Jumpstart to 2018
First impressions are important, even in rodeo. Getting a jumpstart to a new season in October can set the pace for the rest of the season as cowboys work to achieve a spot in the Top 15 of the WEATHER GUARD® PRCA World Standings.
While the fall season is traditionally the calm before the storm for cowboys heading to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER, it’s also a good time for cowboys to establish a lead in the world standings.
The following cowboys ranked in the Top 3 in the first week of the 2018 season:
All-around
• Paul David Tierney jumped to the lead in the first week of the 2018 season with $11,531 won at the RAM Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo on Oct. 8. Tierney ended the 2017 season ranked 21st in all-around with $49,493.
Bareback riding
• Ty Breuer’s win at the RBCFR put him in the lead for the 2018 world standings with $8,510. Breuer finished 2017’s regular season ranked 14th – but that could change at the WNFR in December.
• Shane O’Connell was close behind Breuer with $7,294 thanks to his second-place finish at the RBCFR. O’Connell finished 2017 ranked 19th with $64,757.
• Kyle Charley’s win at the RAM Turquoise Circuit Finals Rodeo has him ranked third in the first week of the new season with $6,520. Charley finished 2017 in 47th with $19,826.
Steer wrestling
• Cameron Morman’s win at the RBCFR put him in the lead for the first week of 2018 with $5,451. Morman ended 2017 ranked 34th with $45,159.
• Eli Lord wasn’t far behind Morman with his $4,822 won by placing third in the average at the RBCFR. Lord was ranked 59th in the 2017 season with $20,158.
• Jace Melvin’s win at the RTCFR placed him third in the first week’s standings with $4,081. Melvin was 37th in 2017 with $35,927.
Team roping heading
• Logan Olson’s win at the RBCFR alongside Matt Kasner put him in the lead for team roping headers in the first week of the 2018 season with $8,175. Olson ended 2017 ranked 43rd with $33,749.
• Tanner Baldwin’s second-place finish at the RTCFR alongside Logan Medlin put him in second place for the first week of 2018 with $5,895. Baldwin ended 2017 ranked 56th with $24,168.
• Brady Payne’s win at the RTCFR alongside Junior Zambrano II placed him third in the first week of 2018 with $5,442. Payne was ranked 244th in 2017 with $2,976.
Team roping heeling
• Matt Kasner’s win at the RBCFR alongside Olson put him in the lead for team roping heelers in the first week of the 2018 season with $8,175. Kasner ended 2017 ranked 36th with $36,049.
• Logan Medlin’s second-place finish at the RTCFR alongside Baldwin has him ranked second with $5,895. Medlin ended 2017 ranked 54th with $23,265.
• Jade Nelson’s third-place finish at the RBCFR alongside Tierney placed him third with $4,822. Nelson was ranked 189th in 2017 with $5,917.
Saddle bronc riding
• JJ Elshere’s win at the RBCFR put him in the lead for the first week of 2018 with $7,548. Elshere was ranked 37th in 2017 with $29,150.
• Leon Fountain’s win at the RTCFR placed him in second with $6,371. Fountain ended 2017 in 36th with $29,881.
• Taos Muncy’s second-place finish at the RTCFR placed him third with $6,152. Muncy ended the 2017 regular season ranked 13th, but his position could change during the WNFR.
Tie-down roping
• Tierney’s win at the RBCFR placed him in the lead for the first week of 2018 with $6,709. Tierney was ranked 63rd in 2017 with $22,222.
• Jess Woodward’s second-place finish at the RBCFR placed him in second for the 2018 world standings with $5,032. Woodward was ranked 130th in 2017 with $8,936.
• Seth Hall’s win at the RTCFR put him in third with $4,988. Hall ended the 2017 season ranked 40th with $39,742.
Steer roping
• Corey Ross’ win at the RTCFR placed him in the lead for the first week of 2018 with $4,729. Ross was ranked 25th in 2017 with $17,792.
• Leo Campbell’s second-place finish at the RTCFR put him in second place for the 2018 world standings with $3,941. Campbell was ranked 40th in 2017 with $9,062.
• Trevor Brazile’s win at Fort Bend County Fair & Rodeo in Rosenberg, Texas, placed him in third with $3,650. Brazile ended the 2017 regular season in fifth with $64,266, but that could change at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping in November.
Bull riding
• Bayle Worden’s win at the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo in Bonifay, Fla., placed him in the lead for the first week of 2018 with $11,952. Worden was ranked 32nd in 2017 with $50,912.
• Clayton Sellar’s wins at the Fort Bend County Fair & Rodeo and at the Waller County Fair & Rodeo in Hempstead, Texas, put him in second place for the 2018 world standings with $10,588.Sellars ended the 2017 season at the top of the RAM Rodeo Permit Standings for bull riding with $36,717 and now he’s competing as a rookie.
• Joseph Vazquez’s win at the RTCFR put him in third place with $8,882. Vazquez was ranked 187th in 2017 with $2,826.
Courtesy of PRCA