The National Western Stock Show and Rodeo is widely regarded as the unofficial kickoff to the ProRodeo season. With a total payout ranking among the Top 15 in the PRCA, a victory here can set the stage for an athlete’s success throughout the season. This year, two of the winners came from relative anonymity to get the W.

Bareback riding was the first of those when 20-year-old Kooper Heimburg rode Cervi Championship’s Pearl Harbor for 87 points in the Finals, which is the highest marked ride of his ProRodeo career.

In steer wrestling, Gavin Soileau was sharp throughout with four runs of 4.5 seconds or faster, including a 4 flat run to win the rodeo by two tenths of a second. There were only four qualified times in the Finals, but all four were 4.8 or better.

Team roping was won by a new pair in 2025, Luke Brown/Trey Yates, who have 15 and three NFR qualifications respectively. They were 4.2 in the Finals, matching the fastest run of the entire rodeo.

In saddle bronc riding, Zac Dallas won his second career Playoff Series Rodeo and did so convincingly. The reigning Resistol Rookie of the Year won his Semifinal with an 85.5-point ride then rode Vitalix Ricky Bobby for 87.5 points to win the rodeo.

Tie-down roping was a very competitive affair in the Finals with Brush Minton and Trevor Hale splitting the title with 7.3-second runs. Just behind them was Riley Pruitt at 7.5 and Roy Lee at 7.7.

In barrel racing, Carlee Otero, who returned to the NFR last season after a decade away, set the tone for 2025. She clinched victory with a 14.71-second run in the Short Round after dominating Semifinal One earlier in the event.

The bull riding Finals delivered plenty of excitement as Wacey Schalla notched a 90-point ride to win the rodeo, edging out Stetson Wright. It marked the third 90-point ride of Schalla’s young career.

QUICK DRAW

Stetson Wright was a perfect 4-for-4 in his return to PRCA competition. That included three rides marked 88 points or better, two of them coming in the Semifinals and Finals. 

Roedy Farrel, 19, took second in the bareback riding and all four of his rides were 81 points or better.

Luke Brown/Trey Yates’ 4.2-second run in the Finals matched the fastest run in Denver over the last three years (60 performances).

RESULTS

Bareback Riding

First Round: 1. (tie) Bradlee Miller, on The Cervi Brothers’ Bandana Babe, and Garrett Shadbolt, on The Cervi Brothers’ Assailant, 87 points, $5,149 each; 3. (tie) R.C. Landingham, Clayton Biglow and Orin Larsen, 85.5, $2,267 each; 6. (tie) Mason Clements, Donny Proffitt and Roedy Farrell, 85, $777 each.

Second Round: 1. Jacob Lees, 85 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Warning Shot, $5,829; 2. Bradlee Miller, 84.5, $4,469; 3. Cooper Cooke, 83.5, $3,303; 4. Brayze Schill, 83, $2,137; 5. (tie) Taylor Broussard and Jayco Roper, 82.5, $1,166 each; 6. (tie) Wacey Schalla, Roedy Farrell, Dean Thompson and Nick Pelke, 82, $340 each.

Semifinal One: 1. R.C. Landingham, 86 points, $3,455; 2. Jayco Roper, 85.5, $2,591; 3. Dean Thompson, 83.5, $1,727; 4. Clay Jorgenson, 82, $864.

Semifinal Two: 1. Kooper, Heimburg, 86 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Candy Coated, $3,455; 2. Garrett Shadbolt, 83, $2,591; 3. Taylor Broussard, 81.5, $1,728; 4. Roedy Farrell, 81, $864.

Semifinal Three: 1. Bradlee Miller, 83.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s $3,455; 2. Andy Gingerich, 81, $2,591; 3. Orin Larsen, 80.5, $1,727; 3. Gavin French, 78, $864.

Finals: 1. Kooper Heimburg, 87 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Pearl Harbor, $6,477; 2. Roedy Farrell, 86, $4,966; 3. (tie) Orin Larsen and Jayco Roper, 85.5, $3,023 each; 5. Garrett Shadbolt, 84.5, $1,511; 6. R.C. Landingham, 83, $1,080; 7. Taylor Broussard, 82.5, $864; 8. Cooper Cooke, 81.5, $648.

Steer Wrestling

First Round: 1. Clayton Hass, 3.5 seconds, $4,956; 2. Ryan Shuckburgh, 3.6, $$4,309; 3. Jace Mayfield, 3.8, $3,663; 4. (tie) Ty Bauerle, Tristan Martin and Gavin Soileau, 3.9, $2,370 each; 7. (tie) Chance Howard and Justin Shaffer, 4.0, $754 each.

Second Round: 1. (tie) Chance Howard, Jaden Whitman and Trisyn Kalawaia, 3.7 seconds, $4,309 each; 4. (tie) Bridger Anderson and Rowdy Norwood, 3.9, $2,693 each; 6. Cash Robb, Landris White and Rooster Yazzie, 4.0, $1,077 each.

Semifinal One: 1. (tie) Justin Shafffer and Kodie Jang, 4.2 seconds, $3,352 each; 3. (tie) Gavin Soileau and Levi Rudd, 4.5, $1,436 each.

Semifinal Two: 1. Ty Bauerle, 4.2 seconds, $3,831; 2. Riley Westhaver, 4.4, $2,873; 3. Jaden Whitman, 5.3, $1,915; 4. Landris White, 5.4, $958.

Semifinal Three: 1. Jake Holmes, 4.4 seconds, $3,831; 2. Nick Guy, 4.5, $2,873; 3. Grant Peterson, 5.2, $1,915; 4. Garrett Curry, 5.8, $958.

Finals: 1. Gavin Soileau, 4.0 seconds, $5,506; 2. Grant Peterson, 4.2, $4,788; 3. (tie) Ty Bauerle and Kodie Jang, 4.8, $3,711 each; no other qualified runs.

Team Roping

First Round: 1. Lightning Aguilera/Dustin Davis, 4.2 seconds, $4,956 each; 2. Curry Kirchner/Tyler McKnight, 4.5, $4,309; 3. (tie) Kolton Schmidt/Landen Glenn and Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 4.7, $3,340 each; 5. (tie) Riley Minor/Brady Minor and Tyler Tryan/Denton Dunning, 4.9, $2,047 each; 7. Kolby Krieger/Michael Fortenberry, 5.0, $1,077; 8. Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, 5.1, $215.

Second Round: 1. Tegan Bentley, 4.2 seconds, $4,956 each; 2. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.3, $4,309; 3. Shay Dixon Carroll/Logan Moore, 4.5, $3,663; 4. (tie) Jaxson Tucker/Sid Sporer and Ty Blasingame/Jason James, 4.6, $2,693 each; 6. Laramie Allen/Kelby Frizzell, 4.8, $1,724; 7. (tie) Cyle Dennison/Tanner Braden and Hagen Peterson/JR Gonzalez, 4.9, $754 each.

Semifinal One: 1. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 4.9 seconds, $3,851 each; 2. Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 6.0, $2,872; 3. Lightning Aguilera/Dustin Davis, 9.8, $1,915; 4. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 10.0, $958.

Semifinal Two: 1. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 4.4 seconds, $3,830 each; 2. Laramie Allen/Kelby Frizzell, 4.9, $2,873; 3. David McCallister/Brandon Baca, 5.3, $1,915; 4. Josh Kurfiss/Joey Menegatti, 7.0, $958.

Semifinal Three: 1. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 5.9 seconds, $3,831 each; 2. Kolton Schmidt/Landen Glenn, 6.0, $2,873; 3. Jeff Flenniken/Buddy Hawkins II, 8.1, $1,915; 4. Jace Bland/Tyson Thompson, 11.1, $958.

Finals: 1. Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 4.2 seconds, $5,506 each; 2. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 4.4, $4,788; 3. Kolten Schmidt/Landen Glenn, 4.6, $4,070; 4. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.8,$3,352; 5. Lightning Aguilera/Dustin Davis, 2,633; 6. Josh Kurfiss/Joey Menegatti, 6.1, $1,815; 7. Jace Bland/Tyson Thompson, 6.3, $1,197; 8. David McCallister/Brandon Baca, 9.8,$479.

Saddle Bronc Riding

First Round: 1. Weston Patterson, 85.5 points on Generations Pro Rodeo’s Cheap Sunglasses, $5,941; 2. Brady Hill, 84.5, $4,554; 3. Brody Cress, 84, $3,366; 4. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, Wyatt Casper and Isaac Diaz, 83.5, $1,518 each; 7. (tie) Coleman Shallbetter and Rusty Wright, 83, $693 each.

Second Round: 1. (tie) Ryder Wright, on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Apple Moonshine and Jasper Frost, on The Cervi Brothers’ Boo Willie, 85 points, $5,247; 3. (tie) Coleman Shallbetter and Bailey Small, 84.5, $2,772 each; 5. Wade Jay Stansfield, 83.5, $1,386; 6. Brady Hill, 83, $990; 7. (tie) Layton Green, Brody Wells and Quintin McWhorter, 82.5, $462 each.

Semifinal One: 1. James Perrin, 83 points, $3,520; 2. Bailey Small, 80.5, $2,640; 3. K’s Thomson, 79.5, $1,760; 4. Quintin McWhorter, 79, $880.

Semifinal Two: 1. Wyatt Casper, 84 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Found Me, $3,520; 2. (tie) Brody Wells, Logan Hay and Coleman Shallbetter, 81, $1,760 each.

Semifinal Three: 1. Zac Dallas, 85.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Tank, $3,520; 2. Ryder Wright, 84.5, $2,640; 3. Lucas Macza, 84, $1,760; 4. Weston Patterson, 81, $880.

Finals: 1. Zac Dallas, 87.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Ricky Bobby, $6,601; 2. (tie) Logan Hay and Ryder Wright, 86, $4,400 each; 4. (tie) James Perrin and Lucas Macza, 85.5, $1,980 each; 6. Wyatt Casper, 84.5, $1,100; 7. Brody Wells, 82.5, $880; 8. K’s Thomson, 82, $660.

Tie-Down Roping

First Round: 1. Cash Enderli, 7.9 seconds, $4,883; 2. (tie) Riley Webb and Shad Mayfield, 8.2, $3,927 each; 4. (tie) Cash Fuesz and Tyler Milligan, 8.3, $2,654 each; 6. (tie) Bryce Derrer, Kyle Lucas and Riley Pruitt, 8.4, $1,061 each.

Second Round: 1. (tie) Riley Pruitt and Ryan Jarrett, 7.5 seconds, $4,564 each; 3. Luke Potter, 7.8, $3,609; 4. Hagen Houck, 7.9, $2,972; 5. Landyn Duncan, 8.0, $2,335; 6. Haven Meged, 8.1; 7. (tie) Sam Lewis and Brushton Minton, 8.3, $743 each.

Semifinal One: 1. Brushton Minton, 7.8 seconds, $3,774; 2. Tom Crouse, 9.2, $2,831; 3. (tie) Brey Yore and Kyle Lucas, 9.4, $1,415 each.

Semifinal Two: 1. Haven Meged, 7.7 seconds, $3,774; 2. Bryce Derrer, 8.2, $2,831; 3. Trevor Hale, 8.6, $1,887; 4. Ryan Jarrett, 8.8, $943.

Semifinal Three: 1. Riley Pruitt, 7.9 seconds, $3,774; 2. Cory Solomon, 8.6, $2,831; 3. Roy Lee, 8.8, $1,887; 4. Cash Fuesz, 9.1, $944.

Finals: 1. (tie) Brushton Minton and Trevor Hale, 7.3 seconds, $5,071 each; 3. Riley Pruitt, 7.5, $4,010; 4. Roy Lee, 7.7, $3,302; 5. Brey Yore, 8.1, $2,595; 6. Tom Crouse, 8.4, $1,887; 7. (tie) Cory Solomon and Cash Fuesz, 8.9, $826 each.

Barrel Racing

First Round: 1. Sharin Hall, 14.48 seconds, $4,909; 2. Carlee Otero, 14.56, $4,269; 3. LaTricia Duke, 14.64, $3,628; 4. Emily Beisel, 14.72, $2,988; 5. Shelley Morgan, 14.74, $2,348; 6. (tie) McKenna Coronado and Abby Phillips, 14.75, $1,387; 8. Abbie Crews, 14.79, $427.

Second Round: 1. Stephanie Fryar, 14.51 seconds, $4,909; 2. McKenna Coronado, 14.56, $4,269; 3. Carlee Otero, 14.57, $3,628; 4. (tie) Emma Parr and Kristi Cole, 14.68, $2,668; 6. Shelley Morgan, 14.70, $1,707; 7. Kailey Mitton, 14.72, $1,067; 8. Sharin Hall, 14.74, $427.

Semifinal One: 1. Carlee Otero, 14.92 seconds, $3,794; 2. Kelly Yates, 14.93, $2,845; 3. Kim Squires, 15.01, $1,897; 4. Cassidy Deen, 15.03, $949.

Semifinal Two: 1. Michelle Alley, 14.55 seconds, $3,794; 2. Sharin Hall, 14.63, $2,846; 3. Stephanie Fryar, 14.73, $1,897; 4. Kristi Cole, 14.86, $949.

Semifinal Three: 1. Jordan Driver, 14.63 seconds, $3,794; 2. McKenna Coronado, 14.79, $2,946; 3. Kim Schulze, 14.88, $1,897; 4. Oceane Veilleux, $949.

Finals: 1. Carlee Ortero, 14.71 seconds, $5,454; 2. Jordan Driver, 14.76, $4,743; 3. Oceane Veilleux, 14.77, $4,032; 4. McKenna Coronado, 14.78, $3,320; 5. Kristi Cole, 14.80, $2,609; 6. Cassidy Deen, 14.84, $1,897; 7. Stephanie Fryar, 14.85, $1,186; 8. Kim Schulze, 14.98, $474.

Bull Riding

First Round: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, 89 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Heyoka, $5,909; 2. (tie) Chris McKenna and Scottie Knapp, 85, $3,939 each; 4. Luke Mast, 84, $2,167; 5. (tie) Wacey Schalla, William Barrows, Dylan Grant, Wade Tuni and Scott Wells, 83.5, $748 each.

Second Round: 1. Patterson Starcher, 86.5 points on Generations Pro Rodeo’s Intimidator, $5,909; 2. Sage Vance, 85.5, $4,530; 3. Wacey Schalla, 84, $3,348; 4. Cody McElroy, 83.5, $2,167; 5. T.J. Gray and Justin Houston, 83, $1,182 each; 7. Dillon Tyner, 82, $788; 8. (tie) Mason Spain and Stefan Tonita, 80.5, $295 each.

Semifinal One: *1. (tie) Coy Pollmeier and T.J. Gray, 85 points, $4,377 each; no other qualified rides.

Semifinal Two: *1. Stetson Wright, 88.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Peacemaker, $4,815; 2. Brad Moreno, 84.5, $2,939; no other qualified rides.

Semifinal Three: 1. Tyler Kippes, 83 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Brimstone, $3,502; 2. Stran Smith, 80, $2,626; 3. Cody McElroy, 78.5, $1,750; 4. Sage Vance, 75, $875.

Finals: 1. Wacey Schalla, 90 points, $6,565; 2. Stetson Wright, 88, $5,033; 3. T.J. Gray, 87, $3,720; 4. Sage Vance, 86.5, $2,407; 5. Tyler Kippes, 82, $1,532; no other qualified rides.