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Shane O’Connell

Shane O’Connell – Rapid City, S.D. ($80,163)
First–time WNFR qualifier

It only took Shane O’Connell three years to accomplish his goal of qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and no one is more excited about that than he is, except perhaps his traveling partner, Tim O’Connell.

Although the O’Connells are not related, it’s a question they are often asked. That question could come into play even more while they are both riding bucking horses at the Thomas & Mack Center. They have been looking forward to competing there together for two years, and it is happening this year with Shane’s inaugural qualification.

Shane grew up on a ranch in South Dakota and started competing in rodeos at age five. He won four South Dakota High School championship titles, three in bareback riding and one in bull riding. In 2013 he was co-champion bareback rider at the National High School Finals Rodeo. He also played football and wrestled while he was in high school.

Last year he finished 19th in the world championship standings. Coming so close to making the WNFR made Shane more determined to qualify for the finals this season.

After the big winter rodeos, Shane was ranked sixth in the world standings. He won nearly $12,000 when he and fellow WNFR bareback rider Richmond Champion tied for first at Edmonton, Alberta in July.

He was the co-champion along with another fellow WNFR cowboy, Bill Tutor, at the All-American Finals Rodeo in Waco, Texas, in October, winning close to $11,000 to get a good start on the 2019 season.

Shane attended Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas, but still makes his home in South Dakota. Working cattle and fixing fences on the family ranch keeps Shane busy when he’s not at a rodeo. He also enjoys fishing and hunting and watching wrestling and the Denver Broncos.

Shane describes his riding style as “a little old school,” and will be betting that that style will be successful as the NFR celebrates its 60th anniversary.

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