LAS VEGAS – Marty Yates had a rough start to the 2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge failing to place in the first three rounds.
He made up for those lost opportunities in Round 4 Sunday night.
The Stephenville, Texas, cowboy made a slick 7.4-second run to take the Round 4 victory before 17,112 spectators at the Thomas & Mack Center.
“Oh, it’s nice to finally get the monkey off my back,” said Yates, who is making his ninth consecutive appearance at the NFR. “I didn’t have much luck in the first few nights, but made a good run tonight, I drew a good calf, I went out there and did my job and it worked.”
Although things didn’t go his way in the first three rounds, Yates stayed upbeat.
“Oh man, they’ve kind of settled down quite a bit, you know the first few nights didn’t go as good as you’d like them too. You know I had a really good calf tonight, so it made my job easy, you know I’ve rode two different horses so far, so hopefully it’s headed back in my direction.”
Yates was guided to victory by his horse Jag.
“That’s the horse that I’ve owned for a couple of years now. I’ve actually won all my money throughout the regular season on it. So, I sure know every move he’s going to make, so I have a lot of confidence in him.”
Yates, who finished second in the 2020 world standings, has a simple plan for the remainder of the NFR.
“One swing, one wrap and a victory lap, every night that’s what we’re after,” Yates said.
Bull rider Stetson Wright wins another round in bull riding
Stetson Wright continues to bask in the spotlight at the Wrangler NFR.
The Utah cowboy had a 92-point ride on Salt River Rodeo’s Belly Dump to take the Round 4 win. Wright also won Round 2 with an 88-point trip on Dakota Rodeo’s Pookie Holler.
“He was a really good bull,” Wright said. “He had me rocked back there because he bucked up so high. I just kept trying to fight it, there was a lot going on.”
Getting bucked off in Round 3 did give Wright a jolt before Round 4.
“I was more focused on letting myself know that I can’t let off the gas,” Wright said. “(Saturday night), I let it slip away so tonight I wanted to come back and redeem myself.”
Some might think competing in saddle bronc riding and bull riding at the NFR would be a grind, but Wright does not view things that way.
“I actually like it more at the NFR than any other rodeo because it’s such a fast-paced rodeo,” Wright said about competing in two events. “You don’t have time to think, and you don’t have time to get tired. You’re just going, going, going. That’s one thing I like about it and wish every rodeo was like that.”
Wright leads the all-around standings with ($505,834) and bull riding ($413,842) and second in saddle bronc riding with $248,123.
Cole Reiner nabs first career round win in Vegas
Bareback rider Cole Reiner won Round 6 and Round 9 at the 2020 Wrangler NFR in Arlington, Texas. He had never captured glory at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas – until Sunday night.
Reiner won Round 4 with an 89-point ride on Sankey ProRodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Southlands Shoutin’ Shoes.
“I was on that horse before, and I was 88 points a few years ago on that horse in Rapid City, S.D.,” said Reiner, 23. “Wade Sankey is a great stock contractor and he put a halter on him and if that was probably his best trip he has ever had right there so I was very thankful.”
And he was thrilled to celebrate in Las Vegas.
“I’m very excited to get my first round win here (at the Thomas & Mack),” Reiner said. “Moving forward, I need to mark my horse out (Monday night) it is as simple as that. This is nothing to get ahead of myself about. I don’t know what I have (Monday), and it doesn’t matter. I need a strong mark out first jump and spur and that is the same goal every time out and hopefully I will have the same outcome.”
Steer wrestler Hunter Cure strikes again
Hunter Cure, a two-time PRCA Steer Wrestling World Champion in 2013 and 2015, is displaying his championship form at the 2022 NFR.
The Texas cowboy won Round 2 with a 3.7-second run and added a Round 4 win in 3.9 seconds on Sunday.
“I feel like I have been amped up like at my first NFR, then I tried to calm down, but it’s just finding the balance of being up and down and making it work!,” said Cure, 39.
Cure has moved up from fifth to second in the world standings with $177,357 and he has earned $67,827 at the NFR.
“That steer Stetson Jorgensen won second earlier, that steer handled exceptionally, I felt like I broke out honestly, but this is the only rodeo in the world where if you think you broke out, kick two more times and get down on your steer,” Cure said. “Ringo is not as seasoned here in Las Vegas, but I really feel that he’ll develop into a great horse in years to come”
Team ropers Tyler Wade/Trey Yates snare Round 4 glory
Team ropers Tyler Wade/Trey Yates are veterans of the Wrangler NFR and they used their experience to their benefit on Sunday.
Wade and Yates clocked a 3.9-second run to claim the Round 4 title.
“It was a good steer. I saw him handle it well so I knew I was going to give Trey a chance to go fast and he did,” Wade said. “He cleaned up and it came together.”
Yates concurred with his partner.
“Well, we’ve roped so many steers together and practiced for many scenarios,” Yates said. “I have full confidence (in him) no matter where we go. With a setup like this, he’s studied it so much. He’s been so in tune the last month that I knew he had a good chance to turn all ten. I messed up in Round 1 but I knew with him we would be able to bounce back and have a chance to win a lot of rounds together.”
Wade, like so many of the team ropers, spends plenty of time studying to help make the perfect run.
“Anybody that gets here knows the game really well, I’m going to bet,” Wade said. “But, I continue to be a student of the game. This is my fifth year here and being able to learn from my own mistakes is the biggest thing for me to bounce back faster.”
Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston takes Round 4 crown
Zeke Thurston knows how to win at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas – he won PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Championships in 2016 and 2019.
Thurston was back to his winning ways on Sunday, grabbing the Round 4 crown with an 88.5-point ride on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Heaven on Earth.
“It was unridden, but I figured, you know, they are all going to get ridden at some point so why not be the guy,” Thurston said. “Really big, strong stud horse that bucked hard. I was able to get ahead of her and luckily, I stayed on.”
Thurston is fourth in the world standings with $222,547 and has won an event-best $78,709 so far at the NFR.
“It’s good. You just have to go at every one and do the best that you can. Some days you’re going to have the horse and some days you’re not. But if you go at them all the same, it usually works out.
“For me, my biggest confidence comes from my spur outs, and I was really confident in them. On a horse like that, that’s where you’re going to thrive. I always go with that and win, lose, or draw, we’re going to start the process all over again the next day. So, you might as well lay it all out there and see what you get.”
Barrel racer Emily Beisel takes victory lap after Round 4
Barrel racer Emily Beisel was doing anything to change her luck in Round 4 after back-to-back runs north of 18 seconds.
Beisel’s luck changed in a big way as she won Round 4 with a 13.60-second time.
“It’s amazing. Anytime you get to come down here and see (the media) it is always a huge blessing because it’s tough,” Beisel said. “Every night in barrel racing is a knife fight. But I’m so thankful for my horse. He’s been working so hard for me. I felt like the first couple of nights I was trying to cut corners a little too fast. Tonight, I gave him a little more room and he made it happen.”
Then Beisel talked about how she tried to change her fortunes in Round 4.
“We brought out all the good luck tonight,” Beisel said. “My husband is here and usually when he shows up things get better for me. My friend, Jimmie Smith, sent me an NFR goodie package before we left, and they included the socks that she wore when she won the round in Arlington, so I had those on tonight as well.”
2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results
Round 4, Dec. 4th
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
Bareback Riding: Fourth round: 1. Cole Reiner, 89 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Southland’s Shoutin’ Shoes, $28,914; 2. (tie) Cole Franks and Garrett Shadbolt, 87, $20,053 each; 4. (tie) Jess Pope, Caleb Bennett, Kaycee Feild and Tilden Hooper, 85.5, $6,063 each; 8. (tie) Tim O’Connell and R.C. Landingham, 84.5; 10. Rocker Steiner, 84; 11. Leighton Berry, 83; 12. Ty Breuer, 82.5; 13. Clayton Biglow, 80.5; 14. Orin Larsen, 68.5; 15. Tanner Aus, NS. Average leaders: 1. Jess Pope, 344 points on four head; 2. (tie) Cole Reiner and Tilden Hooper, 339; 4. (tie) Tim O’Connell, Kaycee Feild and R.C. Landingham, 336.5; 7. (tie) Cole Franks and Clayton Biglow, 334; 9. Ty Breuer, 330.5; 10. Rocker Steiner, 330; 11. Garrett Shadbolt, 326; 12. Leighton Berry, 322; 13. Caleb Bennett, 308.5; 14. Tanner Aus, 234 points on three head; 15. Orin Larsen, 217.5. World standings: 1. Jess Pope, $239,212; 2. Cole Reiner, $207,346; 3. Kaycee Feild, $188,244; 4. Leighton Berry, $169,107; 5. Tilden Hooper, $166,559; 6. Caleb Bennett, $163,353; 7. R.C. Landingham, $159,333; 8. Tim O’Connell, $157,750; 9. Tanner Aus, $157,185; 10. Cole Franks, $154,096; 11. Rocker Steiner, $144,328; 12. Clayton Biglow, $142,671; 13. Garrett Shadbolt, $134,002; 14. Orin Larsen, $133,784; 15. Ty Breuer, $115,749.
Steer Wrestling: Fourth round: 1. Hunter Cure, 3.4 seconds, $28,914; 2. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Rowdy Parrott, 3.8, $20,053 each; 4. (tie) Will Lummus and Dakota Eldridge, 4.1, $9,793 each; 6. Tristan Martin, 4.3, $4,664; 7. Nick Guy, 4.4; 8. Timmy Sparing, 4.9; 9. Kyle Irwin, 5.2; 10. Jesse Brown, 6.5; 11. Tanner Brunner, 7.4; 12. Dirk Tavenner, 13.8; 13. Stetson Jorgensen, 21.2; 14. (tie) J.D. Struxness and Ty Erickson, NT. Average leaders: 1. Hunter Cure, 17.3 seconds on four head; 2. Tristan Martin, 18.1; 3. Rowdy Parrott, 18.2; 4. Kyle Irwin, 18.3; 5. Jesse Brown, 20.4; 6. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Dakota Eldridge, 20.9; 8. Will Lummus, 26.8; 9. Stetson Jorgensen, 33.1; 10. Tanner Brunner, 42.8; 11. Ty Erickson, 15.2 seconds on three head; 12. J.D. Struxness, 16.3; 13. Nick Guy, 22.8; 14. Timmy Sparing, 24.1; 15. Dirk Tavenner, 26.5. World standings: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, $213,680; 2. Hunter Cure, $177,357; 3. Tyler Waguespack, $166,051; 4. Will Lummus, $162,425; 5. Kyle Irwin, $146,362; 6. J.D. Struxness, $141,110; 7. Dakota Eldridge, $138,581; 8. Tristan Martin, $137,404; 9. Ty Erickson, $129,909; 10. Jesse Brown, $124,564; 11. Rowdy Parrott, $119,578; 12. Nick Guy, $116,935; 13. Tanner Brunner, $106,271; 14. Dirk Tavenner, $94,532; 15. Timmy Sparing, $91,312.
Team Roping: Fourth round: 1. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 3.9 seconds, $28,914 each; 2. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 4.5, $22,851; 3. (tie) Jr. Dees/Levi Lord and Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 4.7, $14,690; 5. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 5.0, $7,462; 6. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 8.8, $4,664; 7. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 8.9; 8. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 9.2; 9. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 10.1; 10. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 33.4; 11. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp and Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, NT. Average leaders: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 22.4 seconds on four head; 2. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 28.0; 4. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 13.3 seconds on three head; 5. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 13.7; 6. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 14.1; 7. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 15.4; 8. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 24.7; 9. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 10.2 seconds on two head; 10. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 12.7; 11. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill and Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 13.6; 13. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 14.2; 14. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 19.1; 15. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 37.5. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $274,486; 2. Clay Tryan, $177,514; 3. Andrew Ward, $169,595; 4. Tanner Tomlinson, $168,434; 5. Jr. Dees, $157,732; 6. Dustin Egusquiza, $138,874; 7. Tyler Wade, $137,487; 8. Coleman Proctor, $133,438; 9. Clay Smith; $127,765; 10. Rhen Richard, $126,534; 11. Jake Orman, $125,380; 12. Lightning Aguilera, $115,111; 13. Cody Snow, $113,968; 14. Chad Masters, $105,527; 15. Riley Minor, $99,022. World standings (heeler): 1. Junior Nogueira, $274,486; 2. Jake Long, $169,245; 3. Patrick Smith, $168,434; 4. Buddy Hawkins II, $168,053; 5. Levi Lord, $159,130; 6. Jade Corkill, $143,706; 7. Travis Graves, $139,588; 8. Trey Yates, $133,924; 9. Logan Medlin, $133,438; 10. Jeremy Buhler, $127,469; 11. Brye Crites, $126,722; 12. Wesley Thorp, $113,968; 13. Joseph Harrison, $110,199; 14. Jonathan Torres, $107,658; 15. Brady Minor, $99,022.
Saddle Bronc Riding: Fourth round: 1. Zeke Thurston, 88.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Heaven On Earth, $28,914, 2. Chase Brooks, 88, $22,851; 3. (tie) Stetson Wright and Kolby Wanchuk, 86.5, $14,690 each; 5. Logan Hay, 84.5, $7,462; 6. (tie) Lefty Holman and Wyatt Casper, 82, $2,332; 8. Ryder Wright, 78.5; 9. Kole Ashbacher, 77.5; 10. Brody Cress, 76.5; 11. Tanner Butner, 74.5; 12. (tie) Sage Newman, Layton Green, Kade Bruno and Dawson Hay, NS. Average leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 348.5 points on four head; 2. Lefty Holman, 346; 3. Stetson Wright, 345; 4. Kolby Wanchuk, 343; 5. Logan Hay, 337; 6. Kole Ashbacher, 328.5; 7. Tanner Butner, 327; 8. Wyatt Casper, 326.5; 9. Brody Cress, 314; 10. Sage Newman, 259 points on three head; 11. Chase Brooks, 256.5; 12. Dawson Hay, 253.5; 13. Kade Bruno, 248; 14. Ryder Wright, 242; 15. Layton Green, 162.5 points on two head. World standings: 1. Sage Newman, $308,349; 2. Stetson Wright, $248,123; 3. Lefty Holman; $226,201; 4. Zeke Thurston, $222,547; 5. Brody Cress, $198,707; 6. Kolby Wanchuk; $176,967; 7. Logan Hay, $174,312; 8. Ryder Wright, $171,920; 9. Chase Brooks, $161,533; 10. Layton Green, $148,993; 11. Kade Bruno, $147,726; 12. Dawson Hay, $141,771; 13. Wyatt Casper, $137,688; 14. Tanner Butner, $133,481; 15. Kole Ashbacher, $127,543.
Tie-Down Roping: Fourth round: 1. Marty Yates, 7.4 seconds, $28,914; 2. John Douch, 7.7, $22,851; 3. Riley Webb, 7.8, $17,255; 4. (tie) Haven Meged and Caleb Smidt, 8.1, $9,793 each; 6. Kincade Henry, 8.4, $4,664; 7. Tyler Milligan, 9.4; 8. Zack Jongbloed, 10.6; 9. Cory Solomon, 10.7; 10. Ty Harris, 11.3; 11. Macon Murphy, 11.4; 12. Hunter Herrin, 11.6; 13. Shad Mayfield, 12.5; 14. Shane Hanchey, 13.2; 15. Tuf Cooper, 18.0. Average leaders: 1. Caleb Smidt, 30.3 seconds on four head; 2. Haven Meged, 33.0; 3. Cory Solomon, 35.2; 4. Riley Webb, 39.4; 5. Zack Jongbloed, 40.2; 6. Shad Mayfield, 40.4; 7. Macon Murphy, 43.4; 8. Hunter Herrin, 46.2; 9. Ty Harris, 46.8; 10. Shane Hanchey, 49.2; 11. Tyler Milligan, 49.7; 12. Kincade Henry, 23.9 seconds on three head; 13. Marty Yates, 27.3; 14. John Douch, 15.2 seconds on two head; 15. Tuf Cooper, 26.1. World standings: 1. Caleb Smidt, $241,827; 2. Shad Mayfield, $236,359; 3. John Douch, $214,270; 4. Haven Meged, $188,257; 5. Cory Solomon, $168,302; 6. Kincade Henry, $162,312; 7. Marty Yates, $161,185; 8. Hunter Herrin, $159,280; 9. Riley Webb, $156,885; 10. Shane Hanchey, $154,908; 11. Zack Jongbloed, $139,293; 12. Tuf Cooper, $134,382; 13. Tyler Milligan, $131,039; 14. Ty Harris, $128,937; 15. Macon Murphy, $123,255.
Barrel Racing: Fourth round: 1. Emily Beisel, 13.60 seconds, $28,914; 2. (tie) Margo Crowther and Lisa Lockhart, 13.65, $20,053 each; 4. Hailey Kinsel, 13.66, $12,125; 5. Stevi Hillman, 13.67, $7,462; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.73, $4,664; 7. Leslie Smalygo, 13.75; 8. Jordon Briggs, 13.77; 9. Kassie Mowry, 13.78; 10. Shelley Morgan, 13.80; 11. Jessica Routier, 13.91; 12. Sissy Winn, 13.96; 13. Wenda Johnson, 14.05; 14. Bayleigh Choate, 14.23; 15. Dona Kay Rule, 14.29. Average leaders: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 55.19 seconds on four runs; 2. Jordon Briggs, 55.25; 3. Margo Crowther, 55.26; 4. Wenda Johnson, 55.35; 5. Leslie Smalygo, 55.49; 6. Shelley Morgan, 55.55; 7. Sissy Winn, 55.94; 8. Bayleigh Choate, 56.32; 9. Hailey Kinsel, 59.75; 10. Kassie Mowry, 60.21; 11. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 60.62; 12. Dona Kay Rule, 60.83; 13. Stevi Hillman, 61.05; 14. Jessica Routier, 61.68; 15. Emily Beisel, 64.52. World standings: 1. Jordon Briggs, $212,496; 2. Hailey Kinsel, $199,342; 3. Wenda Johnson, $177,763; 4. Dona Kay Rule, $164,956; 5. Margo Crowther, $149,775; 6. Lisa Lockhart, $144,304; 7. Emily Beisel, $140,340; 8. Stevi Hillman, $138,064; 9. Shelley Morgan, $137,250; 10. Kassie Mowry, $125,404; 11. Sissy Winn, $119,310; 12. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $107,759; 13. Leslie Smalygo, $106,578; 14. Bayleigh Choate, $100,893; 15. Jessica Routier, $96,863.
Bull Riding: Fourth round: 1. Stetson Wright, 92 points on Salt River Rodeo Company’s Belly Dump, $28,914; 2. Trevor Kastner, 89, $22,851; 3. Trey Kimzey, 87.5, $17,255; 4. (tie) Josh Frost and Ky Hamilton, 86.5, $9,793 each; 6. Cole Fischer, 85.5, $4,664; 7. (tie) Jeff Askey, Garrett Smith, Tristen Hutchings, Maverick Potter, Jared Parsonage, Trey Holston, JR Stratford, Creek Young, Lukasey Morris and Reid Oftedahl, NS. Average leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, 263.5 points on three head; 2. Josh Frost, 261; 3. Trevor Kastner, 253; 4. Ky Hamilton, 249.5; 5. Trey Kimzey, 173.5 points on two head; 6. Garrett Smith, 172.5; 7. Tristen Hutchings, 90.5 points on one head; 8. (tie) Jeff Askey, and JR Stratford, 90; 10. Creek Young, 86.5; 11. Cole Fischer, 85.5; 12. Jared Parsonage, 81.5; 13. (tie) Maverick Potter, Trey Holston, Lukasey Morris, NS. 16. Reid Oftedahl, Out. World standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $413,842; 2. Josh Frost, $275,165; 3. Jeff Askey, $216,848; 4. Ky Hamilton, $183,510; 5. Trevor Kastner, $178,309; 6. Garrett Smith, $177,540; 7. Tristen Hutchings, $166,897; 8. Trey Kimzey, $147,903; 9. JR Stratford, $142,943; 10. Maverick Potter, $126,065; 11. Creek Young, $125,360; 12. Jared Parsonage, $122,314; 13. Trey Holston, $118,892; 14. Cole Fischer, $110,994; 15. Lukasey Morris, $110,667; 16. Reid Oftedahl, $107,944.
All-Around: 1. Stetson Wright, $505,834; 2. Caleb Smidt, $240,055; 3. Josh Frost, $185,284; 4. Haven Meged, $174,666; 5. Taylor Santos, $159,179; 6. Marty Yates, $158,811; 7. Zack Jongbloed, $140,592; 8. Coleman Proctor, $138,605; 9. Rhen Richard, $129,783; 10. Paul David Tierney, $118,792.
Top Gun Leader: 1. Caleb Smidt, $92,311; 2. (tie) Hailey Kinsel and Jess Pope, $79,953 each; 4. Stetson Jorgensen, $79,020; 5. Zeke Thurston, $78,709; 6. Lefty Holman, $76,222; 7. Stetson Wright, $72,491; 8. Hunter Cure, 67,827; 9. (tie) Levi Lord and Jr. Dees, $61,065 each.
