BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
This past weekend, professional rodeo fans witnessed some terrific performances at two significant PRCA rodeos - the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, the finale of the crucial Texas Swing, and the High Desert Stampede, an NFR Playoff Rodeo in Redmond, Oregon that paid more than $160,000.
Sage Kimzey has made a huge jump in the World Standings, Leighton Berry is on top of another rodeo and Taylor Broussard’s remarkable run to start the season continued, adding another win to his tally in Oregon.
All of that and more is covered in this week’s edition of the Monday Notebook.
- Sage Kimzey has ridden 5-of-8 in Xtreme Bulls events in 2023. Kimzey was the champion of the San Angelo Xtreme Bulls over the weekend by winning both rounds and the Average to collect almost $13,000. In the last two weekends, Kimzey has made nearly $20,000 in Xtreme Bulls events and has jumped 20 spots in the PRCA World Standings to No. 16.
- Only one cowboy in the Top 5 in the World Standings is leading San Angelo through eight performances. Leighton Berry is that cowboy and he sits in a four-way tie in the bareback riding. With San Angelo being determined by the winner of the Average in each event, there could be plenty of movement in the standings following Friday night’s Short Round.
- There were 10 tie-down roping times faster than last year’s winner at the High Desert Stampede. In 2022, the rodeo was won by Roger Nonella and J.Cody Jones at 8.4 seconds. In 2023, that wouldn’t have even gotten a check. The winning time in this year’s rodeo was 7.2. by World No. 1 Riley Webb. After zero times in the 7s the last two years, there were five in 2023.
- Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves had the fastest team roping time of the Texas Swing in San Angelo. The new pair was 3.4 seconds on their Second Round run after a no time in Round 1. The previous fastest was time was a 3.5 by Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord in San Antonio. Rogers/Eaves have combined for 20 NFRs and three Gold Buckles and are in position to collect $5,000 for a round win in San Angelo.
- Bareback rider Taylor Broussard already has eight wins in the 2023 season. The highest-paying of those wins came at the High Desert Stampede over the weekend when he won nearly $5,000 for claiming the title in the one-header in the final performance with an 86.5-point ride. Broussard is No. 10 in the PRCA World Standings.
- There has yet to be a 90-point ride in San Angelo. The highest marked bareback ride is 87, in saddle bronc its 87.5 and in bull riding its 88.5. In 2022, there were two 90-point rides.
- Saddle bronc rider Cash Wilson is a perfect 30-for-30 in the 2023 season. The South Dakota native is one two cowboys in the Top 15 (Brody Cress) who are riding 100 percent of their broncs this season. Wilson won the High Desert Stampede with 87 points over the weekend.
- Steer wrestler Ty Erickson overtook the Average lead in San Angelo. Erickson was 4.2 and 3.9 on his two runs to beat out a three-way tie between Will Lummus, Eli Lord and Cody Devers by one tenth of a second.
- Trey Benton III notched the first qualified ride on Just Another Gangster in 2023. The cowboys were 0-for-5 on the Stockyards Pro Rodeo bull until TBIII rode him for 88.5 points to tie Dekland Garland for the lead in San Angelo. The bull’s average stock score this season is 43.2 points.
