WNFR: Round 8 Highlights and Dollar Talk

National Finals Rodeo: Round 8 Highlights and Dollar Talk

by: Bobbi LeAnn

 

Shania Twain appearance at WNFR Round 8

In round 8 at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada, Shania Twain was the opening act for the night’s Canadian Night. Ogallala, Nebraska’s own Lexi Larsen sang the National Anthem. Round 8 proved to be another exciting round at the WNFR with changes in the leader boards as well the desires of many cowboys become heated in breaking event records.

 Kaycee Feild, who became the third bareback rider to win back-to-back rounds, is seemingly on cruise control. He’s first in the average, first in the world standings, and has smiled a lot the last two nights. Steven Peebles the bareback riding in Rounds 2 and 3, while Casey Colletti was best in Rounds 5 and 6. Feild is trying to become the first bareback rider to win three consecutive world championships since Joe Alexander won five (1971-1975). Feild is also close to matching Jack Ward Jr. as the only bareback rider to win three straight average titles. Feild leads the average with 663 points, with Steven Peebles second (653.5) and Caleb Bennett third (640). The average winner collects $47,776. Feild leads the world standings by slightly more than $25,000 over four-time World Champion Bobby Mote. Feild prevailed by riding Andrews Rodeo’s Cool Water for 83.5 points.

 Team ropers Colby Lovell and Martin Lucero won their first round of the rodeo, and earned their third check. This is the 45-year-old Lucero’s 16^th trip to the Finals. If the rodeo was only eight rounds, Riley and Brady Minor would win the world team roping titles. They’re second in the average and third in the world standings. Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill still lead the world standings, but their third-no time in Round 8.

Red-hot Jake Wright won his fourth round in eight days in the saddle bronc riding and seems poised to earn his first gold buckle. His twin brother, Jesse, claimed the world title last year and older brother Cody won the championship in 2008 and 2010. Jake Wright is third in the average and leads the world standings with $175,535, nearly $21,000 more than runner-up Chad Ferley and third –place Cody Wright. Cort Scheer leads the average, with Jacobs Crawley second. Jake Wright shared two round wins last year and placed in two other. He’s earned $87,440 at this Finals, the most of any saddle bronc rider. He’s won four rounds here this week, and has two more shots at tying Billy Etbauer and Dan Mortensen’s Record for most round wins at one NFR, which is five.

Ryan Jarrett, the 2005 world all-around champion, won the tie-down roping in 6.7 seconds, which equaled Cody Ohl’s time as the fastest of the rodeo; Ohl did it twice, in Rounds 3 and 7. That’s just two-tenths shy of Ohl’s WNFR record of 6.5 seconds, set in 2003. Jarrett shared the Round 4 win with Ohl in 6.9 seconds. He’s 10^th in the average while Ohle is sixth. Shane Hanchey leads the tie-down roping average. Ohl tops the world standings, more than $20,000 ahead of two-time defending champ Tuf Cooper, who is ninth in the average.

Claiming his second round win-he also took Round 5- was steer wrestler Hunter Cure, who moved up to fourth in the average and fourth in the world standings. He trails average leader Bray Armes by 8.9 seconds. If the rodeo ended today, Dean Gorsuch, who is second in the average and fifth in the world standings, would win his third gold bulldogging buckle.

Barrel racer Sherry Cervi claimed her third round win in 13.71 seconds. She leads the average by 1.7 seconds over Kaley Bass and tops the world standings by nearly $50,000 over defendi9ng champ Mary Walker. Cervi has gotten a check in all eight rounds, and is trying to match Kristie Peterson’s record for earning money in all 10 rounds while also winning the average. Cervi’s in search for her fourth gold buckle.

Cody Teel is closing in fast on his quest for a second straight world bull riding championship. The 21-year-old won round 8 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo before 17,694 enthusiastic fans at the Thomas and Mack Center. He also grabbed the average lead away from two-time World Champion J.W. Harris. Harris still leads the world standings by a comfortable $37,019, but Teel could close that gap considerably with another round win plus the top average check. If he happens to win the final two rounds- yes, that would be four straight, which is unlikely- then he’d claim another gold buckle. Teel, competing in his second Wrangler NFR, broke his left elbow and had surgery March 7 that required 10 screws and two plates. He was sidelined nearly three months and suffered a broken jaw shortly after returning to action. He’s competing with a metal plate in his chin. Teel rode 78.5 points on JK Rodeo’s Pale Face, on a night when only three of the 15 cowboys managed to stay on for the full eight seconds. Teel was hanging off the side of the bull for the last few seconds of his ride, but make it to the whistle. Teel become the second- youngest bull riding world champ last year at age 20; Bill Kornell was the youngest at age 19 in 1963.

With all the results calculated, Cervi also regained the lead in the Ram Truck Top Gun Award standings with $93,850. Jake Wright is second with $87,440, followed by Ohle with $85,487, and barrel racer Taylor Jacob with $82,431.