PRORODEO Sports News - June 1, 2026

CHET HERREN CONTINUED

There were 32 cowboys competing at the Goshen County Pavil ion on April 25-26. competed in four rounds Saturday, before finish ing the final two rounds Sunday. Then, the top eight The cowboys

Lee won the semis with a 10.9-second run, followed by O’Rourke (11.0 seconds). Herren (11.5 seconds) and Stec (11.6 seconds) finished third and fourth to move on to the Final Four round. Lohse, the last cowboy out in the semis, appeared to win the round with a 9.8-second time, but the time was negat ed because of an illegal head catch. Sorey (12.1 seconds); Waters (13.3 seconds); and Deckard (14.7 seconds) round ed out the semifinal finishers. The top four finishers at the NCFSR automatically qualified for the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup presented by Texas Precious Metals in late September in Sioux Falls, S.D. Last year, Herren won the inaugural steer roping event in Sioux Falls and earned $15,500. “I’m just hoping lightning strikes again in my favor in Sioux Falls,” Herren said. Lohse, who earned an event-best $8,679, did receive a fi nal bit of good news after he missed advancing to the Final Four as his horse, Rez Dog, 10, was chosen as the 2026 NCFSR Horse of the Year. Quite the honor since Rez Dog was making his PRORODEO debut in Torrington. “He did exceptional, I’m really proud of him,” Lohse said. “He’s come a long way in the last year. He’s got a good mind for it and he’s on my team.” Four-time and three-time reigning PRCA World Cham pion Steer Roper Cole Patterson concluded his competi tion in Torrington by winning (Round 5, 9.7 seconds); and Round 6 (9.5 seconds). Patterson had a 47.2-second time on four head and didn’t advance to the semifinals.

finishers in the six-head average moved on to the 8-man semifinals with the top four semifinal finishers advancing to the Final Four sudden-death round. Reo Lohse, the leader after Day 1, stayed consistent winning the average with a 77.2-second time on six head. Lohse earned $3,503 for capturing the average crown and he also received a $2,500 bonus provided by Douglas (Wyo.) Tire Center that will count in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings. Lohse was joined in the semis by O’Rourke (84.1 sec onds on six); Blake Deckard (84.1 on 6); Lee (85.3 on 6); Tyler Waters (96.5 on 5); Trent Sorey (102.5 on 6); Stec (65.4 on 5) and Herren (66.7 on 5).

Herren receives the coveted buckle at the 2026 National Circuit Finals Steer Roping in Torrington, Wyo. (from left to right) Blair Newman, National Circuit Finals Steer Roping Committee; Marty Winchell, Eastern Wyoming College Foun dation; Chet Herren, 2026 National Circuit Finals Steer Roping Champion; Steve Knowles, PRCA Chief Operating Officer and Scott Dorenkamp, PRCA Administrator of Circuits & Rodeo Administration. PRCA photo by Clay Guardipee

20 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE JUNE 1, 2026