ProRodeo Sports News - September 20, 2024

PUYALLUP, WASH.

CINCH PLAYOFFS

Win pushes Jess Pope into Top 15 On the Rise BY TANNER BARTH J ess Pope knows what it’s like to have his back against the wall. He entered the 2022 National Finals Rodeo second in the world standings and after 10 grueling nights in Las Vegas he captured his first gold buckle.

TOP SCORES

That championship mentality is paying off for the

Waverly, Kan., bareback rider in 2024.

At the beginning of August, Pope found himself outside the top 20 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, fighting tooth and nail to punch his ticket to his fifth consecutive Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. “Battling throughout this summer run has honestly been good for me,” said Pope, 25. “In the spring I didn’t rodeo much and found myself in a situation where I had to go rodeo hard. It made me realize how much I do love rodeo and all the benefits that come with it. It’s not all about winning, but it’s dang sure fun when I get to.” Since Aug. 1, Pope has won five rodeos and pocketed $64,523, providing fuel for his climb up the world standings. He put a cherry on top of that run during the Cinch Playoffs at the Puyallup (Wash.) Rodeo. Pope advanced out of his bracket with 168.5 points on two head. His draw in the semifinals was Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Buster. It was a match made in heaven as he advanced to the finals with an 88-point ride. Qualifying in the No. 1 spot earned him a star studded horse on Championship Sunday. He matched up with Calgary Stampede’s Disco Party in the final-four shootout round. The duo combined for a 92.5-point trip to not only give Pope a $13,000 payday, but also a new arena record. “I actually just got on her last week, and she bucked a heck of a lot harder here today,” Pope said. “I don’t know what it is about her and afternoon performances, but she definitely fired today. She got really steep. It was probably one of the hardest bucking horse rides I’ve made all year.” The win in Washington moved Pope up to 10th in the world standings as of Sept. 12, $10,000 ahead of Richmond Champion in the No. 15 spot. Now, Pope will get the chance to compete in the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, S.D., where $1.3 million will be paid out to contestants over three days. “This win means a lot, there’s a ton of money there in Sioux Falls. The year I made the NFR in 2020 I was on the bubble and won the Tour Finale in Rapid City that year,” Pope said. “It’s pretty special to be able to do that again this year. I think it means that something good is coming.”

Proctor

Medlin

TOP MONEY EARNER Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin ($19,900 each, team roping) BAREBACK RIDING

1. Jess Pope ........................... 92.5 pts. 2. Garrett Shadbolt ............................ 91 3. Bradlee Miller ............................. 89.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. J.D. Struxness ...................... 4.0 sec. 2. Rowdy Parrott .............................. 4.1 3. Will Lummus ............................... 4.2 TEAM ROPING 1. C. Proctor/L. Medlin ............. 4.9 sec. 2. C. Denison/T. Braden .................... 9.7 3. L. Brown/T. Graves ....................... 9.8 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Ryder Wright ........................ 89 pts.* 2. Lefty Holman ................................ 89 3. Kolby Wanchuk ............................. 88 *Wright crowned champion based on semifinal score TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shad Mayfield ....................... 7.4 sec. 2. Shane Hanchey ............................ 8.1 3. Riley Webb ................................. 16.6 BULL RIDING 1. Trevor Reiste .......................... 86 pts. 2. Jace Trosclair ............................. 84.5 3. Jeter Lawrence .............................. 82

Hailey Rae photo Jess Pope set the Cinch Playoffs on fire with a 92.5-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Disco Party. The ride clinched Pope the $13,000 first place check and set the arena record in Puyallup.

Complete results/Page 68

ProRodeo Sports News 9/20/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 9/20/2024

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