BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
By now you’ve likely heard about second-year pro Riley Webb’s dominance in the tie-down roping. He’s won $40,000 more than any tie-down roper ever has in a PRCA regular season and leads 5-of-6 statistical categories. There are, of course, plenty of other tie-down ropers to look at. And today, we’re going to focus in on two who always seem to perform well under the bright lights in Las Vegas.
Caleb Smidt has won the last two Gold Buckles and currently sits No. 12 in the PRCA World Standings, but ranks in the Top 5 in four statistical categories. Smidt has already doubled his totals from last season in Go-Round Wins (13 in 2023 to 5 in 2022) and 7.5 Second or Faster Runs (9 in 2023 to 4 in 2022).
The other veteran to keep an eye on in is Cory Solomon. The tie-down roper famous for his signature green shirts has been to nine NFRs since 2011 and despite being No. 13 in 2023, looks like a shoe-in to return. Solomon ranks in the Top 10 in every statistical category except Qualified Times and is in the Top 5 in 8.5 Second or Faster Runs, 7.5 Second or Faster Runs and Go-Round Wins.
One more reason to watch the two ropers whose initials are CS? They finished No. 1 and 2 in the NFR Average last year.
QUALIFIED TIMES
1. Riley Webb - 111
2. Zack Jongbloed - 100
3. Ty Harris - 99
4. Shane Hanchey - 98
5. Haven Meged - 96
6. Marcos Costa - 95
7. Brush Minton - 93
8. Westyn Hughes - 88
9. Jake Pratt - 86
10. John Douch - 82
11. Blane Cox - 80
12. Kincade Henry - 79
T13. Shad Mayfield - 77
T13. Cory Solomon - 77
15. Luke Potter - 76
16. Caleb Smidt - 71
17. Hunter Herrin - 69
18. Michael Otero - 66
19. Tuf Cooper - 63
20. Beau Cooper - 57
QUALIFIED TIME PERCENTAGE
1. Ty Harris - 88%
2. Marcos Costa - 84%
T3. Shane Hanchey - 82%
T3. Brush Minton - 82%
T3. Zack Jongbloed - 82%
6. Riley Webb - 80%
7. Haven Meged - 78%
T8. Westyn Hughes - 73%
T8. Cory Solomon - 73%
T8. Blane Cox - 73%
T8. Michael Otero - 73%
T8. Tuf Cooper - 73%
T13. John Douch - 72%
T13. Caleb Smidt - 72%
T13. Jake Pratt - 72%
16. Hunter Herrin - 70%
T17. Beau Cooper - 68%
T17. Luke Potter - 68%
T17. Kincade Henry - 68%
20. Shad Mayfield - 64%
AVERAGE TIME
1. Michael Otero - 9.20
2. Luke Potter - 10.39
3. Riley Webb - 10.46
4. Caleb Smidt - 10.51
T5. Shane Hanchey - 10.53
T5. Shad Mayfield - 10.53
T7. John Douch - 10.85
T7. Cory Solomon - 10.85
9. Hunter Herrin - 10.90
10. Westyn Hughes - 10.98
11. Kincade Henry - 11.03
12. Jake Pratt - 11.11
13. Zack Jongbloed - 11.17
14. Haven Meged - 11.19
15. Beau Cooper - 11.28
16. Brush Minton - 11.37
17. Blane Cox - 11.54
18. Ty Harris - 11.59
T19. Marcos Costa - 11.68
T19. Tuf Cooper - 11.68
8.5 SECOND OR FASTER RUNS
1. Riley Webb - 41
2. Shane Hanchey - 30
T3. Shad Mayfield - 27
T3. Caleb Smidt - 27
5. Cory Solomon - 25
T6. John Douch - 23
T6. Zack Jongbloed - 23
8. Michael Otero - 22
9. Haven Meged - 21
10. Ty Harris - 20
T11. Hunter Herrin - 19
T11. Tuf Cooper - 19
T11. Kincade Henry - 19
14. Westyn Hughes - 18
T15. Beau Cooper - 15
T15. Blane Cox - 15
T17. Brush Minton - 14
T17. Marcos Costa - 14
T19. Luke Potter - 11
T19. Jake Pratt - 11
7.5 SECOND OR FASTER RUNS
1. Riley Webb - 15
2. Caleb Smidt - 9
T3. Haven Meged - 6
T3. Shad Mayfield - 6
T3. John Douch - 6
6. Hunter Herrin - 5
7. Kincade Henry - 4
T8. Beau Cooper - 3
T8. Cory Solomon - 3
T10. Ty Harris - 2
T10. Westyn Hughes - 2
T10. Brush Minton - 2
T10. Michael Otero - 2
T14. Shane Hanchey - 1
T14. Zack Jongbloed - 1
T14. Blane Cox - 1
GO-ROUND WINS
1. Riley Webb - 24
2. Haven Meged - 15
3. Shad Mayfield - 14
4. Caleb Smidt - 13
5. Hunter Herrin - 11
6. Westyn Hughes - 10
7. Cory Solomon - 9
8. Shane Hanchey - 8
T9. John Douch - 7
T9. Zack Jongbloed - 7
11. Brush Minton - 6
T12. Ty Harris - 5
T12. Beau Cooper - 5
T12. Blane Cox - 5
T12. Jake Pratt - 5
T16. Michael Otero - 4
T16. Marcos Costa - 4
T16. Tuf Cooper - 4
T16. Kincade Henry - 4
20. Luke Potter - 2
Standings via ProRodeo.Com are accurate as of 5 PM ET on Tuesday, Aug. 29. Only athletes in the Top 20 were included.
