If there has been one theme so far in San Angelo, it’s that things have gotten faster. And in some events, much, much faster. That means the final stop on the Texas Swing in 2025 will likely deliver some very worthy champions that you’ll need to keep an eye on come summer.

Elsewhere, a Cinch World’s Toughest in Bakersfield saw a top saddle bronc rider and a veteran bull rider heat up again, and it was not the only place some bull riders quietly continued to climb in the PRCA World Standings.

There have six steer wrestling times of 3.5 seconds or faster in San Angelo already. The two round-leading times are a 3.2 from Dalton Massey in Round 1 and a 3.3 from Denell Henderson, Bridger Anderson, and Dakota Eldridge in Round 2. In 2024, the fastest steer wrestling time was 3.6 seconds.

Fresh off three straight Texas Swing Finals, bareback rider Cole Reiner took the lead in San Angelo. The final stop of the Texas Swing marks Reiner’s eighth rodeo of the season, he is still No. 20 in the World Standings, and now in position to climb after 88 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Tator Tot. Last year, the Round 1 winning ride was 88.5 points by Cooper Cooke and it paid $7,700.

Bull rider JR Stratford double dipped at the High Desert Stampede, winning both the Xtreme Bulls and the rodeo. Stratford left Redmond with over $15,000 after 91 points on Stand by Me in the X Bulls and 86.5 on Smoke Screen, who was unridden in regular season competition, in the rodeo. Stratford is 5-for-9 since March 6 and all five qualified rides have been at least 82.5 points.

Saddle bronc rider Kade Bruno made two very well-paid 86.5-point rides. Bruno hadn’t won a check worth more than $1,000 in about a month, but changed that by bringing in $9,500 total for a win at the High Desert Stampede and a second place finish at the Cinch World’s Toughest in Bakersfield, California.

Dustin Boquet covered two bulls for 87+ points over the weekend to potentially spark another big summer. The 31-year-old made a late charge to make the NFR in 2024 and could be setting up for a similar result in ’25. He had just $5,000 won on the year entering the weekend, but was 87.5 on Pour Me Another for second in Bakersfield and went to the lead with 87 in San Angelo. If he were to hold on for a Round 1 win there, it’d be another $7,000.

Bailey Bates made two runs of 1.9 seconds to set a tough mark to match in San Angelo. Much like the steer wrestling, the breakaway roping has gotten much, much faster in San Angelo. A year ago, there was only run in the 1s and this year, Bailey Bates has beat that herself. Furthermore, there have been 10 total runs in the 1s in 2025.

Ky Hamilton has made over $15,000 on just two bulls in April. Because he did not qualify for any of the big rodeos this year, some of you may not have seen Ky Hamilton compete yet this season. The 2023 PRCA Bull Riding World Champion, however, is up to No. 15 in the World without a single Texas Swing event. This month, he has been 89 to win the Wharton County Xtreme Bulls (Texas) and 86 for third at the Lawton Xtreme Bulls (Oklahoma).

Stetson Wright took second in both the saddle bronc riding and bull riding at the High Desert Stampede. Hamilton’s good buddy Stetson is looking to reclaim his all-around crown and pushed his lead over Wacey Schalla to over $20,000 thanks to $3,800 in the bronc riding and $4,700 bull riding in Redmond.

Bull rider Jestyn Woodward has made a sudden charge to No. 10 in the World Standings by going 4-for-7 since March 28. The South Dakota native’s most recent ride was 90 points to win $6,800 in Bakersfield. It was his second 90+ Point Ride of the season and fourth of 88 or more. He has three wins since March 1.

Steer wrestler Eli Lord won the team roping in Minot, North Dakota. Lord has finished in the Top 40 in the bulldogging each of the last six years, but he channeled his younger brother Levi in Minot with a 5 flat on his second team roping run of the season and first since October. His partner in victory was heeler Jade Nelson.