Rising California Bull Rider Highlights Phenomenal Second Day at San Angelo Rodeo

SAN ANGELO, TX -- When California bull rider Aaron Williams flew into Texas today, he didn’t know he’d leave leading the pack at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo.

He did just that, scoring 89 on the back of Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Tequila Worm on Saturday night and unseating Brady Portenier at the top of the first-go standings. It was just the third qualified ride on the bucking bull and the first of 2019.

“It’s real nice to come to San Angelo, even nicer to draw the bull that I had,” said Williams, who is in his second year in the PRCA.

So far, Williams has avoided the so-called sophomore curse in his second year. The Pismo Beach-based 22-year-old has ridden 10 of the 18 bulls he’s met up with in 2019. That success has led to Williams sitting in fourth at the historic Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo in addition to his top spot in San Angelo.

[[{"fid":"53866","view_mode":"wysiwyg","fields":{"format":"wysiwyg"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"wysiwyg"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-wysiwyg","data-delta":"1"}}]]
Above: California bull rider Aaron Williams talks to Janessa Nunez after taking the lead at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo.

With thoughts of Las Vegas and the National Finals Rodeo in his head after barely missing out in 2018, Williams says he’s here to stay after his latest ride.

“Honestly, the points don’t matter to me,” Williams continued. “It just felt really good get a bull that caliber rode like I know I can and to prove to people that I’m here to stay. You can match me up with these dragons, so to speak, and I’m gonna slay ‘em.”

Pete Carr’s livestock lived up to Williams’ expectations. The 22-year-old Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo product knew why the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo had such a good reputation.

“Anytime that you get a chance to get on something of Pete’s, you can almost guarantee it’s something real good,” Williams added. “If you ride it, you’re gonna take it to the pay window. That’s why there were so many bulls you heard the announcer say ‘This is an NFR bucking bull.’ That’s because Pete packs the ones that’ll get you there.”

From San Angelo, Williams kicks off a busy slate with a long drive to Jackson, Mississippi, for the Dixie National Rodeo. After that, he’ll look to take the money from Fort Worth before going to San Antonio and returning to San Angelo.

But Williams wasn’t the only one to cause a shake up in the standings during Saturday’s double feature.

State Center, Iowa-based steer wrestler Jacob Edler took control of the average lead thanks to a 5.0-second run during the matinee followed by a 4.2-second run in the evening.

“I believe I bulldogged solid,” he said, noting that he rode Rattle, a mare owned by Matt Reeves, who served as Edler’s hazer. “That mare did outstanding, and Matt did a great job. I drew two pretty honest steers and got good starts on both of them.”

Teri Bangart threw down the gauntlet in barrel racing during the matinee, circling the barrels in 14.29 seconds to give her the average lead with a combined time of 30.59 seconds on two runs.

Former Midland resident Sherry Cervi was looking to bounce back in the evening performance after a less than optimal first run. The current Marana, Arizona, resident answered the challenge by tying Bangart for the fastest time of the rodeo.

But that still kept the seasoned veteran close to the chopping block at sixth place in the average of barrel racing. Cervi knows how good the competition can be in San Angelo.

“It’s hard to say if that time will hold up,” Cervi said. “There’s still a lot of good horses left to go.”

On the back of Lancaster and Jones’ Highway Man, Huntsville native and Sam Houston State University product Bill Tutor dazzled the crowd with an 88-point bareback ride Saturday night. That came after Jake Vold tied Taylor Broussard for the lead with an 84-point ride on Lancaster and Jones’ Red Ryder.

Saturday was Tutor’s first action since withdrawing from the National Finals in the fifth round with a broken collarbone.

“I’ve been sitting out. That was actually my first ride in about two months,” Tutor said. “So, it felt good.”

Tutor, who won the 2014 San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, knows he can’t rest in the saddle at this rodeo.

“You can never feel comfortable,” Tutor added. “The guys riding here, we’ve got the best out there. So, you’ve always gotta bring your A-game … Anything can change.”

The 87th San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo will continue on Sunday with their fourth performance at 2:00 p.m.

San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo - Feb. 1-3, Feb. 8-10, Feb. 13-15

Bareback riding leaders: 1. Bill Tutor, 88 points on Lancaster and Jones’ Highway Man; 2. (tie) Taylor Broussard and Jake Vold, 84; 4. Hunter Brasfield, 83; 5. Jesse Pope, 81; 6. Waylon Guy Burgeois, 78; 7. Paden Hurst, 77.5; 8. Wyatt Maines, 77. 

Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Jacob Talley, 4.0 seconds; 2. Kyle Irwin, 4.7; 3. Blake Knowles, 4.9; 4. (tie) Jacob Edler and Tyler Pearson, 5.0; 6. Steven Culling, 5.5; 7. Dalton Massey, 70; 8. Shane Frey, 7.2. Second round: 1. Tanner Brunner, 4.0 seconds; 2. Jacob Edler, 4.2; 3. Tyler Waguespack, 4.3; 4. Tyler Pearson, 4.5; 5. Tristan Martin, 6.2; 6. Hunter Cure, 12.8; no other qualified runs. Average: 1. Jacob Edler, 9.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Tyler Pearson, 9.5; 3. Tanner Brunner, 17.8; 4. Hunter Cure, 27.5; 5. Jacob Talley, 4.0 seconds on one run; 6. Tyler Waguespack, 4.3; 7. Kyle Irwin, 4.7; 8. Blake Knowles, 4.9. 

Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 3.6 seconds; 2. (tie) Justin Yost/Jake Edwards and Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 4.3; 4. Eli Lord/J.W. Beck, 4.6; 5. Billy Bob Brown/Shay Carroll, 4.7; 6. Bart Brunson/Trace Poter, 7.5; 7. Derrick Begay/Cory Petska, 9.3; 8. Jacob Dagenhart/Zack Mabry, 9.6. Second round leaders: 1. Erich Rogers/Clint Summers, 4.3 seconds; 2. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 9.0; 3. Jacob Dagenhart/Zack Mabry, 9.8; 4. Eli Lord/J.W. Beck, 20.1; no other qualified runs. Average leaders: 1. Jacob Deganhart/Zack Mabry, 19.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Rhen Richard/Quinn Kesler, 23.2; 3. Eli Lord/J.W. Beck, 24.7; 4. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 3.6 seconds on one run; 5. (tie) Justin Yost/Jake Edwards, Erich Rogers/Clint Summers and Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 4.3; 7. Billy Bob Brown/Shay Carrol, 4.7; 8. Bart Brunson/Trace Porter, 7.5.  

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Cody DeMoss, 87 points on Lancaster and Jones’ Total Equine Angel Fire 2. Preston Burr, 83; 3. Aaron Lide, 82; 4. (tie) Tate Owens and Hawkins Boyce, 81; 6. Josh Davison, 79.5; 7. Dawson Dahm, 79; 8. (tie) Dean Wadsworth and Logan Cook, 74.  

Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Jake Pratt, 7.0 seconds; 2. Tuf Cooper, 7.6; 3. Blane Cox, 7.7; 4. Haven Meged, 7.9; 5. (tie) Ike Fontenot and Westyn Hughes, 8.0; 7. Blake Ash, 8.4; 8. Cade Swor, 8.6. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Smith, 7.2 seconds; 2. Rhen Richard, 8.1; 3. Ryle Smih, 8.4; 4. Haven Meged, 8.6; 5. Jake Pratt, 8.9; 6. Cooper Mathews, 9.9; 7. Shad Mayfield, 10.2; 8. Ike Fontenot, 20.7. Average leaders: 1. Jake Pratt, 15.9 seconds on two runs; 2. Haven Meged, 16.5; 3. Ryle Smith, 18.8; 4. Shad Mayfield, 18.9; 5. Cooper Mathews, 21.3; 6. Ike Fontenot, 28.7; 7. Justin Smith, 7.2 seconds on one run; 8. Tuf Cooper, 7.6. 

Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Teri Bangart and Sherry Cervi, 14.29 seconds; 3. Stevi Hillman, 14.32; 4. Halyn Lide, 14.34; 5. Lois Ferguson, 14.40; 6. Christy Larsen, 14.44; 7. Cheyenne Hattesen, 14.51; 8. Carman Pozzobon, 14.56; 9. Jill Wilson, 14.60; 10. Kynzie McNeill, 14.61. Average leaders: 1. Teri Bangart, 30.59 seconds on two runs; 2. Stevi Hillman, 30.62; 3. Halyn Lyde, 30.79; 4. Kynzie McNeill, 30.80; 5. Carman Pozzobon, 30.81; 6. Sherry Cervi, 30.89; 7. Jill Wilson, 30.93; 8. Lois Ferguson, 31.03; 9. Christy Larsen, 31.05; 10. Cheyenne Hattesen, 31.11. 

Bull riding leaders: 1. Aaron Williams, 89 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Tequila Worm; 2. Brady Portenier, 87; 3. Rorey Maier, 85; 4. Cole Meloncon, 84; 5. Dave Mason, 83; 6. Parker Breding, 82; Sage Kimzey, 79; 8. Nathan Hatchel, 78.