BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
The San Angelo Rodeo, the fifth leg of the Texas Swing in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, paid out almost $700,000, making it one of the highest paying rodeos of the season.
The two-week event saw a bareback rider continue a dominant season, a saddle bronc rider 40 percent the rodeo and a pair of team roping brothers continue a dream start to the 2023 season.
Starting with Leighton Berry, who is the headliner for not just San Angelo, but the entire Texas Swing. Berry rode for 88.5 in the Finals to tie Andy Gingerich for the Average title, which gave him wins at three of the five Texas Swing rodeos. Berry is head-and-shoulders above the rest of the bareback riding field with more than $115,000 banked already this season.
“I didn’t know if I was going to be 82 or 92, but that horse did her job,” Berry said after the Finals.
In saddle bronc riding, Dawson Hay won both rounds and the Average to move from No. 14 to No. 7 in the PRCA World Standings. Hay’s Long Round Ride at Pete Carr’s South Point Gambler was the only ride of 90+ in any roughstock event. Overall, Hay made $15,858.
“It’s a great feeling riding with all of these guys,” Hay said. “It was a little blurry, but I knew I was going to have to give it my all...These Short Rounds are really tough at all of these rodeos.”
In team roping, J.C./L.J. Yeahquo flashed their skill throughout the rodeo. The pair tied for the First Round win with a 3.9 and matched that time in the Finals to finish almost a second clear of the rest of the field in the three-head Average. Both men now find themselves in the Top 10 for the first time in their respective careers.
“We’re very, very excited about the winter that we’ve had,” L.J. said. “And to get this win, is really a blessing.”
The other champions in San Angelo were Jay Williamson in steer wrestling (12.1 seconds on three), Justin Smith in tie-down roping (23.7 seconds on three), Kassie Mowry in barrel racing (43.8 6 seconds on three) and Deklan Garland in bull riding (174.5 points on two).
BAREBACK RIDING
First Round: Luke Thrash, 88.5 points on J Bar J’s Think Pink, $7,569; 2. Andy Gingerich, 87.5, $5,803; 3. (tie) Leighton Berry, Clayton Biglow, Jess Pope and Cole Reiner, 87, $2,523 each; 7. Orin Larsen, 86.5, $1,009; 8. Shane O’Connell, 86, $757.
Finals: 1. Leighton Berry, 88.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Cajun Queen, $1,650; 2. Andy Gingerich, 88, $1,250; 3. Shane O’Connell, 87.5, $900; 4. Luke Thrash, 86.5, $600; 5. Jacek Frost, 86, $350; 6. Jess Pope, 85.5, $250.
Average: 1. (tie) Leighton Berry and Andy Gingerich, 175.5 points on two head, $6,686 each; 3. Luke Thrash, 175, $4,289; 4. Shane O’Connell, 173.5, $2,775; 5. Jess Pope, 172.5, $1,766; 6. Clayton Biglow, 171.5, $1,262; 7. Jacek Frost, 170.5, $1,009; 8. Richmond Champion, 169, $757.
STEER WRESTLING
First Round: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.4 seconds, $6,530; 2. (tie) Josh Garner and Will Lummus, 3.5, $5,252 each; 4. Jay Williamson, 3.7, $3,975; 5. (tie) Denard Butler, Logan Kenline, Eli Lord and Remey Parrott, 3.8, $1,845 each.
Second Round: 1. Cash Robb, 3.2 seconds, $6,530; 2. (tie) Cody Devers and Justin Shaffer, 3.5, $5,252 each; 4. (tie) Brandon Harrison and Tanner Milan, 3.8, $3,549 each; 6. Stan Branco, 3.9, $2,271; 7. (tie) Tucker Allen, Joe Nelson and Talon Roseland, 4.1, $662 each.
Finals: 1. Jay Williamson, 3.7 seconds, $1,760; 2. (tie) Jesse Brown and Talon Roseland, 4.0, $1,415 each; 4. Tyler Pearson, 4.1, $1,071; 5. Eli Lord, 4.3, $842; 6. Cash Robb, 4.4, $612; 7. Cody Devers, 5.0, $383; 8. Jacob Talley, 5.2, $153.
Average: 1. Jay Williamson, 12.1 seconds on three head, $9,795; 2. Jesse Brown, 12.3, $8,517; 3. (tie) Eli Lord and Talon Roseland, 12.5, $6,601 each; 5. (tie) Tyler Pearson and Cash Robb, 13.0, $4,046 each; 7. Cody Devers, 13.2, $2,129; 8. Jacob Talley, 13.7, $852.
TEAM ROPING
First Round: 1. (tie) Jaxson Tucker/Wyatt Cox and J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 3.9 seconds, $5,188 each; 3. (tie) Cyle Denison/Cody Hogan, Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 4.0, $3,378 each; 6. Chad Masters/Trey Yates, 4.1, $1,930; 7. (tie) Shay Dixon Carroll/Evan Arnold, Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith and Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 4.2, $563 each.
Second Round: 1. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 3.4 seconds, $5,550 each; 2. Brenten Hall/Paden Bray, 3.6, $4,826; 3. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 3.7, $4,102; 4. (tie) Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain and Billy Bob Brown/Kirby Blankenship, 4.0, $3,016 each; 6. (tie) Derrick Begay/Colter Todd and Garett Chick/B.J. Dugger, 4.1, $1,568 each; 8. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Reno Stoebner/Whit Kitchens, 4.2, $241 each.
Finals: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 3.9 seconds, $1,639 each; 2. Chad Masters/Trey Yates, 4.1, $1,356; 3. McCray Profili/McCoy Profili, 4.3, $1,074; 4. (tie) Tanner James/Jason Johe and Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 4.4, $650 each; 6. Tanner Green/Caleb Green, 4.5, $283.
Average: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 12.3 seconds on three head, $8,324 each; 2. Tanner Green/Caleb Green, 13.2, $7,238; 3. Chad Masters/Trey Yates, 13.4, $6,153; 4. Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 13.9, $5,067; 5. (tie) Tanner James/Jason Johe and McCray Profili/McCoy Profili, 14.0, $3,438 each; 7. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 14.4, $1,810; 8. Ty Arnold/Kaden Profili, 8.8 on two head, $724.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
First Round: 1. Dawson Hay, 90.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s South Point Gambler, $7,104; 2. Brody Cress, 87.5, $5,446; 3. Wyatt Casper, 86, $4,025; 4. Ian Forbes McGivney, 85, $2,605; 5. (tie) Ben Andersen and Sage Newman, 84.5, $1,421 each; 7. (tie) Tanner Butner and Cash Wilson, 84, $829 each.
Finals: 1. Dawson Hay, 88 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Secret Agent, $1,650; 2. (tie) Tanner Butner and Cash Wilson, 87, $1,075 each; 4. (tie) Wyatt Casper and Jacobs Crawley, 84.5, $475 each; 6. Ryder Wright, 78, $250.
Average: 1. Dawson Hay, 178.5 points on two head, $7,104; 2. (tie) Tanner Butner and Cash Wilson, 171, $4,736 each; 4. Wyatt Casper, 170.5, $2,605; 5. Jacobs Crawley, 168, $1,658; 6. Ryder Wright, 161.5, $1,184; 7. Brody Cress, 87.5 on one head, $947; 8. Ian Forbes McGivney, 85, $710.
TIE-DOWN ROPING
First Round: 1. (tie) Hayden Ford, Brushton Minton and Chase Webster, 7.6 seconds, $6,105 each; 4. King Pickett, 7.8, $4,273; 5. (tie) Ty Harris, Quade Hiatt and Michael Otero, 7.9, $2,442 each; 8. Kyle Lucas, 8.0, $610.
Second Round: 1. Justin Smith, 6.9 seconds, $7,020; 2. Jerry Adamson, 7.2, $6,105; 3. (tie) Preston Pederson and Cory Solomon, 7.4, $4,731 each; 5. (tie) John Douch and Trenton Smith, 7.6, $2,900 each; 7. (tie) Cimarron Boardman, Beau Cooper and Caleb Smidt, 7.7, $712 each.
Finals: 1. Cody Waldrop, 7.9 seconds, $1,990; 2. Westyn Hughes, 8.2, $1,730; 3. (tie) Trevor Hale and Justin Smith, 8.4, $1,341 each; 5. Jerry Adamson, 8.9, $952; 6. Brushton Minton, 9.3, $692; 7. Chase Webster, 9.6, $433; 8. Ty Harris, 10.1, $173.
Average: 1. Justin Smith, 23.7 seconds on three head, $10,530; 2. (tie) Cody Waldrop and Jerry Adamson, 24.7, $8,470 each; 4. Trevor Hale, 24.9, $6,410; 5. Westyn Hughes, 25.2, $5,036; 6. Brushton Minton, 25.9, $3,663; 7. Chase Webster, 26.6, $2,289; 8. Ty Harris, 27.1, $916.
BARREL RACING
First Round: 1. Jimmie Smith-Tew, 15.80 seconds, $6,582; 2. (tie) Timber Allenbrand and Kassie Mowry, 15.82, $5,171 each; 4. Taycie Matthews, 15.83, $4,074; 5. Janet Staton, 15.89, $3,134; 6. Summer Kosel, 15.90, $2,507; 7. (tie) Nicole Driggers, Jackie Ganter, Katie Halbert and Amanda Welsh, 15.92, $1,175 each.
Second Round: 1. Kassie Mowry, 14.04 seconds, $6,582; 2. Shelley Morgan, 14.12, $5,642; 3. Dona Rule, 14.13, $4,701; 4. Summer Kosel, 14.16, $4,074; 5. Ilyssa Riley, 14.17, $3,134; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 14.20, $2,507; 7. Jennifer Driver, 14.22, $1,881; 8. (tie) Kelly Allen and Wenda Johnson, 14.23, $1,097 each; 10. Kaycee Killingsworth, 14.25, $627.
Finals: 1. Lindsay Sears, 13.88 seconds, $4,875; 2. Kassie Mowry, 14.00, $3,657; 3. Hailey Kinsel, 14.04, $2,438; 4. Dona Rule, 14.12, $1,219.
Average: 1. Kassie Mowry, 43.86 seconds on three head, $9,873; 2. (tie) Lindsay Sears and Hailey Kinsel, 44.19, $7,757 each; 4. Dona Kay Rule, 44.34, $6,112; 5. Kelly Allen, 44.38, $4,701; 6. Jimmie Smith-Tew, 44.40, $3,761; 7. Timber Allenbrand, 44.49, $2,821; 8. Emily Beisel, 44.64, $1,881; 9. Shelley Morgan, 44.72, $1,410; 10. Taycie Matthews, 44.74, $940.
BULL RIDING
First Round: 1. (tie) Trey Benton III, on Stockyards ProRodeo’s Just Another Gangster, and Deklan Garland, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Smokin Again, 88.5 points, $6,474 each; 3. Josh Frost, 88, $4,153; 4. Koby Radley, 86, $2,687; 5. (tie) JC Mortensen and Jestyn Woodward, 85.5, $1,466 each; 7. Ernie Courson Jr., 85, $977; 8. (tie) Colby Demo and Coy Pollmeier, 83.5, $366 each.
*Finals: 1. Ernie Courson Jr., 89 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Midnight Special, $1,800; 2. Cody Teel, 87.5, $1,400; 3. (tie) Deklan Garland and Coy Pollmeier, 86, $900 each; no other qualified rides.
Average: 1. Deklan Garland, 174.5 points on two head, $7,329; 2. Ernie Courson Jr., 174, $5,619; 3. (tie) Cody Teel and Coy Pollmeier, 169.5, $3,420 each; 5. Trey Benton III, 88.5 on one head, $1,710; 6. Josh Frost, 88, $1,222; 7. Koby Radley, 86, $977; 8. (tie) JC Mortensen and Jestyn Woodward, 85.5, $366 each. *(all totals include ground money).
