 1. Joey Williams, 3.0 seconds, $3,000; 2. Jackie Crawford, 3.5, $2,000; 3. Cheyanne McCartney, 3.7, $1,000; 4. Beau Peterson, 3.9, $750.

TIE-DOWN ROPING

Semifinal 2: 1. Riley Pruitt, 8.9 seconds, $3,000; 2. Shane Hanchey, 9.5, $2,000; 3. Kincade Henry, 10.1, $1,000; 4. Blane Cox, 10.5, $750; 5. Joel Harris, 11.2; 6. Brushton Minton, 11.8; 7. Tuf Cooper, 18.7; 8. Cory Solomon, 18.8; 9. Marcos Costa and Bo Pickett, NT.

BARREL RACING

Semifinal 2: 1. Kassie Mowry, 14.65 seconds, $3,000; 2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 14.67, $2,000; 3. Acey Pinkston, 14.75, $1,000; 4. Emily Beisel, 14.79, $750; 5. Michelle Alley, 14.83; 6. Halyn Lide, 14.84; 7. Paige Jones, 14.89; 8. Julie Plourde, 14.97; 9. Tayla Moeykens, 20.26; 10. Hailey Kinsel, NT.

BULL RIDING

Semifinal 2: 1. Tristen Hutchings, 86.5 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Dual Citizen, $3,000; 2. Lane Vaughan, 86, $2,000; 3. Mason Moody, 81.5, $1,000; 4. Luke Mast, 81, $750; 5. Clayton Sellars, Jackson Ward, Hayes Weight, Rawley Johnson, Trevor Reiste and Brody Yeary, NS.