Bull Riders Rising to the Top at National Western Stock Show Rodeo
By Susan Kanode
For the National Western Stock Show
DENVER (January 19, 2015) — With bulls testing the limits of cowboys at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo, getting two ridden is a huge accomplishment.
Through seven performances, just three men have gotten scores in the first and the second rounds. Two of them did that on Sunday, Dustin Bowen and Joe Frost, who have both moved into the ranks of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) through success in college rodeo.
In fact, Frost is the reigning National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association bull riding champion. He won that title in Casper, Wyo., last June, then went on to qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR).
Bowen is a three time College National Finals Rodeo qualifier who competed in bareback riding and bull riding. He narrowly missed being in the top 15 in the PRCA world standings and making the trip to Las Vegas to compete at the NFR last year, finishing the season in 17th place.
Both of these men had their first round bulls on Saturday night. Frost, who hails from Randlett, Utah, was 79 points. Bowen, from Waller, Texas, finished with a 78. They had their second bull in the Denver Coliseum Sunday afternoon where Bowen finished with an 80 and Frost with 76.
Bowen is originally from Pennsylvania where his parents still live. An avid rock climber, he has been able to enjoy his hobby as he travels across the country to compete in rodeos. He now lives in Texas, but will always call Pennsylvania home and would like nothing better than to represent that state at the NFR. A big win here would get his 2015 season off to a good start and if he stays healthy, there is little doubt that he will be among the PRCA’s elite bull riders. He is currently ranked 13th.
Frost has made getting his education a priority. He is attending Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla., pursuing a degree in Ag Business with plans to graduate this May.
Bowen leads the overall standings here with 158 on two rides. Trenton Montero from Winnemucca, Nev., is second with 156 and Frost is in third with 155. They will all be anxiously waiting through this week’s competition to see if they qualify for the finals here on Jan. 25.
There is one pro rodeo performance here on Monday at 1 p.m. That will be followed by the Martin Luther King Jr. African American Heritage Rodeo of Champions at 6 p.m.
The following are unofficial results from the National Western Stock Show Rodeo sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Sixth Performance —
Bareback Riding: 1, (tie) J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., on Savvy Boy and Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, on Cervi Championship’s Mac the Knife, 81 points each. 3, R.C. Landingham, Pendleton, Ore., 79. 4, Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 76.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Trell Etbuaer, Goodwell, Okla., 3.9 seconds. 2, (tie), Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore., and Jule Hazen, Ashland, Kan., 4.8. 4, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 6.7.
Team Roping: (two times) 1, Jeff Johnston, Thedford, Neb., and Riley Wakefield, O’Neill, Neb., 5.6 seconds. 2, Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 10.5.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 82 points on Cervi Championship’s Miss Independent. 2, Bradley Harter, Loranger, La., 80. 3, (tie) Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, and Charlie Kogianes, Provo, Utah, 73 each.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Justin Brinkerhoff, Corrine, Utah, 8.4 seconds. 2, Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 8.6. 3, Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 8.8. 4, Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 9.9.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.38 seconds. 2, Ivy Hurst, Walnut Springs, Texas, 15.51. 3, Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 15.56. 4, Sammi Bessert, Loma, Colo., 15.60.
Bull Riding: (two rides) 1, Dustin Bowen, Waller, Texas, 80 points on Cervi Brother’s Mississippi Lip Stick. 2, Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 76.
Seventh Performance —
Bareback Riding: 1, David Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 88 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Half Moon. 2, Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas, 84. 3, Morgan Heaton, Tremonton, Utah, 82. 4, Wyatt Denny, Minden, Nev., 77.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 3.8 seconds. 2, (tie) Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., and Jule Hazen, Ashland, Kan., 5.2. 4, Ryan Swayze, Freedom, Okla., 5.3.
Team Roping: 1, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., and Jade Nelson, Midland, S.D., 5.6. 2, Paul David Tierney, Oral, S.D., and Levi Tyan, Wallace, Neb., 5.7. 3, Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas, and Kinney Harrell, Marshall, Texas, 6.1. 4, Layne Carson, Grassy Butte, N.D., and Tim Franzen, Sidney, Mont., 6.9.
Saddle Bronc Riding: (three rides) 1, Ty Thompson, Wanblee, S.D., 83 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Maple Leaf. 2, Chase Bennett, Santaquin, Utah, 70. 3, Blaze Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 69.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 7.6. 2, Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 8.7. 3, Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., 9.4. 4, Justin Brinkerhoff, Corrine, Utah, 10.4.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Carlee Pierce, Edmond, Okla., 15.30. 2, (tie) Shelly Anzick, Livingston, Mont., and Kyra Stierwalt, Leedey, Okla., 15.74. 4, Christine Knauf, Chilton, Wisc., 16.01.
Bull Riding: (three scores) 1, Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla., 82 points on Dave Bailey Rodeo’s Lucky 19. 2, Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore., 76. 3, Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo., 46.
Current Leaders —
Bareback Riding: (first round) 1, David Peebles, 88 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Half Moon. 2, Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas, 84. 3, (tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., and Clint Laye, Cadogan, Alberta, 83. (second round) 1, (tie) Kash Wilson, Gooding, Idaho, on Burch Rodeo’s Angel Dust, and Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, on Burch Rodeo’s Jim Danday, 83 points each. (total on two) 1, (tie) Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, and Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., 164. 3, Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 163. 4, J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., 159.
Steer Wrestling: (first round) 1, Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 3.9 seconds. 2, Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 4.5. 3, Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 4.5. 4, (tie) Jason Lahr, Stephenville, Texas, and Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 4.7. (second round) 1, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 3.8. 2, Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 3.9. 3, Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 4.4. 4, Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., 4.8. (total on two) 1, (tie) Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D., and Jule Hazen, Ashland, Kan., 10.0. 3, Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 10.4. 4, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 10.5.
Team Roping: (first round) 1, (tie) Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah and Kory Koontz, Stephenville, Texas; and Caleb Smidt, Belleville, Texas, and Mickey Gomez, Holland, Texas, 5.3 seconds. 3, JoJo Lemond, Holland, Texas, and Josh Patton, Lubock, Texas, 5.5. 4, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., and Jade Nelson, Midland, S.D., 5.6. (second round) 1, Cole Dorenkamp, Lamar, Colo., and Levi O’Keeffe, Mohall, N.D., 5.3. 2, Jeff Johnston, Thedford, Neb., and Riley Wakefield, O’Neill, Neb., 5.6. 3, Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas, and Mickey Gomez, Holland, Texas, 5.7. 4, Mike Bacon, Boswell, Okla., and Kyle Horton, Stigler, Okla., 6.3. (total on two) 1, Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas, and Mickey Gomez, Holland, Texas, 11.0. 2, Cole Dorenkamp, Lamar, Colo., and Levi O’Keeffe, Mohall, N.D., 11.5. 3, Jeff Johnston, Thedford, Neb., and Riley Wakefield, O’Neill, Neb., 12.5. 4, Mike Bacon, Boswell, Okla., and Kyle Horton, Stigler, Okla., 12.7.
Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, (tie), Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., on Calgary Stampede’s Seargent Whitney and Ty Thompson, Wanblee, S.D., on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Maple Leaf, 83 points each. 3, Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 82. 4, Bradley Harter, Loranger, La., 79. (second round) 1, Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 82 points on Cervi Championship’s Miss Independent. 2, (tie) Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn.; Hardy Braden, Welch, Okla.; and Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 81. (total on two) 1, (tie) Tyler Corrington, Hastings, Minn., and Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 164. 3, Bradley Harter, Loranger, La., 159. 4, Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 155.
Tie-Down Roping: (first round) 1, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 8.0. 2, Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., 8.3. 3, (tie) Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, and Justin Brinkerhoff, Corrine, Utah, 8.4. (second round) Blake Deckard, Wagoner, Okla., 7.2. 2, Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 7.6. 3, Lane Livingston, Stephenville, Texas, 7.8. 4, Jake Hannum, Plain City, Utah, 7.9. (total on two) 1, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 16.3. 2, Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 18.2. 3, Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 18.6. 4, Blake Deckard, Wagoner, Okla., 18.9.
Women’s Barrel Race: (first round) 1, Meghan Johnson, Deming, N.M., 15.25. 2, Carlee Pierce, Edmond, Okla., 15.30. 3, Shelby Janssen, Coleman, Okla., 15.37. 4, Shelby Herrmann, Stephenville, Texas, 15.39. (second round) Meghan Johnson, Deming, N.M., 15.14. 2, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.38. 3, (tie) Shelby Herrmann, Stephenville, Texas, and Kim Couch, Rattan, Okla., 15.40 each. (total on two) 1, Meghan Johnson, Deming, N.M., 30.39. 2, Shelby Herrmann, Stephenville, Texas, 30.79. 3, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 30.93. 4, Kim Couch, Rattan, Okla., 31.10.
Bull Riding: (first round) 1, Guthrie Murray, Miami, Okla., 88 points on Cervi Championship’s Bawl Baby. 2, Kody Lostroh, Ault, Colo., 87. 3, Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo., 83, 4, (tie) Tustin Day, Lupton, Ariz., and Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla., 82. (second round) 1, Brock Russell, Rye, Colo., 85 points on Diamond S’s Sandi’s Dream. 2, Dustin Bowen, Waller, Texas, 80. 3, Trenton Montero, Winnemucca, Nev., 78. 4, Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 76. (total on two) 1, Dustin Bowen, Waller, Texas, 158. 2, Trenton Montero, Winnemucca, Nev., 156. 3, Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 155. (on one) 4, Guthrie Murray, Miami, Okla., 88.