Sonnier Takes Early Lead in Bareback Riding at San Angelo Rodeo

SAN ANGELO, TX – There were parts of the 2024 season that were simply aggravating for bareback rider Kade Sonnier.

“I get stuck in this a lot, but I was really caught up with the end result,” said Sonnier of Carencro, Louisiana. “I didn’t make the (National Finals Rodeo). I had a little bit of hard luck batting some injuries, and it was just nagging injury after nagging injury.”

Plain and simple: Sonnier wasn’t winning. He finished the 2023 campaign at the NFR, the sport’s grand finale, where he pocketed $112,000 over 10 December nights. He finished the year third in the world standings with more than $270,000 in earnings. Then, last spring, he won the $100,000 top prize at The American, a stand-alone event in Arlington.

“When I really thought about it, I was fortunate to win The American last year, and sometimes I lose sight of that,” he said. “I ended the year winning more money than some of the guys that made the NFR, so I can’t say I didn’t accomplish all I wanted last year. I didn’t accomplish my end goal, which was to be the world champ, but at the end of 2024, I had to change my mindset.”

It’s working so far. He rode Macza Pro Rodeo’s Montana Cat for 84 points during Friday’s opening night of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo to jump into the early lead with hopes of returning in two weeks for the championship round and battle for that prestigious San Angelo title.

“I can’t say I’m 100% confident I can make it back (to the short round), because there’s some pretty good matchups coming up,” Sonnier said. “I’ve looked back at the last few years, and it looks like 84 to 85 points usually makes it back, but I’m just pretty happy that I won the performance.”

Friday’s rodeo marked the first time Sonnier was matched with Montana Cat, a Canadian bucking bronc. The Louisiana cowboy did his homework, though, and knew what to expect.

“In addition to changing my mindset, I also ended up switching riggings between Fort Worth (in January) and Houston (in March), and when I went to Houston, it finally felt like my hand was back to normal. It’s funny how one little change like that, and everything comes back.

“I never want to use an excuse or say the horse wasn’t enough or my rigging messed up or anything like that. As the true competitor in me, my thought is, ‘What can I do to be better?’ But at the end of the day, you’re only as good as your equipment.”

Everything held up quite well for the packed house inside Foster Communications Coliseum, and Sonnier is hoping he’ll get another shot to show off his talents during the April 18 championship.

“When (stock contractor) Pete Carr told me I was first, I said, ‘I guess we’re going to start off with a bang,’ ” he said.

Mission accomplished.

The rodeo will continue with two performances Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo

Updated results after the opening performance Friday, April 4

Bareback riding leaders: 1. Kade Sonnier, 84 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Montana Cat; 2. Orin Larsen, 83.5; 3. Richmond Champion, 80; 4. Brett Williams, 70; no other qualified rides. 

Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. 2. Winsten McGraw, 3.5 seconds; 2. Bridger Chambers, 3.6; 3. (tie) Teel Sikes and Brandon Harrison, 3.7; 5. (tie) Colten Leech, Ben Kilburg, Cimarron Thompson and Coy Johnston, 3.8. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Denell Henderson and Bridger Anderson, 3.3 seconds; 3. (tie) Weston Taylor and Hunter Cure, 3.7; 5. Landris White, 3.9; 6. Emmett Edler, 4.0; 7. (tie) Gavin Soileau and Tres Colvin, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. Bridger Anderson, 7.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Hunter Cure, 7.7; 3. Cody Devers, 8.4; 4. Landris White, 8.5; 5. Emmett Edler, 8.7; 6. Skyler Woolls, 8.9; 7. (tie) Holden Myers and Ben Kilburg, 9.0; 9. Gavin Soileau, 9.2; 10. Jeffery Gregersen, 9.5; 11. (tie) Tres Colvin and Ty Cochrane, 9.7.    

Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Tryan/Nicki Northcott, 3.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Hiyo Yazzi/Shawn Murphy and Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 4.0; 4. (tie) Chet Weitz/Blake Walker and Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.1; 6. Jaxson Tucker/Sid Sporer, 4.2; 7. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 4.3; 8. Kash Bonnett/Logan Cullen, 4.4. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Jade Corkill and Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 3.9 seconds; 3. (tie) Mason Rust/Kaden Prince and Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 4.4; 5. (tie) Forrest Fisher/Caleb Green, Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina and Roan Oldfield/Creed West, 4.6; 8. Jhett Trenary/L.J Yeahquo, 4.7. Average leaders: 1. Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 9.1; 3. (tie) Roan Oldfield/Creed West and Chet Weitz/Blake Walker, 9.2; 5. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 9.6; 6. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 9.7; 7. Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina, 9.8; 8. Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, 10.2; 9. Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 10.4; 10. Forrest Fisher/Caleb Green, 11.2; 11. Clay Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 12.0; 12. Jet Toberer/Jake South, 14.3.  

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Thayne Elshere, 85.5 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Squash Blossom Steely Dan; 2. Jake Finlay, 84.5; 3. Ira Dickinson, 80; 4. Tegan Smith, 79.5; 5. Carson Bingham, 79; 6. Skinny Parsons, 78.5; 7. Coleman Shallbetter, 76; 8. Spencer Wright, 75.5; 9. Sawyer Erickson, 66; no other qualified rides. 

Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Kason Dyer, 7.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Brodey Clemons and Tyson Durfey, 7.7; 4. Britt Bedke, 8.2; 5. (tie) Sam Lewis and Dean Holyan, 8.4; 7. Treg Schaack, 8.5; 8. Garrett Jacobs, 8.7. Second round leaders: 1. Tyler Calhoun, 7.5 seconds; 2. Colton Suther, 7.6; 3. Tate Teague, 8.0; 4. Chance Fleming, 8.2; 5. (tie) Jacob Walters, Chizm KuyKendall, Cutter Carpenter and Colton Green, 8.3. Average leaders: 1. Chance Fleming, 17.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Garrett Jacobs, 17.3; 3. Kody Mahaffey, 17.6; 4. Andrew Burks, 9.2; 5. Trent McDonald, 18.2; 6. Daxton Hill, 18.3; 7. Sam Lewis, 18.9; 8. Dean Holyan, 19.3; 9. (tie) Roan Hudson and Tyson Durfey, 19.9; 11. (tie) Coy Skocdopole and Travis Staley, 20.0.  

Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Shai Schaefer, Jordi Edens, Bailey Bates and Kelsie Domer, 1.9 seconds; 5. Abby Cox, 2.1; 6. (tie) Shalee King, Ellie Meeks, Kristy Stewart and KC-Gail Churchill, 2.3; 10. (tie) Georgia Shields, Haley Sage, Montana Brown, Jayme Marcum, Cheyenne Britain, Kaydin Finan and Josie Goodrich, 2.4. Second round leaders: 1, Summer Williams, 1.7; 2. Kieley Walz, 1.8; 3. Megan Powell, 1.9; 4. Carlee Potter, 2.0; 5. Shalee King, 2.1; 6. (tie) Bethanie Harkey, Jordi Edens and Simone Park, 2.2; 9. Carly Christian, 2.3; 10. (tie) Bailey Curie, Samantha Fulton and Sawyer Gilbert, 2.4. Average leaders: 1. Jordi Edens, 4.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Shalee King, 4.4; 3. Kristy Stewart, 4.8; 4. Sawyer Gilbert, 4.9; 5. Ellie Meeks, 5.1; 6. (tie) Emilee Charlesworth, Cheyenne Britain and Shai Schaefer, 5.4; 9. Haley Sage, 5.5; 10. (tie) Macy Auclair and Libby Winchell, 5.6; 12. Kassidy Dennison, 5.8.   

Barrel racing: First round: 1. Abby Fields, 15.70 seconds, $10,942; 2. Tiany Schuster, 15.71, $9,379; 3. Tana Renick, 15.86, $7,815; 4. (tie) Jordon Briggs, Hailey Kinsel, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi and Cheyenne Wimberley, 15.88, $4,820 each; 8. Jodee Miller, 15.91, $2,084; 9. Leslie Smalygo, 15.94, $1,563; 10. Krystal Dillman, 15.95, $1,042. Second round leaders: 1. Julie Plourde, 14.32 seconds; 2. LaTricia Duke, 14.34; 3. Stephanie Fryar, 14.52; 4. Austyn Tobey, 14.56; 5. Kaitlyn Sims, 14.94; 6. Tifanny Lujan, 16.72; 7. Kylie Kanngiesser, 19.49; 8. Chelsea Moore, 19.68; 9. Natalie Bland, 24.50; 10. Brittney Sporer, 24.89. Average leaders: 1. Julie Plourde, 30.31 seconds on two runs; 2. LaTricia Duke, 30.44; 3 Stephanie Fryar, 30.57; 4. Austin Tobey, 30.85; 5. Kaitlyn Sims, 31.03; 6. Tiffany Lujan, 30.37; 7. Chelsea Moore, 35.75; 8. Kylie Kanngiesser, 35.77; 9. Natalie Bland, 41.14; 10. Brittney Sporer, 41.37; 11. Morgan Addison, 41.64.

Bull riding leaders: No qualified rides.