Young Gun Halverson Collects Career-First Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Win in Sioux City

By: Mandi McCary

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – On Saturday night, fans at the Tyson Events Center were treated to night two of the first-ever PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) event in Sioux City, Iowa.

As the dust settled, young gun Conner Halverson (Gordon, Nebraska) emerged victorious after going 2-for-3 at the Sioux City Classic, presented locally by Bomgaars and Wilson Trailer.

After things didn’t go as planned in Round 1 on Friday night when he hit the ground after a mere 3.27 seconds, dispatched by Tannerite (Lightning Livestock, Inc.), Halverson was successful in both of his Saturday night matchups.

Round 2 earlier in the evening matched the 19-year-old with Black Cadillac (Halpain Bucking Bulls), and he made the 8 for a solid 88.5-point ride score.

In the championship round, Halverson rocketed from the chutes aboard Mongoose (Championship Pro Rodeo/CCC/Cunningham), and fans roared as his 89-point score was announced, confirming his first-ever PWVT win.

The win earned the Nebraska cowboy 42.5 world points.

Lucas Fideles Souza (Barnstable, Massachusetts) went 2-for-3 to collect a second-place finish on Saturday night. After being one of only four men to record a qualified ride in Friday night’s Round 1, Souza began his Saturday night in disappointing fashion when he was bucked off of Blue (Frontier Rodeo/CBT) in 3.23 seconds.

Knowing that a successful championship-round ride was imperative, Souza was stone-faced and focused as he climbed aboard Breaking Records (Rafter B Bucking Bulls/ Harris) in the final round of the weekend. The 27-year-old cowboy from Massachusetts was all smiles as his 89-point score was announced.

Souza leaves Iowa with 28.5 world points.

Missouri young gun Bob Mitchell (Steelville, Missouri) finished in third place overall for the weekend after going 2-for-3 at the second PWVT event of his bull riding career.

In Round 2, Mitchell was no match for Kiss This (Championship Pro Rodeo/ CCC/ Cunningham), hitting the ground after 2.59 seconds.

However, his successful championship-round ride aboard Burn it Down (L&E Bucking Bulls/ Praus) combined with his second-place finish in Friday night’s Round 1 secured his spot on the leaderboard.

For his efforts, Mitchell collected 16 world points.

Brazil’s Adriano Salgado (Navirai, Brazil) began the weekend on fire after a second-place finish in Round 1. However, Saturday night did not go as planned for the determined 23-year-old.

After an 85-point ride aboard Law Dog (Julio Moreno/Schott Bucking Bulls) in Saturday’s Round 2, Salgado was then paired with Downdraft (Barker Bulls, LLC). Judges awarded the young Brazilian a re-ride after determining his bull did not make a clean out.

Climbing back on the chutes minutes later, Salgado was paired with Work Force (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls), who tossed him to the ground in 4.65 seconds.

Despite a less-than-favorable 2-for-3 weekend, Salgado leaves Sioux City with 12 world points for his fourth-place finish.

Rounding out the Top 5 of the weekend was Manoelito De Souza Junior (Itamira, Brazil), who rode his way to a Round 1 win on Friday night.

Despite sitting atop the leaderboard as Saturday night began, Souza faltered in both of his matchups during the night.

In Round 2, Pneu-Dart’s Big Time (Miller /Halpain) flung him to the ground in just 2 seconds. While Souza’s championship-round ride aboard Oso (T&G Bucking Bulls) showed potential, the bovine bested him at 6.85 seconds.

Despite his 1-for-3 weekend, the fifth-place finish earned the talented 25-year-old 11 world points.

The Sioux City weekend was also a stop on the Million Dollar Bull Team Challenge. Rafter B Bucking Bulls/Harris took home first place, scoring 276.67 points, while Halpain Bucking Bulls #2 collected a second-place finish with 275.82.

Fans can relive all the action from Round 2 and the championship round in Iowa starting on Sunday, May 23 at 8 a.m. ET on RidePass.com or via the RidePass mobile app.

The talented bull riders of the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will next head to Knoxville, Tennessee, for the Knoxville Invitational at Thompson Boling Arena June 4-5.

PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) – Sioux City Classic
Tyson Events Center – Sioux City Classic
Name, Round 1-Round 2-Event Aggregate-Event Points

1. Conner Halverson, 0-88.5-89-177.50-42.5 Points.
2. Lucas Fideles Souza, 87-0-89-176.00-28.5 Points.
3. Bob Mitchell, 87-0-88-175.00-16 Points.
4. Adriano Salgado, 87-85-0-172.00-12 Points.
5. Manoelito de Souza Junior, 87.5-0-0-87.50-11 Points.
6. Jake Morinec, 0-87-0-87.00-7 Points.
7. Mason Ward, 0-84-0-84.00-4 Points.
8. Fernando Henrique Novais, 0-83.5-0-83.50-1 Points.
Grayson Cole, 0-0-0-0.00
Thor Hoefer II, 0-0-0-0.00
Triston Dean, 0-0-0-0.00
Justin Houston, 0-0-0-0.00
Keith Hall, 0-0-0-0.00
Rubens Barbosa, 0-0-0-0.00
Jake Lockwood, 0-0-0-0.00
Laramie Craigen, 0-0-0-0.00
Dirlei Bonani, 0-0-0-0.00
Hayden Harris, 0-0-0-0.00
Jorge Valdiviezo, 0-0-0-0.00
Vinell Mariano, 0-0-0-0.00
William Wright, 0-0-0-0.00
Eduardo de Oliveira, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Campbell, 0-0-0-0.00
River Stephenson, 0-0-0-0.00
Ricky Aguiar, 0-0-0-0.00
Dylan Madsen, 0-0-0-0.00
Dalton Krantz, 0-0-0-0.00
Weston Hartman, 0-0-0-0.00
Cody Jones, 0-0-0-0.00
Wyatt Austin, 0-0-0-0.00
Matt Hennelly, 0-0-0-0.00
Levi Hershberger, 0-0-0-0.00
Anthony Hopen, 0-0-0-0.00
Zach Laney, 0-0-0-0.00
Josh Lewis, 0-0-0-0.00
Fernando Mayans, 0-0-0-0.00
Christian Melgarejo, 0-0-0-0.00
Elijah Monnett, 0-0-0-0.00
Mason Moody, 0-0-0-0.00
Matt Oliver, 0-0-0-0.00
D.J. Parker, 0-0-0-0.00
Jacob Ramirez, 0-0-0-0.00
Cimarron Rucker, 0-0-0-0.00
Bo T Vocu, 0-0-0-0.00
Chase Wimer, 0-0-0-0.00

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