The cowboys and cowgirls who’ve been stacking wins all week kept the fire burning Thursday night in Semi Finals 1, cashing checks and locking in spots for Championship Saturday in San Antonio.
Thursday night in San Antonio during the first Semi Final round, something became very clear. Some of these cowboys and cowgirls have been on a roll since the beginning of the rodeo, and momentum is real. In a rodeo format like this, where total money won determines the champion, the competitors who’ve been hot all week didn’t cool off in Semifinals 1.
Remember to advance to the semi finals, you did not have to be in the top 5 of the semi finals round necessarily. Advancing on was the top 5 money earners overall through their bracket and semi final. Winning that semi final round paid over $5,500 and was a huge boost towards Saturday night. However, not all semi final round winners are leading the money going into the finals.
Bareback Riding
It was a familiar sight in the bareback riding with the reining World Campion Rocker Steiner at the top of the leaderboard.
After dominating Bracket 1, Steiner did it again in the Semifinals, riding Chrome Molly for 88 points to win the round. He’s now banked nearly $13,000 at this rodeo alone and heads into Championship Saturday as the high-money earner from this set.
Reigning San Antonio champion Bradlee Miller followed second in money earned to advance. Joining them in the Finals from Semi Finals 1 is Jacob Lees, Wacey Schalla, and Jess Pope.
Steer Wrestling
Clay Tom Hurt was fast with a 3.8 second run to win the Semifinals round. This rn bumped his overall earnings to just over $9,000. But when it comes to advancing, it’s about total money, and no one has earned more in this set than Will Lummus, who sits just over $11,000 heading into the Finals.
Also advancing is JD Struxness, Riley Westhaver, and Colin Fox.
Team Roping
A 4.0 second run secured the Semifinals round win for Cyle Denison and Lane Mitchell, a victory worth over $5,500.
In this case, Denison and Mitchell also lead the set overall, sitting at more than $9,000 earned in San Antonio so far.
Other team qualifying are Kellan Johnson / Trent Vaught, Bubba Buckaloo / Joseph Harrison, Cody Carter / Will Woodfin, and Cody Snow / Hunter Koch.
Saddle Bronc Riding
The matchup of the night was Stetson Wright and Forgetful Nelly. Stetson was 89.5 points to win the round and go ahead as the high money earner of this Semifinals set.
Wright carries more than $11,000 into Championship Saturday and a sizable lead on these 5 cowboys. Layton Green, Damian Brennan, Q Taylor, and Ryder Wright made their way to Championship Saturday too.
Breakaway Roping
The heater continues for Rylee George.
Fresh off her dominant Bracket 5, George stopped the clock at 2.0 seconds to win the Semifinals round and push her earnings past $11,000. She now leads the breakaway field into the finals after the first semi finals.
Also advancing is Sawyer Gilbert, Jessi Everett, Jill Tanner, and Aspen Miller.
Tie-Down Roping
There is one man absolutely dominating the tie-down roping. Ty Harris has been unstoppable and unbeatable so far.
He made it four for four in San Antonio, winning Semifinals 1 with a 7.2 second run aboard Peso after clean sweeping his bracket. He has now earned more than $13,000 and completely controls this set heading into Championship Saturday.
If Harris wins one more round, he will sweep the rodeo. With the lead he has, he also might not need to win the finals to get the San Antonio title, that again is won on total money earned.
Advancing behind Harris is Cole Clemons, Chet Weitz, Chance Webster, and Tom Crouse.
Barrel Racing
In a wicked tough set of barrelracers, Carlee Otero clocked a 14.16 to win the Semifinals round. The money leader heading into Saturday however is Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, who has earned over $10,000 so far.
Otero advances alongside Kathy Grimes, Jordan Driver, and Emily Beisel.
Bull Riding
Cullen Telfer was best in the round with 88 points aboard Justified. Leading the money earned in this set is Boudreaux Campbell, who has surpassed $12,000 so far.
Also advancing is Tristen Hutchings, T Parker, and Ruger Piva.
With half the Championship Finals field set, we have seen a common theme of dominance. The ones who’ve been hot all week are still hot. Titles are decided by total money won, every dollar earned each night could be the difference when it comes to Saturday night.