Texas’ best of 2026 got an early start on their 2027 seasons, and nine athletes were crowned champions at the Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo.

$231,792 was divided amongst contestants in Waco Oct 13-16th.

Bareback Rider Westen Chandler got a big win to start his 2027 season. The 19-year-old placed either 2nd or 3rd in all four rounds and won the average. Chandler scored 335.40 on four, peaking with two 85-point scores in Rounds 1 and 4. He was a full six points better than Chad Rutherford, who finished 2nd in the average. Chandler earned $10,355 in Waco.

Colin Fox, fresh off his 2026 Resistol Steer Wrestling Rookie of the Year win, took home a round win and the average title. He was 4.6 to win Round 3, and 27.1 seconds overall, over three seconds faster than 2nd. Fox cashed $6,959.

J.C. Yeahquo and Kelby Frizzell took home the Team Roping average title. They placed 5th twice and 4th twice in four rounds. Their best run was a 4.6-second out in Round 1. Altogether, they were 25.4 on four and took home $5,800 each. Clay Tryan and Kaden Profili, however, took home the most of any team. Tryan and Profili finished second in two rounds and in the average, and earned $6,669 each.

Saddle Bronc Rider Gus Gaillard just barely missed this year’s NFR, finishing 16th, but won his second straight event to start his 2027 season. Gaillard placed 3rd, 4th, 2nd, and 1st in four rounds, and scored 330 points in total to win the average. He scored an event-high 86 on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Chilly Winds in Round 4, and he needed every point, as he won the average by just .5 points. Gaillard earned $10,149, bringing his 2027 total to about $40,000 and giving him an early lead atop the Saddle Bronc World Leaderboard.

Kincade Henry and Tyler Calhoun, two NFR-bound ropers, tied the Texas Circuit average at 33.0 seconds each. Calhoun won the first two rounds, while Henry won the last two. Calhoun was an event-fastest 7.4 seconds to win the Second Round, but Henry left Waco with a little more money in his pocket. Henry finished 2nd and 3rd in Rounds 1 and 2, whereas Calhoun finished 2nd and 5th in Rounds 3 and 4. That gave Henry $11,599, while Calhoun earned $10,149.

Morgan Addison earned checks in all four rounds on her way to an average victory. The 22-year-old was 62.84 seconds on four and won $10,439 overall. She won the Second Round with a 15.63, but her fastest out was 15.60 seconds, which got her 2nd in Round 3.

Slade Wood nearly swept the Steer Roping event, winning three rounds and the average. He was 10.1, 10.5, and 11.2 in his three round wins, and finished with 50.8 seconds on four. Wood missed the NFSR last year, finishing 17th, after making it four times previously. However, he cashed $12,179 in Waco and jumped to an early lead atop the 2027 World Standings.

2026 World Bull Riding Leader Noah Lee got a jump on 2027 and picked up $12,952 in Waco. Lee, who will ride in his first career NFR this December, was an impeccable 89, 89, 89, and 91 through four rounds, winning the Second and Fourth. His first 90+-point score of the 2027 season came on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hostel Takedown, and it brought his average total to 358, 110.5 points better than 2nd-place Bryce Jensen.

Rheagan Cotton was 11.2 on four to win the average and $5,413 overall, but two other contestants out-earned her. Cotton was the only one to record times in all four runs. She placed 4th in Rounds 1 and 3, posting 2.4 and 2.7, respectively. She finished with 11.2 on four. 2026 Breakaway Roping Resistol Rookie of the Year Amy Ohrt, with $7,249, and Tibba Smith, with $6,379, both out-earned Cotton and finished 2nd and 3rd in the average behind her. Both Ohrt and Smith won a round and placed 2nd in another. Ohrt was the event’s fastest at 1.8 to win the second round. But neither could record qualified runs in all four rounds, only three.