PRORODEO Sports News February Digital Edition

Team ropers Tanner Tomlinson/Coleby Payne, fresh off the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, impressed in Denver by tying the arena record to win the title. PRCA photo by Ric Andersen

the talent, it’s about the friendship and chemistry,” Tomlinson said. “We’ve roped together forever and we’ve been best friends for years now. We’ve been waiting for this opportunity, and we’re blessed to be here.” STETSON WRIGHT BECOMES SECOND COWBOY TO EVER REACH $4 MILLION EARNINGS MARK After his 90-point bull ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Ringling Road to win the title at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, 10-time PRCA World Champi on Stetson Wright became just the second cowboy to ever reach the $4 million mark in career earnings. Wright added $29,325 to his ledger in Denver. He was the top all-around cowboy after his first-place finish in the bull riding and second in saddle bronc. He now has $4,027,539 in career earnings. Other winners from the Na tional Western Stock Show and Rodeo were bareback rider Cooper Filipek (85.5 points on The Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s R. Watson’s Mamo); steer wres tler Mike McGinn (3.6 seconds); tie-down roper Dylan Hancock (7.1 seconds); barrel racer Heidi Gunderson (14.91 seconds); and bull rider Stetson Wright (90 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Ringling Road).

blew the roof off the Denver Coliseum. It was

TEAM ROPERS

TANNER TOMLINSON/

COLEBY PAYNE TIE ARENA RECORD Fresh off the 2025 Wrangler Nation al Finals Rodeo, Tanner Tomlinson and Coleby Payne were eager to begin their 2026 seasons with a bang in Denver. The two teamed up for the National Western, made a run to the Finals and put on a show, tying the arena record with a 3.6-second run to win the title. “It’s a very long season so any time you can get started like this, it seems to make things a lot easier and save us in the summer from going to rodeos we don’t have to go to and killing our selves,” Payne said. “Everything in the winter is gravy, I think. Get as much as you can before June.” The pair finished 10th and 11th respectively in Las Vegas. Tomlinson won Round 6 with his NFR partner, Travis Graves. Payne knew Tomlinson would set him up for a win in Denver if the two became a pair. Chemistry wasn’t an issue, either, as the two have been friends for years. In their minds, talented ropers benefit more from friendship. That showed in the Finals. “I think team roping isn’t all about

the highest marked ride of the short round up to that point. But three riders later Fleet beat it by a half point. Still, the lead wasn’t secure. Four time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier Kade Bruno and three-time PRCA World Champion Ryder Wright were the final two cowboys to ride in the short round. Both had 88-point rides. Fleet was announced as the champion. “Everybody rides great here, es pecially if you’re making the short round,” Fleet said. “You can throw a rock and hit somebody who rides great. But you can’t think about it too much. You just have to do your job and focus.” The win does more for Fleet than give momentum heading into the Texas swing and winter run. It showed that he belonged. He hopes his showing will give him the opportunity to compete at some of the biggest rodeos in the PRCA. A year ago, he could only dream of that opportunity while he built bridges. “It’s going to get me into some stuff,” Fleet said. “I’m going to keep going now. It’ll be fun.”

FEBRUARY 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 15