Finalists Set After A High Pressure Semifinal 2 in Fort Worth

With Championship Saturday night just around the corner and only four spots per event available, the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo finished sorting out who earned the right to come back one more time. The finals roster is set. 

Leighton Berry led the way in the bareback riding with an 89 point ride on J Bar J’s Dark Side, followed closely by Jess Pope at 88 and Cole Reiner at 87. Fourth place required a tiebreaker after Richmond Champion, Orin Larsen, and reigning world champion Rocker Steiner all marked 86.5. Steiner won the tiebreaker to grab the 4th and last finals spot. 

"Getting to get on in Fort Worth just 45 minutes down the road, doin what I love to do. I'm about the most blessed man here," said Leighton Berry in his interview after the winning ride. 

Steer wrestling was as sharp as it’s been all week. Landris White set the tone as the first man out with a textbook 3.6 second run. Bridger Anderson followed at 4.1, while Tanner Brunner and Cash Robb both advanced with matching 4.8s. 

Landris set the tone as the first man out. He told Katy, "Being first out, I knew I had to take a chance at it."

Breakaway roper Jill Tanner knew she needed to be under 2.8 to advance and left nothing to chance, stopping the clock in 2.3 to win the round. She credited a good calf, a solid horse, and drawing late in the order for helping everything line up just right. Also advancing in the breakaway is Josie Conner with a 2.4, Braylee Sheperd with a 2.5, and Cadee Williams with a 2.7. 

In the Tie-down roping, John Douch led with an 8.4, followed closely by Kincade Henry at 8.5. After that, the times stretched, but Tom Crouse and Marty Yates did enough to advance despite mistakes with 12.5 and 12.7 runs. With a sudden death finals ahead, clean slates are all that matter now. 

"This is a tough set of guys, feels good to come out on top," said Douch.

Team roping finished with a tie at the top as James Arviso and Rance Doyal matched Jake Clay and Will Woodfin with 4.4 second runs. Kavis Drake and Denim Ross, along with Mason Appleton and Sid Sporer, rounded out the advancing teams. Few words were needed in interviews because the roping spoke for itself.

Saddle bronc riding might have been the toughest and most exciting event of the night. Rusty Wright on Calgary Stampede’s Weekend Departure tied with Ryder Sanford on J Bar J's Fringe Jacket at the top with 90 point rides. Ira Dickinson followed with an 89. Fourth place came down to a tie between reigning world champion Statler Wright and Kade Bruno, with Bruno winning the tiebreaker. Rusty now joins brothers Stetson and Ryder in the finals, riding like a man who’s fully back in business. 

Barrel racing brought both heartbreak as Carlee Otero broke her own arena record with a sub-16-second run, but a tipped barrel added five seconds and ended her Fort Worth run. That opened the door for none other than Hailey Kinsel and Sister, who were last out and completely unfazed. The pair stopped the clock at 16.26. Makenzie Mayes and Katelyn Scott followed, while Summer Kosel edged Paige Jones by one-hundredth of a second for the final advancing spot. 

Bull riding closed the night. Three cowboys covered their bulls, led by Colorado kid Luke Mackey, who marked a 91 point ride aboard Rafter G Rodeo’s Nemesis. Tristen Hutchings followed at 89.5, with Lane Vaughn advancing at 86.5.

The progressive rounds are finished, the semifinals are complete, and the Fort Worth finals field is set. One night remains to crown champions.