Kissimmee Champions to Watch at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo!
RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo Kissimmee champions spotted in Las Vegas! It’s time for the annual Cowboy Christmas takeover. Since 1959, cowboys and cowgirls have been taking over the Las Vegas strip as they move in for ten days of steep rodeo competition at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR). Only the top fifteen contestants within the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association from each of the seven traditional events in rodeo will get the chance to compete. The goal for these contestants after ten days of competition is to leave a world champion in their event. Well, and they certainly want to have the bragging rights among their buddies!
This year marks the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Associations 60th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It has been a tradition in the sport of rodeo for six decades. Talk about leaving a mark on history!
Of the top 15 contestants in the world, guess which of your reigning RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo champions qualified? Nearly all of them! Outlined below are your national champions, their circuits, and their back number for the WNFR (so you know who to follow) with their current ranking going into the WNFR. Fun fact: the back number the contestants receive is their actual ranking among all 120 contestants competing.
#1 Tuf Cooper – Tie-Down Roping from the Texas Circuit
#12 Parker Breding – Bull Rider from the Montana Circuit
#17 Isaac Diaz – Saddle Bronc Rider from the Texas Circuit
#26 Ryle Smith – Tie-Down Roping from the California Circuit
#35 Mason Clements – Bareback Rider from the Mountain States Circuit
#93 Taci Bettis – Barrel Racer from the Texas Circuit
Around the holidays it can be hard to plan extra trips or vacations due to all the festivities. If you cannot make it out to Las Vegas to watch the WNFR in person, you can follow your favorite rodeo contestants by tuning in online to the Wrangler Network or Pro Rodeo TV for their live stream, or you can watch it at home on CBS Sports December 6th-15th at 7 p.m. PT/ 10 p.m. ET.
We wish each of the Kissimmee national champions and all the WNFR contestants the best of luck! Did you know, many of the top 120 contestants in the world will also be competing in Kissimmee March 21-24th for their chance to claim a national title? The level of competition we have here in Kissimmee, Florida is just as steep as it is in Las Vegas. If you have yet to make plans to attend the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, we hope you’ll make Kissimmee your destination this spring! After all, it’s 85 degrees and sunny almost year-round!
Courtesy of RNCFR.com