WNFR: Round 6 Highlights and Dollar Talk

Wrangler National finals: Round 6 Highlights and Dollar Talk

By: Bobbi LeAnn

On the Justin Sportsmedicine injury list going into round 6, Steve Woolsey was diagnosed with a concussion (he has a hoof imprint on the back of his head) and shoulder abrasions after was stepped on. Cody Ohl has won at least a share of the last three rounds to take over the ti-down roping lead in the world standings from Tuf Cooper, and he will be taking aim at his own round 6 WNFR record of 7.1 seconds. Ohl has the fastest time on record for the six of the ten rounds at this rodeo, including the overall record of 6.5 seconds, set in the 10^th round of the 2003 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Round 6 was Rookie Night will all of this year’s PRCA Resistol Rook of Year Award Winners being honored in the arena.

·         Caleb Smidt- All-Around and Tie-down roping

·         Tim O’Connell- Bareback riding

·         Jason Thomas- Steer Wrestling

·         Chase Thomas- Team roping heading

·         Will Woodfin- Team roping heeling

·         Ty Kirklan- Saddle bronc riding

·         Brodi Poppino- Steer roping

·         Taylor Jacob- WPRA barrel racing

·         Cooper Davis and Elliot Jacoby – Bull riding (will be decided over the last five days of the Wrangler NFR)

In the bareback riding event, Casey Colletti took home the big check of $18,629.81 with the score of 86.5. Bobby Mote of Stephenville, Texas climbs to top of the world standings in the bareback riding with total earnings of $153,982. Kaycee Feild drops to second place in the world standings with $149,622, trailing Mote by a close $4,000. Will Lowe remains in the top three of the world standings with $146,596.

                In steer wrestling, Casey Martin of Sulphur, Louisiana sits in the number one spot of the world standings with $126,366 in total earnings. Trevor Knowles of Mount Vernon, Oregon closely follows Martin with $120,158. Dean Gorsuch sits in third place and remains $10,000 from second. Dean Gorsuch made another smooth run in the sixth round with a time of 3.2 seconds.

In the tie-down roping, Justin Maass won the round with a time of 7.2 seconds. Shane Hanchey followed with 7.3 seconds. Cody Ohl, Tuf Cooper, and Shane Hanchey are the top three in the world standings. Another smooth performance by Olh could widen the lead Ohl has on Cooper. Trevor Brazile had an eventful 6^th round as went from one stage to another, giving out a music award to becoming the most decorated cowboy in the history of rodeo. It was a memorable night for the 37-year-old as he clinched his unprecedented 19^th world championship by surpassing one of his childhood heroes, steer roper Guy Allen (who had 18 world championships, all in steer roping).  

                On the heading side of the team roping, Clay Tryan of Billings, Montana is ranked number one with $151,292 in total earnings. Kaleb Driggers of Albany, Georgia claims second and trails Tryan in the world standings by $30,000. Riley Minor closely follows Diggers with only $2,000 difference. On the heeling side, Jade Corkill of Fallon, Nevada is in the number one position with $149,661. Travis Graves of Jay Oklahoma takes the second place spot with $132,602. After the 6^th round, Brady minor finishes in the third place spot with $126,850.

                On the other side of the arena in the saddle bronc riding event, the Wright brothers are maintaining their world standing positions. Cody Wright sits in the first place postion with $147,934 while Jake Wright takes second with just $10,000 behind Cody. Jake Wright finished round in first place taking home the big check with a score of 84. Chad Ferley of Oelrichs, South Dakota closely trails Jake Wright with $135,321.

                In the women’s event, the rookie Taylor Jacob won her third round with 13.37 seconds. Jacob’s time also set a new arena record in the barrel racing. Mary Walker finished in second place with 13.64 seconds and Brittany Pozzi finished third with 13.69 seconds.

                To finish the night in the bull riding event, Trevor Kastner won the round with a score of 88. J.W. Harris finished in second with a score of 86 and Cody Teel finished the round with an 85.5 point ride. In the world standings, J.W. Harris of Mullin, Texas sits in the first place spot with $197,390 in total earnings. Tyler Smith of Fruita, Colorado and Cody Teel of Kountze, Texas finish in the second and third place positions with more than $50,000 separating them from Harris.