The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is sadly inching to a close, but the winners haven’t been named yet. After the conclusion of the second semi-finals, the lineup is officially set for those who will be battling for the crown.
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A familiar face is finally back in action after missing all of last year, 4x NFR qualifier Leighton Berry. While he hadn’t been on a big stage in quite some time, he looked anything but out of practice. He was in the first bracket of this rodeo and started off strong with a win.
Berry bound himself into a riggin in the middle of the pack, and after the big dark horse owned by J Bar J trekked down the arena going left and right, he scored the second-highest score of the entire rodeo (89 points), guaranteeing him a spot in the finals.
It feels more than safe to say that Berry is back and ready to nod his head inside the Thomas & Mack when December rolls back around.
Other Semi-Finals Highlights
Rusty Wright celebrating his win. | FWSSR photo by James Phifer
It didn’t take long for another jaw-dropping performance as the gunner in the steer wrestling, Landris White, posted a 3.6-second run. The 2022 rookie of the year posted the second-fastest run of the rodeo, and to say it put the pressure on the rest of the field is an understatement.
There had only been one other 90-point ride in either bucking horse event up until the last semi-finals, Stetson Wright back in the second round of bracket 6. Well, his brother Rusty decided to throw his hat in the mix as well, but he wasn’t the only one.
Another horse from J Bar J would assist Ryder Sanford in the third 90-point ride of the rodeo. Rusty and Stetson won’t be the only Wright’s spurring for the championship as the littlest Wright and last year’s world champion snuck in last hole.
It isn’t often that a barrel racer is given credit for a beautiful run that consisted of a hit barrel, but hearts broke when Carlee Otero tipped the second barrel to not only break the arena record, but in an astronomical fashion with a sub-16.00.
Instead, it was the 4x World Champion Hailey Kinsel and her old faithful Sister who took the win on the bottom of the ground nonetheless.
The FWSS is a bucket list rodeo to win for all of these contestants, and it is less than 24 hours before the newest champions will take home bragging rights and take a step in the direction of the Thomas & Mack.
Roster for Final PerformanceBareback RidingJacob Lees – Caldwell, IDWacey Schalla – Arapaho, OKCole Reiner – Buffalo, WYTilden Hooper – Carthage, TXJess Pope – Waverly, KSRocker Steiner – Weatherford, TXLeighton Berry – Weatherford, TXSam Petersen – Helena, MTSteer WrestlingJustin Shaffer – Hallsville, TXCash Robb – Altamont, UTMason Couch – Bronaugh, MOTrisyn Kalawaia – Hilo, HIBridger Anderson – Carrington, NDGarrett Oates – Ballinger, TXLandris White – Angleton, TXTanner Brunner – Ramona, KSTeam RopingBrady Tryan/Paden BrayDenim Ross/Kavis DrakeSid Sporer/Mason AppletonTrent Vaught/Corben CulleyLevi Lord/Tyler TryanRance Doyal/James ArvisoDawson Graham/Dillon GrahamWill Woodfin/Jake ClaySaddle BroncIra DickinsonDarcy RadelRyder WrightRusty WrightDamian BrennanRyder SanfordKade BrunoStetson WrightTie-Down RopingBlane CoxTom CrouseMarty YatesBeau CooperJohn DouchZack JongbloedKincade HenryHaven MegedBarrel RacingAcey PinksonSummer KoselMakenna ShookTayla MoeykensHailey KinselKatelyn ScottKassie MowryMakenzie Mayes
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