BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
The Arcadia All-Florida Championship paid out almost $150,000 and was the seventh NFR Playoff Rodeo to conclude in the 2023 season.
The highest-paying rodeo in the Sunshine State had an NFR steer wrestler win with his fastest time of 2023, one of the top saddle bronc riders of 2022 continuing to be a mainstay near the top of the World Standings, and a tie-down roper notch his second win in Florida in about three weeks.
Starting in the steer wrestling where Tristan Martin picked up a much needed victory. The Louisiana native found the winner’s circle for the first time in 2023 with a 3.6-second run. Prior to Arcadia, the two-time NFR qualifier had yet to make a run faster than 5.7 seconds this season.
In saddle bronc riding, Sage Newman was victorious for the second time this season. After breaking the PRCA Regular Season earnings record in the bronc riding a year ago, Newman is up to No. 3 in the world in 2023 after riding Frontier’s High River for 86.5 points to beat out fellow 2022 Top 5 finisher Logan Hay by one point.
Michael Otero added another win in Florida in Arcadia by stopping the clock at 8.5 seconds. The No. 4 tie-down roper in the world also won the 150th Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee with a 7.5 on Feb. 19.
The other Arcadia All-Florida champions were Clayton Biglow and Lane McGehee in bareback riding (86 points), Jacob Dagenhart/Adam Plyer in team roping (5.3 seconds), Shaeley Jenkins in barrel racing (16.54 seconds) and Koby Radley in bull riding (88.5 points).
BAREBACK RIDING
First Round: 1. (tie) Clayton Biglow, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Damaged Goods, and Lane McGehee, on Frontier Rodeo ‘s Night Fist, 86 points, $3,923 each; 3. (tie) Clay Jorgenson and Gauge McBride, 84.5, $2,073 each; 5. (tie) Mark Kreder and Ty Pope, 83.5, $888 each; 7. Kade Sonnier, 83, $592; 8. Nick Pelke, 82, $444.
STEER WRESTLING
First Round: 1. Tristan Martin, 3.6 seconds, $3,016; 2. (tie) Joshua Hefner and Colton Swearingen, 3.9, $2,484 each; 4. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.0, $1,952; 5. Will Lummus, 4.1, $1,774; 6. Cody Cabral, 4.2, $1,597; 7. Stephen Culling, 4.3, $1,419; 8. Marc Joiner, 4.9, $1,242; 9. (tie) Carson Good and Zack Varner, 5.1, $887 each.
TEAM ROPING
First Round: 1. Jacob Dagenhart/Adam Plyler, 5.3 seconds, $3,216 each; 2. Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 5.6, $2,838; 3. Cash Duty/Sid Sporer, 5.7, $2,459; 4. Justin Johnson/Kaden Graves, 6.8, $2,081; 5. Clint Wallace/Cole Walker, 7.3, $1,892; 6. Kaston Peavy/Shane Edmonson, 10.1, $1,703; 7. Dalton Turner/Clay Clayman, 10.4, $1,513; 8. Cory Kidd V/Lane Mitchell, 11.0, $1,324; 9. Spunk Sasser/Parker Carbajal, 11.3, $1,135; 10. Cole Frey/Jacup Dixon, 11.4, $757.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
First Round: 1. Sage Newman, 86.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s High River, $4,343; 2. Logan Hay, 85.5, $3,329; 3. Gus Gaillard, 85, $2,461; 4. Jake Watson, 84.5, $1,592; 5. Tanner Butner, 83.5, $1,013; 6. Traylin Martin, 82.5, $724; 7. (tie) Jake Finlay and Stu Wright, 81, $507 each.
TIE-DOWN ROPING
First Round: 1. Michael Otero, 8.5 seconds, $3,835; 2. Hudson Wallace, 8.7, $3,384; 3. Marcus Theriot, 8.9, $2,933; 4. Westyn Hughes, 9.2, $2,482; 5. Bryan McClellan, 9.3, $2,030; 6. (tie) Polo Bacque II and Cole Walker, 10.6, $1,692 each; 8. Chance Oftedahl, 11.4, $1,354; 9. (tie) Blayne Saine and Trenton Smith, 11.8, $1,015 each; 11. Macon Murphy, 12.3, $677; 12. Peydon Strayer, 12.4, $451.
BARREL RACING
First Round: 1. Shaeley Jenkins, 16.54 seconds, $4,276; 2. Sara Winkelman, 16.59, $3,421; 3. Taylor Carver, 16.67, $2,779; 4. (tie) Susie Parisee and Ashley Parks, 16.70, $1,924 each; 6. (tie) Mandy Amos, Kathryn Hawkins and Dallas Sawczak, 16.74, $1,105 each; 9. Kara Kreder, 16.83, $855; 10. Lindsey Hayes-Banks, 16.85, $748; 11. (tie) Margo Crowther and Kaylie Garcia, 16.90, $588 each; 13. (tie) Nicole Love and Peyton Stepanoff, 16.91, $374 each; 15. Presley Smith, 16.96, $214.
BULL RIDING
First Round: 1. Koby Radley, 88.5 points on Frontier Rodeo ‘s Harlon Nights, $4,456; 2. Lucas Mooningham, 88, $3,416; 3. Denton Fugate, 86, $2,525; 4. Jacob O’Mara, 83, $1,634; 5. Riggin Shippy, 82.5, $1,040; 6. Kase Hitt, 81.5, $743; 7. TJ Gray, 81, $594; 8. Blaine Beaty, 79, $446.
