NFR Round 1 Recap: Tyler Waguespack, Stetson Wright, Shad Mayfield and Kassie Mowry All Make Statements
NFR Round 1 Recap: Tyler Waguespack, Stetson Wright, Shad Mayfield and Kassie Mowry All Make Statements
Clay Guardipee/@RodeoReadyShop
Round 1 of the National Finals Rodeo has come and gone and the theme of the night was messages sent by World Champions from previous years.
Tyler Waguespack, Stetson Wright, Shad Mayfield and Kassie Mowry all notched Round 1 wins.
Let’s start with Waguespack, who was No. 8 to begin the NFR but shot to No. 2 with a 4.0-second run to win Round 1. He now trails Will Lummus by less than $25,000.
The five-time World Champion knows the rest of the field can be a bit timid early on in the Thomas & Mack. It was his fourth time winning Round 1 of the NFR.
“I think the First Round and the 10th Round are the two easiest to jump out and win,” he said. “I told myself a long time ago that I can’t keep missing the barrier in this building.”
Stetson Wright claimed both the bronc riding and the bull riding on Thursday night, going for 90 and 89.75 points. It is the third time in his career he has won both in the same night.
This may come as surprise to many, even Superman gets nervous. Wright admitted afterward the butterflies were as intense as they’ve ever been for the eight-time World Champion.
“My nerves were worse this year than my first NFR,” he said. “I was trying not to puke before the bronc riding. After the broncs, I did feel way better going to get on my bull.”
Several of the top contenders also cashed in both Wright’s events.
In bronc riding, World No. 5 Kade Bruno was third in Round 1 and No. 4 Brody Wells was fourth. The last two World Champions, Ryder Wright and Zeke Thurston, rounded out the paydays with a 87 points apiece. It took 86.5 to win Round 1 a year ago.
As for the bull riding, the big story was Stetson, and also what happened immediately before and immediately after he rode. Ky Hamilton was 86 on Black Betty of Burch Rodeo in front of him and Wacey Schalla rode Heartbreaker for 88.5 right after him.
They remain the Top 3 in the World Standings with Stetson now leading Wacey by about $5,000.
Shad Mayfield may have sent the most resounding message in the tie-down roping with a 6.8-second run to silence some critics and prove he could make noise from the jump in a World Title race.
“I don’t feel like the other ropers think I’m a threat in here like they do in some of the winter buildings,” he said. “So I told myself Round 1, you gotta come out with a bang and apply pressure.”
Riley Webb turned in a 7.9-second run to split third and still leads the World Title race by about $30,000.
In barrel racing, Kassie Mowry extended her lead in the World Standings to about $25,000 with a 13.66-second run on the top of the ground. It was her sixth Go-Round Win in her last 11 inside the Thomas & Mack.
Hailey Kinsel is now No. 2 in the World after a 13.70-second run put her second in the round.
In bareback riding, Cooper Cooke won the round with 88.5 points, but the bigger story may have been Jess Pope, Bradlee Miller, and Dean Thompson all picking up checks in Round 1 to gain some early ground on Rocker Steiner, who was 82.25 and out of the money.
Team roping was won by Lightning Aguilera/Kaden Profili, who entered the NFR No. 15 and 14 respectively and had never roped together in a PRCA rodeo prior Round 1.
Bareback Riding
First round: 1. Cooper Cooke, 88.5 points on Legend Rodeo Stock’s Ramblin Man, $36,668; 2. Waylon Bourgeois, 86.75, $28,980; 3. Jess Pope, 86.5, $21,882; 4. Wacey Schalla, 86.25, $15,377; 5. Bradlee Miller, 86, $9,463; 6. Dean Thompson, 85.5, $5,914; 7. (tie) Jacek Frost and Tilden Hooper, 85 each; 9. Cole Franks, 84.5; 10. Sam Petersen, 84.25; 11. Garrett Shadbolt, 84; 12. Rocker Steiner, 82.25; 13. (tie) Mason Clements and Kade Sonnier, 81.5 each; 15. Jayco Roper, 79.5.
World Standings: 1. Rocker Steiner, $313,547; 2. Jess Pope, $235,512; 3. Sam Petersen, $231,901; 4. Bradlee Miller, $226,937; 5. Cole Franks, $210,362; 6. Cooper Cooke, $189,262; 7. Dean Thompson, $182,450; 8. Kade Sonnier, $181,507; 9. Garrett Shadbolt, $178,261; 10. Waylon Bourgeois, $176,843; 11. Wacey Schalla, $161,486; 12. Jacek Frost, $153,543; 13. Jayco Roper, $149,775; 14. Mason Clements, $140,131; 15. Tilden Hooper, $139,951.
Steer Wrestling
First round: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 4.0 seconds, $36,668; 2. (tie) Ty Erickson, Kyle Irwin and J.D. Struxness, 4.2, $22,080 each; 5. Scott Guenthner, 4.7, $9,463; 6. (tie) Jesse Brown and Dakota Eldridge, 5.0, $2,957 each; 8. (tie) Chance Howard and Justin Shaffer, 5.4 each; 10. Rowdy Parrott, 5.5; 11. Tucker Allen, 5.9; 12. Stetson Jorgensen, 10.0; 13. Gavin Soileau, 14.2; 14. Bridger Anderson and Will Lummus, NT.
World Standings: 1. Will Lummus, $205,116; 2. Tyler Waguespack, $182,493; 3. Jesse Brown, $175,114; 4. J.D. Struxness, $170,752; 5. Justin Shaffer, $165,773; 6. Rowdy Parrott, $160,877; 7. Tucker Allen, $160,867; 8. Stetson Jorgensen, $146,029; 9. Kyle Irwin, $145,300; 10. Ty Erickson, $138,040; 11. Dakota Eldridge, $137,873; 12. Scott Guenthner, $132,070; 13. Bridger Anderson, $119,328; 14. Chance Howard, $118,298; 15. Gavin Soileau, $115,899.
Team Roping
First round: 1. Lightning Aguilera/Kaden Profili, 4.0 seconds, $36,668 each; 2. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 4.2, $28,980; 3. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 4.8, $21,882; 4. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 5.1, $15,377; 5. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 5.7, $9,463; 6. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 6.6, $5,914; 7. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 6.9; 8. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 9.0; 9. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 9.3; 10. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd Todd, 10.0; 11. Luke Brown/Trey Yates, Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, Kolton Schmidt/Jonathan Torres, Clay Smith/Coleby Payne and Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, NT.
World Standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $208,498; 2. Tanner Tomlinson, $203,270; 3. Andrew Ward, $188,034; 4. Clint Summers, $186,618; 5. Derrick Begay, $176,202; 6. Dustin Egusquiza, $170,703; 7. Clay Smith, $168,490; 8. Lightning Aguilera, $161,404; 9. Cyle Denison, $157,917; 10. Jake Smith, $157,420; 11. Tyler Wade, $153,366; 12. Dawson Graham, $141,934; 13. Riley Minor, $135,025; 14. Luke Brown, $133,303; 15. Kolton Schmidt, $129,938.World Standings (heelers): 1. Junior Nogueira, $208,498; 2. Jade Corkill, $186,944; 3. Jake Long, $186,288; 4. Colter Todd Todd, $173,850; 5. Travis Graves, $169,382; 6. Levi Lord, $168,322; 7. Kaden Profili, $160,204; 8. Coleby Payne, $159,293; 9. Lane Mitchell, $158,946; 10. Wesley Thorp, $153,366; 11. Douglas Rich, $146,670; 12. Dillon Graham, $141,934; 13. Brady Minor, $135,025; 14. Trey Yates, $133,303; 15. Jonathan Torres, $121,672.
Saddle Bronc Riding
First round: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, 90 points on Wayne Vold Rodeo’s Renegade, $36,668; 2. Weston Patterson, 88.5, $28,980; 3. Kade Bruno, 88, $21,882; 4. Brody Wells, 87.75, $15,377; 5. Sage Newman, 87.5, $9,463; 6. (tie) Zeke Thurston and Ryder Wright, 87, $2,957 each; 8. Damian Brennan, 86.5; 9. Brody Cress, 85.75; 10. Lefty Holman, 85.5; 11. Q Taylor, 84.75; 12. Statler Wright, 84.25; 13. Ben Andersen, 83.25; 14. Dawson Hay, 82; 15. Zachary Dallas, 81.5.
World Standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $306,951; 2. Damian Brennan, $288,153; 3. Dawson Hay, $278,621; 4. Zeke Thurston, $257,226; 5. Kade Bruno, $246,948; 6. Brody Wells, $240,084; 7. Sage Newman, $215,958; 8. Weston Patterson, $212,715; 9. Stetson Dell Wright, $212,004; 10. Zachary Dallas, $208,403; 11. Statler Wright, $191,872; 12. Brody Cress, $190,092; 13. Q Taylor, $167,562; 14. Ben Andersen, $159,661; 15. Lefty Holman, $154,872.
Tie-Down Roping
First round: 1. Shad Mayfield, 6.8 seconds, $36,668; 2. Joel Harris, 7.6, $28,980; 3. (tie) Tom Crouse and Riley Mason Webb, 7.9, $18,630 each; 5. Brushton Minton, 8.0, $9,463; 6. Marty Yates, 8.1, $5,914; 7. (tie) John Douch and Dylan Hancock, 9.3 each; 9. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Kincade Henry, 9.8 each; 11. Zack Jongbloed, 10.1; 12. Haven Meged, 10.2; 13. Ty Harris, 24.0; 14. Kyle Lucas and Riley Pruitt, NT.
World Standings: 1. Riley Mason Webb, $333,762; 2. Shad Mayfield, $302,978; 3. Kincade Henry, $196,718; 4. John Douch, $184,970; 5. Dylan Hancock, $182,104; 6. Joel Harris, $179,834; 7. Tom Crouse, $176,438; 8. Riley Pruitt, $175,787; 9. Marty Yates, $172,525; 10. Brushton Minton, $165,106; 11. Zack Jongbloed, $147,678; 12. Ty Harris, $147,197; 13. Haven Meged, $143,805; 14. Kyle Lucas, $139,298; 15. Shane Hanchey, $136,957.
Barrel Racing
First round: 1. Kassie Mowry, 13.66 seconds, $36,668; 2. Hailey Kinsel, 13.70, $28,980; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 13.79, $21,882; 4. Katelyn Scott, 13.81, $15,377; 5. Tricia Aldridge, 14.11, $9,463; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 14.12, $5,914; 7. Andrea Busby, 14.17; 8. Julie Plourde, 14.26; 9. Tayla Moeykens, 14.96; 10. Emily Beisel, 18.85; 11. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 18.88; 12. Carlee Otero, 18.89; 13. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, 18.90; 14. Wenda Johnson, 19.34; 15. Halyn Lide, 19.96.
Bull Riding
First round: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, 89.75 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Big Shasta, $36,668; 2. Wacey Schalla, 88.5, $28,980; 3. TJ Gray, 87, $21,882; 4. Ky Hamilton, 86, $15,377; 5. Hudson Bolton, 85, $9,463; 6. Colorado kid Mackey, 84.75, $5,914; 7. Mason Moody, 83; 8. Jesse Petri, 75.5; 9. Qynn Andersen, Tristen Hutchings, Bryce Jensen, Rawley Johnson, Jordan Spears, J.R. Stratford and Hayes Weight, NS.
World Standings: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, $396,843; 2. Wacey Schalla, $391,576; 3. Ky Hamilton, $342,995; 4. Tristen Hutchings, $302,882; 5. TJ Gray, $216,031; 6. Hudson Bolton, $198,941; 7. Hayes Weight, $180,988; 8. J.R. Stratford, $175,490; 9. Qynn Andersen, $171,987; 10. Jordan Spears, $170,713; 11. Bryce Jensen, $167,043; 12. Mason Moody, $166,060; 13. Rawley Johnson, $158,778; 14. Colorado kid Mackey, $154,832; 15. Jesse Petri, $154,080.