Standings Shuffle: 19 Cowboys Move Up

This week’s big winners weren’t just whistling Dixie, as 19 cowboys moved up within the Top 15 after competing for nearly $350,000 in prizemoney Feb. 5-15. The bulk of this week’s winnings came from the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, Miss., which boasted a $232,585 payout.

Veteran and rookie cowboys know it’s easier to maintain a position at the top than it is to play catch-up when trying to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Every dollar counts, and making the Top 15 early establishes a solid base and builds a cowboy’s confidence as the season picks up pace.

Nobody knows that better than tie-down roper Caleb Smidt who wasn’t even ranked within the Top 50 before winning $9,402 at the Dixie National Rodeo. This single win upped his 2018 season total to $10,657, good for 15th in the PRCA World Standings.

The following cowboys saw their position in the world standings improve from Feb. 5-15.

17 Spots

• Trey Yates moved from 25th to eighth in team roping heeling.

16 Spots

• Tuf Cooper moved from 25th to ninth in tie-down roping.

15 Spots

• Rusty Wright moved from 24th to ninth in saddle bronc riding.

14 Spots

• Austin Foss moved from 25th to 11th in bareback riding.

12 Spots

• Dustin Boquet moved from 19th to seventh in bull riding.

10 Spots

• Clayton Hass moved from 18th to eighth in steer wrestling.

Six Spots

• Brady Norman moved from 18th to 12th in team roping heeling.
• Trey Benton III moved from 18th to 12th in bull riding.

Two Spots

• Shane O’Connell moved from third to first in bareback riding.
• Parker Breding moved from 12th to 10th in bull riding.

One Spot

• Isaac Diaz moved from fourth to third in saddle bronc riding.
• Lane Ivy moved from fifth to fourth in team roping heading.
• Jake Pratt moved from fifth to fourth in tie-down roping.
• Caleb Bennett moved from sixth to fifth in bareback riding.
• Wesley Thorp moved from sixth to fifth in team roping heeling.
• Ryan Jarrett moved from sixth to fifth in tie-down roping.
• Tyson Durfey moved from 13th to 12th in tie-down roping.
• Clint Laye moved from 16th to 15th in bareback riding.

With the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo concluding Friday and La Fiesta de los Vaqueros kicking off in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday, the outcomes of those rodeos and others are sure to impact the world standings.

Check back with prorodeo.com next week to see who the new leaders are in the world standings.

Courtesy of PRCA