By Derek Beck/TRU/Your AG Network
The big-money summer run has shuffled the World Standings, and plenty of cowboys and cowgirls from across the Territory remain right in the hunt for a trip to Las Vegas.
From North Dakota and South Dakota to Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Iowa and Missouri, some of the best rodeo hands in the country call our part of the map home.
This week, the Territorial Rodeo Update puts the national Top 5 Countdown aside and turns the spotlight closer to home, checking out the top three Territory competitors in every event as the race toward the National Finals Rodeo heats up.
And at this point in the season, the magic number is 15. Being inside the Top 15 means you’re sitting in NFR territory, while those just outside the line have the rest of the regular season to start stacking checks.
Bareback Riding
Kansas cowboy Jess Pope of Waverly leads the Territory charge, sitting third in the World Standings. Pope is roughly $30,000 behind second place but, more importantly, has built himself a comfortable cushion above the NFR cutline.
Colorado’s Keenan Hayes of Hayden , Colorado is sixth, while Cole Reiner of Buffalo, Wyoming sits 11th.
That’s three Territory bareback riders currently occupying spots inside the Top 15.
Territory Top 3
-
- Jess Pope, Waverly, Kansas – 3rd
- Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colorado – 6th
- Cole Reiner, Buffalo, Wyoming – 11th
Steer Wrestling
The Dakotas own the bulldogging leaderboard for the Territory.
Seth Peterson of Minot, North Dakota leads the group in 12th place, with Bridger Anderson of Carrington, North Dakota sitting 14th.
That puts both cowboys inside the current NFR picture, but without much breathing room.
Riley Reiss of Manning, North Dakota is 21st and still within striking distance as the regular season enters its stretch run.
Territory Top 3
- Seth Peterson, Minot, North Dakota – 12th
- Bridger Anderson, Carrington, North Dakota – 14th
- Riley Reiss, Manning, North Dakota – 21st
Team Roping – Headers
Coy Rahlmann of Ellsinore, Missouri is the Territory’s highest-ranked header at No. 12 in the world and currently holds an NFR position.
Nebraska cowboy Jhett Trenary of Arthur is 29th, followed by Corben Culley of Lawton, Iowa in 36th.
Territory Top 3
- Coy Rahlmann, Ellsinore, Missouri – 12th
- Jhett Trenary, Arthur, Nebraska – 29th
- Corben Culley, Lawton, Iowa – 36th
Team Roping – Heelers
Here’s one event where the Territory doesn’t just have an NFR contender, it has the man everybody else is chasing.
Cooper Freeman of Carthage, Missouri currently sits No. 1 in the world among team roping heelers.
He’s joined near the top by Levi Lord of Sturgis, South Dakota, who sits fourth, while Trey Yates of Pueblo, Colorado is 12th.
All three are currently inside the Top 15.
Territory Top 3
- Cooper Freeman, Carthage, Missouri – 1st
- Levi Lord, Sturgis, South Dakota – 4th
- Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colorado – 12th
Saddle Bronc Riding
This might be one of the most interesting NFR races to watch from a Territory perspective.
Brody Wells of Powell, Wyoming leads the group in ninth. Shorty Garrett of Eagle Butte, South Dakota sits 14th, while Brody Cress of Hillsdale, Wyoming is perched directly on the bubble in 15th.
For Garrett and Cress especially, virtually every check between now and the end of the season could move the Las Vegas line.
Territory Top 3
- Brody Wells, Powell, Wyoming – 9th
- Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, South Dakota – 14th
- Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyoming – 15th
Tie-Down Roping
Missouri’s Tom Crouse of Gallatin leads the Territory tie-down ropers in 14th, putting him right in the middle of the NFR bubble battle.
Riley Pruitt of Gering, Nebraska, an NFR qualifier a year ago, is currently 26th, while Luke Potter of Maple City, Kansas sits 28th.
There is work to do for Pruitt and Potter, but August and September still offer plenty of chances to make a move.
Territory Top 3
- Tom Crouse, Gallatin, Missouri – 14th
- Riley Pruitt, Gering, Nebraska – 26th
- Luke Potter, Maple City, Kansas – 28th
Barrel Racing
How about two South Dakota cowgirls sitting right on the Las Vegas line?
Veteran Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, South Dakota is 14th, while Summer Kosel of Glenham, South Dakota sits 15th.
Lockhart is one of the most recognizable names in professional barrel racing, while Kosel has become a fixture among the Territory’s top competitors.
Colorado’s Loralee Ward of Fort Lupton isn’t far behind in 17th.
That means just three positions separate all three Territory leaders.
Territory Top 3
- Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, South Dakota – 14th
- Summer Kosel, Glenham, South Dakota – 15th
- Loralee Ward, Fort Lupton, Colorado – 17th
The WPRA’s standings earlier this summer showed just how tightly packed this portion of the leaderboard has been, with Kosel, Lockhart and Ward all battling around the NFR bubble.
Breakaway Roping
The Territory is especially strong in breakaway roping, with all three of our leaders currently sitting inside the Top 15.
Haiden Thompson of Yoder, Wyoming leads the way in 10th, followed immediately by Sawyer Gilbert of Buffalo, South Dakota in 11th.
Beau Peterson of Council Grove, Kansas sits 13th.
That’s three Territory cowgirls currently holding potential championship-week positions as the season rolls toward its final stretch.
Territory Top 3
- Haiden Thompson, Yoder, Wyoming – 10th
- Sawyer Gilbert, Buffalo, South Dakota – 11th
- Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kansas – 13th
Bull Riding
The Territory has two bull riders sitting near the very top of the world.
Hayden Welsh of Gillette, Wyoming is third, while Luke Mackey of Ignacio, Colorado is right behind him in fourth.
Mason Moody of Letcher, South Dakota currently sits 17th, putting him just two positions outside the NFR Top 15 and very much in the fight.
Territory Top 3
- Hayden Welsh, Gillette, Wyoming – 3rd
- Luke Mackey, Ignacio, Colorado – 4th
- Mason Moody, Letcher, South Dakota – 17th
The Race to Vegas Is On
The Fourth of July run may be behind us, but there’s still a lot of rodeo left before the regular season dust settles.
For some Territory competitors, the goal now is protecting a spot they’ve already earned inside the Top 15. For others sitting 16th, 17th or in the twenties, it’s time to start cashing checks.
And with Cooper Freeman sitting No. 1 in the world, plus names including Jess Pope, Hayden Welsh and Luke Mackey among the leaders in their events, the Territory won’t just be trying to send contestants to Las Vegas. Several could arrive there with legitimate shots at a gold buckle.
We’ll continue following them all the way there.
The Territorial Rodeo Update is sponsored by Gingerich Structures.