SAN ANGELO, TX -- The 87th annual San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo is entering its final week, with the PRCA Championship Round on Friday and Cinch Chute Out on Saturday.
As the rodeo begins to wind down, people will make last ditch efforts to qualify for the championship round, otherwise known as the short go.
The first two weeks gave a plethora of storylines. Here are the best five entering the final week.
New Names Take Control of Top Spot in Bull Riding
The two cowboys share the lead at 89 points in bull riding are both making their San Angelo debut.
One of those names is Stetson Wright, the youngest of famous saddle bronc rider Cody Wright's three sons in the PRCA.
[[{"fid":"54222","view_mode":"wysiwyg","fields":{"format":"wysiwyg"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"wysiwyg"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-wysiwyg","data-delta":"2"}}]]Above: Stetson Wright talks about his debut in San Angelo
Stetson made his debut on Friday night with a 76-point saddle bronc ride, only to come back later in the performance to ride United Pro Rodeo's Happy Days to tie the lead.
The 19-year-old Utah cattle-rancher was on hand in 2018 to watch his brothers duke it out, but wasn't able to participate due to a torn ACL.
The mark was set by California bull rider Aaron Williams on the second night of the rodeo. He rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo's Tequila Worm to dazzle the crowd.
[[{"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 about his ride on Tequila Worm
It was a turn of fortune for the Pismo Beach-based rider. Coming off an 85-point ride in Denver, Williams hit a rough patch in his winter run. He failed to score in three of his next six attempts with only one ride over 80 points. Then he got Tequila Worm and his season-high 89 points.
Since his 89 on Feb. 2, Williams has struggled again, scoring a 79 at the Dixie National Rodeo (Jackson, Miss.) and failing to score in the short go of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and at Yuma. He'll hope San Angelo's dirt proves to be fertile again come Friday night.
Will Anyone Catch Nicole Love?
Mississippi cowgirl Nicole Love put together the best barrel racing run of the rodeo so far and nobody has been able to match her.
Love ran a 14.08-second run during the first Saturday matinee performance of the rodeo. That was good enough for the round lead and the average lead with a combined time of 30.2 seconds on two runs.
The closest anyone has gotten is Harper native Alex Lang with a 14.19-second run. That put Lang second in the average as well with a combined time of 30.47.
[[{"fid":"53907","view_mode":"wysiwyg","fields":{"format":"wysiwyg"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"6":{"format":"wysiwyg"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-wysiwyg","data-delta":"6"}}]]Above: Nicole Love talks about her 14.08-second run in San Angelo to put her top of the leaderboard.
For perspective, 2018 San Angelo champion Amberleigh Moore ran a 14.14 and 14.15 on consecutive nights to claim the title last year. If anyone catches Love, it will have to be a spectacular ride.
Love, much like Williams, was struggling coming into her first-ever run at the colliseum.
She had been to seven rodeos over a two week span, and only had three clean runs. If she has another clean run, she could leave San Angelo with a title.
Despite Lighter Workload, Trevor Brazile Still Dominates San Angelo
Trevor Brazile, a 24-time world champion from Decatur, Texas, announced back in November that he was stepping away from full-time rodeo to tour the rodeos in Texas primarily.
However, the 42-year-old reigning all around world champ hasn't lost his step.
[[{"fid":"54282","view_mode":"wysiwyg","fields":{"format":"wysiwyg"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"3":{"format":"wysiwyg"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-wysiwyg","data-delta":"3"}}]]Above: Trevor Brazile on what it means to be back in San Angelo.
After two stellar runs in tie down roping, Brazile is sitting tied for the lead with Michael Otero with a combined time of 15.2 seconds on two heads.
A win would be Brazile's fifth San Angelo title.
Can Dynamic Team Roping Duo be Stopped?
Clay Smith and Jake Long agreed to team up after the NFR in Las Vegas this past December. The decision has worked out well for the two.
So far, Smith and Long have won the Texas Circuit Finals and the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo. Their winter run has them sitting top of the world standings with eight months to go in the season.
[[{"fid":"53905","view_mode":"wysiwyg","fields":{"format":"wysiwyg"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"4":{"format":"wysiwyg"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-wysiwyg","data-delta":"4"}}]]Above: Clay Smith and Jake Long talk about their arena record 3.5-second run.
Now, with a time of 7.1 on two runs thanks to an area record-tying run, the duo from Oklahoma and Kansas are sitting comfortably atop the San Angelo standings. The next closest team is a full second behind.
A win would likely go a long way to the new team's hopes of a trip to Vegas in their first year together.
Last Chance at Glory
Last year, New Mexico State University rodeo coach and bareback rider Logan Corbett came to San Angelo on the last day of the long round and scored an 87 to take the lead.
The very next day, Corbett rode Pete Carr's Dirty Jacket for 89 points and the San Angelo title.
What's that mean? While the standings are already loaded from top to bottom, it means nobody's lead is safe in Angelo. The final two days of the long round will likely bring some darkhorses looking to make their name
[[{"fid":"53906","view_mode":"wysiwyg","fields":{"format":"wysiwyg"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"5":{"format":"wysiwyg"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-wysiwyg","data-delta":"5"}}]]Above: Bill Tutor discusses his 88-point ride that put him top of the leaderboard
Right now, Bill Tutor leads bareback riding with his 88-point ride on Lancaster and Jones' Highway Man.
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. Caleb Bennett, 85.5; 3. Austin Foss, 85; 4. (tie) Taylor Broussard and Jake Vold, 84; 6. (tie) Hunter Brasfield and David Peebles, 83; 8. Tanner Aus, 82.5; 9. Zach Hibler, 82; 10. Jesse Pope, 81; 11. (tie) Tony Barrington and Cody Cabeen, 79.
Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Tucker Allen, 3.6 seconds; 2. (tie) Don Payne and Josh Clark, 3.7; 4. (tie) Scott Guenthner and Sam Shelton, 3.8; 6. Denell Henderson, 3.9; 7. Jacob Talley, 4.0; 8. Dru Melvin, 4.2. Second round: 1. Richard Coats, 3.2 seconds; 2. Dirk Tavenner, 3.8; 3. Tom Lewis, 3.9; 4. (tie) Tanner Brunner and Gary Gilbert, 4.0; 6. (tie) Sam Powers, Ross Mosher and Josh Garner, 4.1. Average: 1. Scott Guenthner, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Tucker Allen, 8.2; 3. Denell Henderson, 8.3; 4. Dru Melvin, 8.4; 5. Josh Clark, 8.7; 6. (tie) Jacob Edler and Blake Knowles, 9.2; 8. Tyler Pearson, 9.5; 9. Payden McIntyre, 9.6; 10. (tie) Stephen Culling and Cody Devers, 9.7; 12. Mike McGinn, 9.8.
Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 3.6 seconds; 2. Nelson Wyatt/Rich Skelton, 3.7; 3. Levi Simpson/Cole Davison, 3.8; 4. Ty Blasingame/Brandon Bates, 3.9; 5. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, Manny Equsquiza Jr./Dustin Searcy and Tyler Waters/Brady Norman, 4.0; 8. Anthony Lucia/Wesley Moss, 4.1. Second round leaders: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 3.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Luke Brown/Paul Eaves and Caleb Smidt/Will Woodfin, 3.6; 4. Brandon Webb/Kollin VonAhn, 3.7; 5. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, Lathen Bryant/Morgan McVay and Shane Phillip/John Phillip, 3.8; 8. Marcus Theriot/Coleby Payne, 3.9. Average leaders: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 7.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 8.1; 3. Ty Blasingame/Brandon Bates, 9.5; 4. Garett Chick/Ross Ashford, 9.7; 5. Marcus Theriot/Coleby Payne, 9.8; 6. Levi Simpson/Cole Davison, 10.0; 7. Manny Egusquiza Jr./Dustin Searcy, 10.1; 8. Bart Brunson/Trace Porter, 11.5; 9. Lane Santos Karney/Dillon Wingereid, 11.9; 10. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes and Ryan Reed/Monty Joe Petska, 13.4; 12. Cory Clark/Lane Mitchell, 13.7.
Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Rusty Wright, 87.5 points on Northcott & Macza’s Banshee; 2. (tie) Cody DeMoss and Colt Gordon, 87; 4. Ryder Wright, 84; 5. (tie) Preston Burr, Wade Sundell and Chase Brooks, 83; 8. Kolby Wanchuk, 82.5; 9. (tie) Aaron Lide and Wyatt Casper, 82; 11. Brody Cress, 81.5; 12. (tie) Tate Owens, Hawkins Boyce, Jake Wright and CoBurn Bradshaw, 81.
[[{"fid":"54316","view_mode":"wysiwyg","fields":{"format":"wysiwyg"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"7":{"format":"wysiwyg"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-wysiwyg","data-delta":"7"}}]]Above: Rusty Wright talks about his leading saddle bronc ride and his family competing at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo.
Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Jake Pratt, 7.0 seconds; 2. Michael Otero, 7.1; 3. Kyle Lucas, 7.4; 4. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Blair Smith, 7.5; 6. Tuf Cooper, 7.6; 7. (tie) Blane Cox, John Douch and Bryson Sechrist, 7.7. Second round leaders: 1. Adam Gray, 7.1 seconds; 2. (tie) Justin Smith and Bradley Bynum, 7.2; 4. (tie) Tyler Milligan and Cory Solomon, 7.3; 6. (tie) Cimarron Boardman and Jesse Clark, 7.6; 8. Trevor Brazile, 7.7. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Michael Otero, 15.2 seconds on two runs; 3. Jesse Clark, 15.5; 4. Jake Pratt, 15.9; 5. Tuf Cooper, 16.1; 6. Haven Meged, 16.5; 7. Hunter Herrin, 16.6; 8. Blake Ash, 16.7; 9. Bradley Bynum, 17.1; 10. Matt Shiozawa, 17.2; 11. Cory Solomon, 17.3; 12. Tyler Milligan, 17.5; 10. Trenton Smith, 17.8; 11. Cody Huber, 18.0; 12. Ryle Smith, 18.8.
Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. Nicole Love, 14.08 seconds; 2. Alex Lang, 14.19; 3. (tie) Teri Bangart and Sherry Cervi, 14.29; 5. Stevi Hillman, 14.32; 6. (tie) Halyn Lide and Kappy Allen, 14.34; 8. Mindy Goemmer, 14.35; 9. Dona Kay Rule, 14.38; 10. Lois Ferguson, 14.40. Average leaders: 1. Nicole Love, 30.20 seconds on two runs; 2. Alex Lang, 30.47; 3. Teri Bangart, 30.59; 4. Carolyn Uhler, 30.61; 5. (tie) Stevi Hillman and Cheyenne Wimberley, 30.62; 7. Ryann Pedone, 30.64; 8. (tie) Dona Kay Rule and Ilyssa Glass, 30.69; 11. (tie) Halyn Lyde and Kappy Allen, 30.79.
Bull riding leaders: 1. (tie) Aaron Williams, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Tequila Worm, and Stetson Wright, on United Pro Rodeo’s Happy Days, 89 points; 3. Brady Portenier, 87; 4. Rorey Maier, 85; 5. (tie) Cole Meloncon and Riker Carter, 84; 7. Aaron Pass, 83.5; 8. (tie) Dave Mason and Wyatt Edwards, 83; 10. Scottie Knapp, 82.5; 11. (tie) Parker Breding, Koby Radley and Lane Nobles, 82.
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