Standings Shuffle: 27 Cowboys Move Up in Top 15

Spring has sprung and ProRodeo competition is heating up, as 27 cowboys moved up within the Top 15 last week. With $774,004 up for grabs across nine rodeos last week, the spring run has officially begun.

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 this better than team ropers Charly Crawford (pictured right) and Clint Summers (pictured left). Before winning $14,017 each at Rodeo Austin, neither roper was in the Top 50. Now, Crawford is 13th in the team roping heading standings and Summers is 10th among team roping heelers.

The following cowboys saw their position in the PRCA World Standings improve from March 20-26.

15 Spots

• Tyson Durfey moved from 21st to sixth in tie-down roping.

14 Spots

• Tilden Hooper moved from 20th to sixth in bareback riding.
• Orin Larsen moved from 20th to eighth in bareback riding.

11 Spots

• Clay Elliott moved from 19th to eighth in saddle bronc riding.
• Tyler Wade moved from 21st to 10th in team roping heading.

10 Spots

• Trey Yates moved from 22nd to 12th in team roping heeling.

Eight Spots

• Kaycee Feild moved from 19th to 11th in bareback riding.

Seven Spots

• Tyler Bingham moved from 17th to 10th in bull riding.
• Jordan Spears moved from 22nd to 15th in bull riding.

Six Spots

• Tanner Brunner moved from 14th to eighth in steer wrestling.

Five Spots

• Cole Edge moved from sixth to first in steer wrestling.
• Sterling Smith moved from 14th to ninth in tie-down roping.

Four Spots

• Taz Olson moved from 18th to 14th in steer wrestling.

Three Spots

• Curtis Cassidy moved from fifth to second in steer wrestling.
• Bubba Buckaloo moved from fifth to second in team roping heading.
• Isaac Diaz moved from sixth to third in saddle bronc riding.
• Travis Dorman moved from ninth to sixth in team roping heading.
• Joe Lufkin moved from 17th to 14th in saddle bronc riding.

Two Spots

• Boudreaux Campbell moved from 15th to 13th in bull riding.

One Spot

• Parker Breding moved from fifth to fourth in bull riding.
• Rusty Wright moved from seventh to sixth in saddle bronc riding.
• Bradley Massey moved from ninth to eighth in team roping heeling.
• Colt Gordon moved from 12th to 11th in saddle bronc riding.
• Joey Sonnier III moved from 14th to 13th in saddle bronc riding.
• Will Lummus moved from 16th to 15th in steer wrestling.

Cowboys on the bubble for a spot in the Top 15 can find themselves just a few dollars short of making a WNFR qualification. Team roping heeler Ryan Motes moved from 25th to 16th and is $746 away from breaking into the Top 15.

With the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo kicking off in Kissimmee, Fla., April 5, the outcome of this rodeo 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