Final 12 Are Set for the Greeley Stampede Championship Round

Cowboy Christmas is underway! As the clock struck midnight on July 1st, the largest stretch of professional rodeos began. The first stop for many of these cowboys and cowgirls is Greeley, Colorado. 

The Greeley Stampede has a unique format. Some events are one head and finals average, and others are a two head with short go average. The first two rounds are complete and the top 12 contestants in their respective events have qualified to the finals July 1st. 

In bareback riding, it is a one-header with the top 12 advancing. Cole Franks started strong with 87.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo's Air Mail. He leads the pack into the finals. 2023 World Champion Keenan Hayes is only half a point behind with his eyes on a Greeley title as well. The remaining ten are a stacked roster. We are sure to see some big rides at Island Grover Park tonight by our bareback riders. 

Cole Franks, Keenan Haes, Cooper Filipek, Lane McGehee, Bradlee Miller, Bryce Eck, Roedy Farrell, Jayco Roper, Toby Deudney, and Evan Betony

This year the steer wrestling was also just a one header and the short go. Nick Guy was the fastest in the first round with a 3.8. Riley Duball and Garrett Oates tied for second with a 4.0. 

Nick Guy, Riley Duball, Garrett Oates, Eli Lord, Justin Shaffer, Rowdy Parrott, Shayde Etherton, Mike McGinn, Tanner Scheevel, Kalane Anders, Jace Melvin, and Marc Joiner

Team roping was one of the events with two rounds, and the top 12 in the average advanced to the finals. James Arviso and Levi Lord were 10.4 seconds on two head. This standout team will go into the finals as the number 1 seed. Arviso is a young gun coming off an incredible rookie year, looking to make his first NFR qualification. The success he and veteran heeler, Levi Lord, have had lately surely shows that it is a real possibility. 

Arviso/Lord, Ward/Long, Krieger/Sporer, Snow/Mitchell, Kirchner/Braden, Kittle/ Yates, Van Aken/Warner, Hermes/Kirchenschlager, Jones/Elkington, Denison/Tryan, Aguilera/Profili, Dees/Glenn

Saddle bronc riders showed up in Greeley with some big scores. No one was better than Roper Kiesner with 87 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo's Surprise Party. Leon Fountain and Tom Webster tied at second with 85 points. 

Roper Kiesner, Leon Fountain, Tom Webster, Jackson Ford, Damian Brennan, Riggin Smith, Ira Dickinson, Tucker Bourdet, Coleman Shallbetter, Mark Halliday, Darcy Wockner, Clint Read

The tie down ropers similarly to the steer wrestling got two runs with the top 12 on two moving forward to the finals. Dalton Porch's 17.0 seconds on two head leads the average going into Championship Wednesday night. Not far behind though is Michael Otero with a 17.8. 

Dalton Proch, Michael Otero, Tanner Green, Bryce Derrer, James Collins, Hunter Herrin, Brodey Clemons, Cason Kingsbury, Reese Riemer, Luke Potter, Chance Oftedahl, Chizm Kuykendall

When the breakaway ropers found out they would only get one calf and have to be in the top 12 to advance, you can bet they knew it was going to get fast. You had to be a 2.3 or faster to get into the finals. On top is none other than gun slinger Danielle Lowman and World #1 Hali Williams. Lowman and Williams tied in the first round with a 1.9. 

Hali Williams, Danielle Lowman, Haiden Thompson, Summer Williams, Jill Tanner, Bailey Bates, Jordi Edens-Mitchell, Bradi Good, Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, Jackie Crawford, Katie Jolly, Kirby Rawlinson

The barrel race also had a unique format of its own. Everyone ran their first one, and the top 60 ladies advanced to the perfs to get a second run before the top 12 on two would make the finals. In the fifth and final perf, Raelin Jurgens came out and took the lead in the average with a 34.67 seconds on two head. She went ahead of world champion Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, who sits in second with a 34.92 on two. 

Raelin Jurgens, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Makenzie Mayes, Emma Smith, Morgan Addison, Avery Ledesma, Christine Derenzo, Andrea Busby, Emma Kate Parr, Amy Jo Reisdorfer, Suzanne Van Ness, Bonnie Wheatley

There were only 8 guys who covered their first bull in Greeley so that it will be an 8-man final. Braydan Kilcrease was the best on one with 87.5 points. He will return Wednesday night with a chance at his first Greeley Stampede title. 

Braydan Kilcrease, Colten Fritzlan, Raile Joens, Mecate Trammell, Hudson Bolton, Kyle Cheney, Sam Southern, Dakota Warnken