It is early in 2022 and we haven’t had any of the year’s biggest rodeos yet, but because the regular season started in October of 2021, there is plenty of money on the board in every PRCA event.
In bareback riding, Cole Reiner leads a Top 10 that features 10 NFR cowboys. Reiner has $16,046 thanks to wins at the Texas Circuit Finals and Chase Hawks Roughstock Rodeo (Montana). Right behind him is Ty Breuer with $15,342 and Clayton Biglow with $14,346. Breuer swept every round at the Badlands Circuit Finals while Biglow was the champion at the California Circuit Finals.
In steer wrestling, Dirk Tavenner has continued the momentum from the 2021 NFR, where he won four Go-Rounds. Tavenner is No. 1 in the PRCA World Standings with $9,567 after winning the Wilderness Circuit Finals back in November. Reigning World Champion Tyler Waguespack is fourth and about $1,500 back.
Staying in the timed event end, Clint Wallace is the leading header right now because of $1,000+ checks in Florida, Texas and Kentucky so far this season. All-around hand Marcus Theriot and Paul Tierney join Wallace as the two other cowboys who have made more than $9,000 in the 2022 season. On the heel side, Tyler McKnight has a lead of more than $4,500 on Cole Curry. McKnight has earned $13,655 so far and already has wins at the Fort Bend County Rodeo (Texas) and Arcadia Fall Rodeo (Florida).
Unlike team roping, the saddle bronc standings are filled with familiar faces for rodeo fans. Brody Cress, who finished third in 2021, has $20,576 already and right behind is 2021 Reserve World Champion Ryder Wright with $18,727. Sterling Crawley, Leon Fountain, Logan Hay and Isaac Diaz all also find themselves in the Top 8 in 2022. Cress is well-positioned after winning all three rounds at the Texas Circuit Finals with every ride marked 87 points or higher.
The tie-down roping has also been very competitive so far this year with 2021 NFR qualifiers Shad Mayfield, Marcos Costa, Cory Solomon, Westyn Hughes, Shane Hanchey and Taylor Santos all cracking the Top 10. The man to beat so far is Mayfield, the 2020 PRCA World Champion, who won all of his $13,277 at two Texas rodeos in November - Lubbock and Tatum.
As for the ladies, Texas Circuit Finals champion Sissy Winn leads the barrel racing with $15,696 and the veteran Lari Dee Guy leads the breakaway roping with $13,520. Guy has a terrific crop of ropers right behind with Martha Angelone, JJ Hampton, Cheyenne Guillory and Hope Thompson rounding out the Top 5.
Last but not least is the bull riding, where Lukasey Morris has made more money than any other PRCA athlete in 2022. Morris has banked $25,133 already after three wins in October. In second place is Bubba Greig, who has made close to $20,000 and won the first Xtreme Bulls event of the season in Austin.
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