Trisyn Kalawaia and Bridger Anderson split Ft. Worth steer wrestling title. | PRCA photoScreenshot_11-2-2026_112445_www.prorodeo.com_

Backed into the box with everything on the line, 23-year-old Trisyn Kalawaia emerged from the Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo as both a champion and a history maker, becoming the first Hawaiian cowboy to win the legendary rodeo after splitting the steer wrestling title with 27-year-old Bridger Anderson at 3.8 seconds, a victory worth $16,000 apiece.

Anderson, a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier, delivered his championship run aboard his trusted partner “Whiskers,” who has been by his side since high school. Together, the pair topped one of the most demanding rodeos in the Texas Swing.

In a PRORODEO Tournament that spanned across 18 performances and tested some of the sport’s toughest competitors, Kalawaia’s run carried far more weight than the stopwatch alone.

For the cowboy from Hilo, Hawaii, Fort Worth wasn’t just another winter rodeo on his schedule. It marked the biggest win of his career and a moment that permanently tied his name to one of the most legendary events in Western sports.

“Winning here is awesome,” Kalawaia said. “This is my biggest win in my career, and to be able to stay with Bridger, it’s just a happy feeling. It’s a great start to the season.”

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo marks one of the opening legs of the Texas Swing, where winter rodeos stack opportunity on top of pressure. With $1,272,000 added money on the line from Jan. 23 through Feb. 7, every run demanded precision. Athletes battled through a bracket-style format that rewarded consistency and speed, ultimately crowning champions who survived one of the deepest fields in PRORODEO.

Kalawaia did exactly that.

He advanced out of Bracket 6 after posting a 5.5-second run in the opening round, then improved to a 3.9-second effort in the second round to qualify for the semifinals. There, he recorded a 5.4-second run, securing his place on the finals day sheet.

Anderson’s path to the finals was just as consistent. Competing in Bracket 4, he opened with a 3.6-second run before backing it up with a 4.0-second effort in the second round to advance to the semifinals. There, Anderson posted a 4.1-second run to earn his spot on the finals day sheet.

Entering the finals, the margin for error was razor thin. When Kalawaia backed into the box, nerves crept in, but so did trust.

“I was pretty nervous, I’m not going to lie,” he said. “I just told myself to take a chance and make my run.”

That mindset paid off aboard Cletis, the horse he credits as a key partner in the win.

“Cletis is great. He works well, and I’ll be riding him all winter and hopefully for years,” Kalawaia said.

When the barrier snapped and the steer hit the dirt, Kalawaia’s time held strong, matching Anderson’s 3.8-second run and securing the split championship.

Anderson, a proven force in steer wrestling, acknowledged the significance of the moment and the level of competition in Fort Worth.

“Anytime you can win Fort Worth, it means something,” Anderson said. “There’s no easy rounds here, and you have to show up every time.”

Standing in the winner’s circle in Dickies Arena, Kalawaia carried more than a buckle; he carried his culture.

“It’s pretty cool to be here in Texas and represent (Hawaii),” he said. “There are a lot of people back home in Hawaii, so to represent up here means a lot.”

With San Antonio and Houston ahead, the Fort Worth title gives Kalawaia momentum and confidence moving forward.

“It gives me confidence going into the next winter rodeos,” he said. “Just keep it rolling.”

Other winners at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo were Billy and Pam Minick All-Around Award winner Paden Bray (team roping, tie-down roping $5,675); bareback rider Tilden Hooper (92 points on Calgary Stampede’s Disco Party); team ropers Corben Culley/Trent Vaught (5.4 seconds); saddle bronc riders Rusty Wright (91 points on Calgary Stampede’s Dandy Delight); and Darcy Radel (91 points on J Bar J Rodeo’s Shady Jacket); tie-down roper Kincade Henry (7.5 seconds); breakaway roper Jill Tanner (2.0 seconds); barrel racer Kassie Mowry *(16.04 seconds); and bull rider Trey Kimzey (88.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Hermes).
*New Arena Record

-PRCA