ProRodeo Sports News - Sept.15, 2023

PUYALLUP, WASH.

Cinch Playoff win boosts Roper’s NFR prospects Memorable WASHINGTON STATE FAIR PRO RODEO

TOP MONEY EARNER Riley Webb TOP SCORES

BY TRACY RENCK B areback rider Jayco Roper took one large step closer to realizing his dream of qualifying for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on Sept. 10. The Oktaha, Okla., cowboy had a thrilling 91-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Agent Lynx before a sellout crowd at the Cinch Playoffs at the Washington State Fair Pro Rodeo. Roper and Clayton Biglow had identical 91-point rides in the finals, but Roper won the tiebreaker because he had a higher score than Biglow in the two-head average. “I’m about to pass out,” said Roper, 22, moments after his finals ride. “Oh my gosh, I have so much adrenaline running through my veins right now, I can’t believe it. My feet were flying, and I was setting them hard this feels so good.” Immediately after his Puyallup effort, Roper moved up to ninth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $125,133. He earned $13,888 in Puyallup. “It really hasn’t set in yet, but I’m sure it will soon,” Roper said. By finishing in the top four in Puyallup, Roper punched his ticket to Sioux Falls, S.D. The contestants in Sioux Falls will include the top four finishers from each event at the Cinch Playoffs in Puyallup, and the top eight out of the standings of the Playoff Series presented by Pendleton Whisky. Last September, the PRCA, the State of South Dakota, Experience Sioux Falls and Cinch announced the Cinch Playoffs will have athletes competing for the Governor’s Cup and vying for the $1.1 million purse, Sept. 28-30, 2023, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. It will be the richest rodeo in South Dakota history. The PRCA regular season concludes on Sept. 30. “I’m super excited for Sioux Falls and that I got to make it there,” Roper said. “I just want to keep my momentum going.” A year ago, Roper finished 19th in the world standings with $65,763. He came into 2023 even stronger, collecting more checks, including wins at the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo in June and the RAM Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo in Duncan, Okla.

($18,863, tie down roping) BAREBACK RIDING

Webb

1. Jayco Roper ........................... 91 pts. (Tie) Clayton Biglow ...................... 91 3. Kade Sonnier .............................. 90.5 (Tie) Keenan Hayes .................... 90.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Dalton Massey ...................... 3.5 sec. 2. Dakota Eldridge ............................ 3.9 3. Ty Erickson ................................... 4.2 TEAM ROPING 1. T. Wade/W. Thorp ................. 4.9 sec. 2. T. Tomlinson/P. Smith ................... 5.1 3. C. Smith/C. Payne ........................ 9.1 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Ryder Sanford ........................ 89 pts. 2. Stetson Wright ........................... 88.5 3. Sterling Crawley ............................ 83 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Riley Webb ............................ 7.6 sec. 2. Cory Solomon .............................. 7.9 3. Caleb Smidt .................................. 9.1 BARREL RACING 1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi ....... 13.99 sec. 2. Emily Beisel .............................. 14.11 3. Jessica Routier ......................... 14.28 BULL RIDING 1. Trey Kimzey ............................ 84 pts. 2. Clayton Sellars ............................. NS 3. T. Parker ....................................... NS (Tie) Stetson Wright ..................... NS

Complete results/Page 75

Kent Soule photo

Bareback rider Jayco Roper had a 91-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Agent Lynx during the final four sudden-death round at the Cinch Playoffs in Puyallup, Wash., Sept. 10. He won the event to boost his chances of making his Wrangler National Finals debut in 2023.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/15/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 9/15/2023

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