Wrangler National Finals Rodeo wraps up

Dec. 19—LAS VEGAS — The 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo wrapped up 10 days of excitement with the final round Saturday night inside the Thomas and Mack Center in Sin City, where several of Weatherford's finest made their marks.

Rookie bareback rider Keenan Hayes made PRCA history as the first newcomer to win the World Championship.

Hayes secured his spot in the PRCA record book with his electric 90-point ride on J Bar J's Straight Ringer in Round 10. The ride allowed Hayes to finish with $434,050, which is a PRCA Bareback Riding single-season earnings record. The record was $425,843 by Clayton Biglow in 2019.

Hayes, 20, placed in five rounds and finished first in the average with 850 points on 10 head. That garnered him a $78,747 check. Jess Pope, the 2022 PRCA Bareback Riding World Champion finished second in the world standings with $315,095 and second in the average with 845.5 points on 10 head.

The bareback riding field included two locals, in Weatherford's Rocker Steiner and Leighton Berry.

Steiner, in his second appearance at the Wrangler NFR, left his mark, winning Round 9 after registering an 87-point ride on Andrews Rodeo's Land of Fancy.

Steiner also won Round 1 with an 87-point ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos' Risky Business, and Round 2 with an 88.5 point-ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics' Mustard.

The 19-year-old finished fifth in World Standings with earnings of $265,218.

Berry, a Weatherford College alum, posted an 87.5-point ride on Frontier Rodeo's Painted Smoke to win Round 4 at the Wrangler NFR, finishing sixth in World Standings with earnings of $259,249.

Veteran barrel racer Stevi Hillman entered the 2023 competition with her eighth qualification.

The Weatherford native blazed a path in Round 2 with a lightning-quick 13.62-second run to lead all other competitors.

She finishes 10th in World Standings with earnings of $173,990.

Following are the final World Standings for each event, as well as the top finishers of the PRCA's Top Gun Award:

Bareback Riding

World Standings: 1. Keenan Hayes, $434,050; 2. Jess Pope, $315,095; 3. Kade Sonnier, $272,411; 4. Clayton Biglow, $269,892; 5. Rocker Shane Steiner, $265,218; 6. Leighton Berry, $259,249; 7. Cole Reiner, $251,706; 8. Mason Clements, $224,653; 9. Tim O'Connell, $214,891; 10. Tanner Aus, $210,377; 11. Jacob Lees, $206,307; 12. Jayco Roper, $205,076; 13. Dean Thompson, $170,672; 14. Orin Larsen, $163,675; 15. Richmond Champion, $151,404.

Steer Wrestling

World Standings: 1. Tyler Waguespack, $303,576; 2. Dalton Massey, $283,993; 3. Jesse Brown, $276,444; 4. Stan Branco, $254,393; 5. J.D. Struxness, $239,704; 6. Don Payne, $218,180; 7. Bridger Anderson, $206,450; 8. Dirk Tavenner, $205,501; 9. Stephen Culling, $197,726; 10. Will Lummus, $196,003; 11. Ty Erickson, $194,120; 12. Dakota Eldridge, $175,162; 13. Nick Guy, $167,895; 14. Jacob Talley, $164,282; 15. Cody Devers, $144,839.

Team Roping

World Standings (Headers): 1. Tyler Wade, $308,057; 2. Clint Summers, $283,040; 3. Andrew Ward, $269,878; 4. Derrick Begay, $269,125; 5. Luke Brown, $260,294; 6. Nelson Wyatt, $251,412; 7. Kaleb Driggers, $214,471; 8. Rhen Richard, $213,717; 9. Dustin Egusquiza, $190,445; 10. Erich Rogers, $188,590; 11. Coleman Proctor, $187,071; 12. Tanner Tomlinson, $181,204; 13. Clay Smith, $180,180; 14. Jake Cooper Clay, $149,748; 15. Marcus Theriot, $140,889.

World Standings (Heelers): 1. Wesley Thorp, $325,284; 2. Jake Long, $296,541; 3. Colter Todd, $284,292; 4. Buddy Hawkins II, $269,878; 5. Hunter Koch, $260,294; 6. Junior Nunes Nogueira, $214,471; 7. Jeremy Buhler, $213,717; 8. Jonathan Torres, $201,238; 9. Levi Lord, $190,445; 10. Paul Eaves, $188,941; 11. Logan Medlin, $187,071; 12. Patrick Smith, $181,204; 13. Paden Bray, $175,581; 14. Tyler Worley, $143,604; 15. Cole Curry, $133,712.

Saddle Bronc Riding

World Standings: 1. Zeke Thurston, $456,356; 2. Sage Newman, $397,836; 3. Kade Bruno, $322,178; 4. Brody Cress, $312,949; 5. Damian Brennan, $296,495; 6. Lefty Marvel Holman, $294,633; 7. Ryder Wright, $286,447; 8. Stetson Dell Wright, $261,626; 9. Tanner Butner, $236,830; 10. Wyatt Casper, $205,662; 11. Dawson Hay, $202,376; 12. Chase Brooks, $175,800; 13. Ben T. Andersen, $160,940; 14. Ryder Sanford, $154,703; 15. Layton Green, $146,829.

Tie-Down Roping

World Standings: 1. Riley Mason Webb, $452,852; 2. Haven Meged, $411,263; 3. Shad Mayfield, $309,383; 4. Caleb Smidt, $296,165; 5. Tuf Case Cooper, $265,724; 6. Cory Solomon, $246,331; 7. Shane Hanchey, $216,187; 8. Kincade Henry, $211,028; 9. Hunter Herrin, $207,426; 10. John Douch, $199,344; 11. Westyn Hughes, $196,964; 12. Blane Cox, $176,658; 13. Ty Harris, $170,235; 14. Beau Cooper, $145,742; 15. Brushton Minton, $134,476.

Barrel Racing

World Standings: 1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $496,499; 2. Lisa Lockhart, $343,688; 3. Kassie Mowry, $322,593; 4. Jordon Briggs, $272,519; 5. Emily Beisel, $246,674; 6. Sissy Winn, $229,962; 7. Summer Kosel, $228,697; 8. Paige Jones, $217,139; 9. Jessica Routier, $194,843; 10. Stevi Hillman, $173,990; 11. Hailey Kinsel, $154,406; 12. Taycie Matthews, $154,161; 13. Ilyssa Riley, $139,798; 14. Sue Smith, $133,969; 15. Wenda Johnson, $130,506.

Bull Riding

World Standings: 1. Ky John Hamilton, $595,414; 2. Josh Frost, $400,766; 3. Stetson Dell Wright, $378,630; 4. Sage Steele Kimzey, $369,223; 5. Trey Kimzey, $259,768; 6. Creek Walker Young, $253,205; 7. Jared Parsonage, $249,265; 8. Jeff Askey, $238,766; 9. Tristen Hutchings, $235,766; 10. Hayes Weight, $220,660; 11. Jordan Hansen, $198,796; 12. Trey Holston, $196,468; 13. T Parker, $193,251; 14. Cody Teel, $166,472; 15. Cullen R. Telfer, $138,245.

RAM Top Gun: 1. Ky John Hamilton, $239,060; 2. Zeke Thurston, $234,437; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 225,935; 4. Haven Meged, $216,195; 5. Lisa Lockhart, $209,096; 6. Kassie Mowry, $188,791; 7. Jess Pope, $188,048; 8. (tie) Clint Summers and Jake Long, $182,517 each; 10. Brodie Cress, $180,206.