Cooper James Wins First Ever Buckle with Round 5 Win

LAS VEGAS

Courtesy of PRCA

Cooper James relied on consistency to qualify for the bull riding at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge.

But the Resistol Rookie didn’t have a PRORODEO event buckle, despite winning a few events – until Round 5 on Monday night.

James put on a clinic atop Sutton Rodeos’ Schott in the Dark for an 88.5-point ride before 16,862 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“This is actually my first PRORODEO buckle that I’ll ever win, and it being at the Finals is pretty cool,” James said. “I’m so excited. I don’t know when I’m going to be able to go to sleep tonight.”

The 19-year-old from Erdah, Utah, earned one of three qualified rides in the round as the fourth man out and held on to secure the victory.

James said he started to get antsy watching the rest of the field try to knock him off. Josh Frost's reride option—executed after the performance ended—added another delay.

But when the dust settled, James showed everybody that he wasn’t in Las Vegas as a spectator – he came to win.

“Honestly, a lot of people get really worked up here and get jitters,” James said. “But for me it’s just another rodeo. A lot of people didn’t believe in me all year, but I came to make a statement. I’ve done that so far.”

James credited Schott in the Dark for allowing him to turn heads in front of a sellout crowd.

“He was awesome. He’s a big muley, black, bald face,” James said. “I hadn’t seen him much in person at all. But looking at the videos, I was excited to get on him and we made it work.”

James moved up to the top spot in the NFR Average with 340 points on four head and fourth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $266,438.

As he walked out of the arena, James said he’d wear his go-round buckle when he hops on another bull in Round 6 on Tuesday.


Steer wrestler Jesse Brown captures Round 5 victory

The Wrangler NFR winless drought is over for Jesse Brown.

Brown, who is making his fifth Wrangler NFR appearance, claimed his first round win since 2022 when he clocked a 3.6-second time to take the Round 5 title.

Before Monday, Brown’s last NFR round win came in 2022 when he captured the Round 10 win in 3.4 seconds.

“It’s awesome, I said it earlier, just the momentum shift, it's just awesome,” said the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Brown said. “I got a lot of runs left, so it's some great momentum.”

Brown mixed things up for Round 5 switching to get on Justin Shaffer’s horse, Banker, and had a new hazer in Tyler Pearson.

“Justin Shaffer let me on Banker, that’s the first time I rode him, but he felt great,” Brown said. “I just needed to mix it up, that was it. Tyson (the horse he was riding) didn’t do anything wrong, I just needed something, something to change something around. I grew a mustache, and I got a new horse.”

Brown with his $33,687 payday, upped his NFR earnings to $50,751 and he is sixth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $186,017.

“That's what makes it exciting, there's five more left, and if I can keep going like that, keep drawing good and get the start. I just hope to keep that going.”


Tie-down roper Joel Harris gets first career NFR round win

Tie-down roper Joel Harris just made his Wrangler NFR debut a lot more memorable.

The San Angelo, Texas, cowboy clocked a 7.6-second run to claim the Round 5 crown.

“It’s surreal. I’ve dreamed of it my whole life. I really came into these finals not worrying about winning go-rounds because that doesn’t fit my style. But I did think I had a great chance to win tonight on my calf if I just made an average run and here, we are.”

Harris upped his NFR earnings to $90,415 and moved up to fifth in the world standings with $207,224. He also placed second in Round 1 (7.7 seconds) and third in Round 3 (7.3 seconds).

“I’m just taking every emotion for what it is and enjoying the pressure as much as you can,” Harris said. “That’s really my way to enjoy this whole process. I’m not looking at this rodeo any differently, but I also understand there will be added pressure here in Las Vegas. I just have to enjoy it.

“It was really just the perfect calf. He left the chute and shot out right down the middle. The only tricky thing he does is he’s extra patient in the chute. I’m happy I made that adjustment tonight and it paid off well for me.”

Veteran Ty Harris, Joel’s brother and a six-time NFR-qualifying tie-down roper, is thrilled to be competing against Joel in Vegas and got emotional after watching him win.

“I can’t even really believe it. About two and half years ago I didn’t think he was going to rope again,” Ty Harris said. “We put a lot of years into this with every ounce of blood, sweat and tears. Just seeing him jump from 32nd (in the world standings) a year ago to now is special. He’s put in a lot of work to get here and earned every bit of success. It’s amazing.”


Wade/Thorp see-saw back to the top in Round 5 team roping

Team roping header Tyler Wade and heeler Wesley Thorp have experienced high highs and low lows through the first five rounds of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge.

The duo opened the competition with back-to-back top finishes in Rounds 1 and 2. But they missed the money and recorded no times in Rounds 3 and 4.

Wade and Thorp bounced back on Monday night to win a third round in five days with a 3.6-second run.

“Man, that’s an unbelievable feeling,” Wade said. “It’s a roller coaster of a ten days out here, and you just have to ride it. It’s pretty fun when it goes like that.”

Wade said their experience, a combined 16 NFR appearances and three PRCA World Championships, paid off on Monday.

“We’ve done it long enough to not get too high because it can bring you right back down,” Wade said. “And we don’t get too low because you can bounce right back. At this point, doing it long enough made it a lot easier to bounce back.”


Wade and Thorp earned $33,687 for their efforts, bringing their NFR total to $111,062.

They currently sit ninth in the NFR Average standings at 11 seconds on three head. Only Clay Smith and Coleby Payne, and Luke Brown and Travis Graves have roped all five.

“There’s so much money in the go-rounds that I think it softened the average up,” Wade said. “Us being two down kinds of still gives us a chance to maybe place in the average.”


Lees, Thompson show out on top-notch bareback pen

When the bareback riders received their draws for Round 5 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge, everybody was fired up to battle with the TV pen.

The bucking horses delivered and so did Dean Thompson and Jacob Lees.

Lees paired with C5 Rodeo’s Virgil, and Thompson earned his first go-round win atop Pickett Pro Rodeo's Boot Barn's Night Crawler.

“You almost don’t know how to take it because it’s the world finals for us, and you don’t experience emotions like this all year long,” Thompson said. “You basically work all year to get here.

“To come here in Round 5 – when we’re getting on literally the best in the world – and to get that win is something you have dreamed of since you were ten years old. It’s almost unbelievable. It is unbelievable.”

The duo earned $30,155 each for their eight seconds of work at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Lees shouted out the pen for setting him up for success.

“It’s awesome. There’s nothing like that,” Lees said. “That (Round) 5 and 10 pen are the best horses in the world.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to come here and ride like that. I’m at the best place in the world with the best crowd, the best horses and your best buddies. There’s nothing like it.”


Ryder Wright, Brody Wells split saddle bronc win

It was a shared title in saddle bronc riding Monday night.

Ryder Wright had an 89.5-point ride on Kirsten Vold Rodeo Company’s Crossbreed’s Captain Hook, and it was equaled by Brody Wells on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ The Black Tie.

“That horse ran me down the gates a little bit at the start before stacking up right in front of the chutes,” said Wright. “She gave me every opportunity to win the go-round and I’m happy I could take advantage.

“There’s nothing better than the TV pen here at the Thomas & Mack Arena. It was her first time here in Las Vegas and I knew she was going to be good. I just didn’t know it was going to be that good.”

Brody Wells has had quite the Wrangler NFR winning twice as he also took home the win in Round 2 with a 90-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Resistol’s Pretty Woman.

“That horse (The Black Tie) is outstanding. He lets a guy have an opportunity every time someone gets on him and that’s all you can ask for,” Wells said. “He feels so great, gets off the ground so much, and just lets a cowboy show off and have fun.

“I’m just keeping my chin down and focusing on one horse at a time. That’s all I can control.”


Mowry nabs second straight round win

Kassie Mowry showed on Monday night she isn’t afraid of the moment. After capturing her first round win of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge in Round 4, she upped the ante tonight.

Riding her standout horse Jarvis, Mowry clocked a 13.43-second run to capture her second straight round win. She was quick to credit the horsepower underneath her in Round 5.

“I think my horse (Jarvis) is starting to get comfortable being here, which I don’t think I’ve ever had one get comfortable here,” said Mowry. “He is my one in a million horse and my once in a lifetime horse. It’s so fun to get tapped off with him right now.”

Mowry has earned $130,622 in Las Vegas after placing in the top two in every round but one. The race for a gold buckle is tightening up but for now it’s business as usual for the Texas cowgirl.

“I don’t think about the gold buckle at all. The goal was to get here, and I didn’t think farther past that,” Mowry said. “I tipped a barrel the first night and it pretty much took me out of the average. So, we are going out there looking for round wins and just having fun.”


2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results
Round 5, Dec. 9
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

Bareback Riding: Fifth round: 1. (tie) Jacob Lees on C5 Rodeo’s Virgil and Dean Thompson on Pickett Pro Rodeo Company’s Boot Barn's Night Crawler, 91 points, $30,155 each; 3. Jess Pope, 90, $20,104; 4. Bradlee Miller, 89, $14,127; 5. (tie) Cole Reiner and Rocker Steiner, 88, $7,063 each; 7. (tie) Leighton Berry and Keenan Hayes, 87.5 each; 9. Richmond Champion, 86; 10. (tie) Taylor Broussard and Weston Timberman, 85.5 each; 12. Cole Franks, 85; 13. Garrett Shadbolt, 83.5; 14. (tie) Cooper Cooke and R.C. Landingham, 83 each. Average leaders: 1. Dean Thompson, 429.5 points on five head; 2. (tie) Jess Pope and Cole Franks, 427 each; 4. Keenan Hayes, 426; 5. Weston Timberman, 421.5; 6. Cole Reiner, 418.5; 7. Cooper Cooke, 418; 8. Leighton Berry, 415.5; 9. Jacob Lees, 415; 10. Taylor Broussard, 413.5; 11. (tie) Bradlee Miller and Richmond Champion, 413 each; 13. R.C. Landingham, 411; 14. Garrett Shadbolt, 407; 15. Rocker Steiner, 343 points on four head. World Standings: 1. Keenan Hayes, $281,244; 2. Rocker Steiner, $278,636; 3. Dean Thompson, $259,985; 4. Bradlee Miller, $255,490; 5. Jess Pope, $241,363; 6. Weston Timberman, $206,480; 7. Leighton Berry, $206,319; 8. Cole Franks, $204,253; 9. R.C. Landingham, $183,231; 10. Jacob Lees, $178,518; 11. Cooper Cooke, $177,502; 12. Taylor Broussard, $158,335; 13. Cole Reiner, $154,192; 14. Garrett Shadbolt, $147,096; 15. Richmond Champion, $138,965.

Steer Wrestling: Fifth round: 1. Jesse Brown, 3.6 seconds, $33,687; 2. Don Payne, 3.7, $26,624; 3. Scott Guenthner, 3.9, $20,104; 4. (tie) Cash Robb and Tyler Waguespack, 4.0, $11,410 each; 6. Tyler Pearson, 4.1, $5,433; 7. Rowdy Parrott, 4.2; 8. (tie) Will Lummus and J.D. Struxness, 4.4 each; 10. Justin Shaffer, 4.6; 11. (tie) Tucker Allen and Ty Erickson, 4.7 each; 13. Stetson Jorgensen, 5.1; 14. Dalton Massey, 5.5; 15. Dakota Eldridge, NT. Average leaders: 1. Will Lummus, 21.0 seconds on five head; 2. Rowdy Parrott, 21.5; 3. Cash Robb, 21.8; 4. Tucker Allen, 21.9; 5. Don Payne, 22.5; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, 23.1; 7. Tyler Waguespack, 26.5; 8. Jesse Brown, 28.8; 9. Tyler Pearson, 41.0; 10. J.D. Struxness, 16.4 seconds on four head; 11. Justin Shaffer, 16.6; 12. Ty Erickson, 17.7; 13. Dakota Eldridge, 17.9; 14. Scott Guenthner, 25.4; 15. Dalton Massey, 28.4. World Standings: 1. Will Lummus, $226,212; 2. J.D. Struxness, $219,388; 3. Dalton Massey, $209,263; 4. Dakota Eldridge, $202,222; 5. Stetson Jorgensen, $193,093; 6. Jesse Brown, $186,017; 7. Rowdy Parrott, $182,725; 8. Cash Robb, $164,024; 9. Don Payne, $159,279; 10. Scott Guenthner, $144,815; 11. Tucker Allen, $144,368; 12. Justin Shaffer, $140,250; 13. Ty Erickson, $138,454; 14. Tyler Pearson, $130,112; 15. Tyler Waguespack, $114,066.

Team Roping: Fifth round: 1. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 3.6 seconds, $33,687 each; 2. Cody Snow/Hunter Koch, 3.7, $26,624; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 3.8, $20,104; 4. (tie) Andrew Ward/Kollin VonAhn and J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins II, 4.7, $11,410 each; 6. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 6.2, $5,433; 7. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 8.2; 8. Derrick Begay/Jonathan Torres, 9.1; 9. Luke Brown/Travis Graves, 10.5; 10. Clint Summers/Jake Long, 10.6; 11. Cyle Denison/Tanner Braden, Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves and Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, NT. Average leaders: 1. Luke Brown/Travis Graves, 37.1 seconds on five head; 2. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 43.8; 3. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 16.9 seconds on four head; 4. Cody Snow/Hunter Koch, 21.4; 5. J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins II, 23.2; 6. Clint Summers/Jake Long, 23.3; 7. Derrick Begay/Jonathan Torres, 33.1; 8. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 33.5; 9. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 11.0 seconds on three head; 10. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 13.1; 11. Andrew Ward/Kollin VonAhn, 13.7; 12. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 16.0; 13. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 16.8; 14. Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 17.2; 15. Cyle Denison/Tanner Braden, 4.7 seconds on one head. World Standings (headers): 1. Tyler Wade, $302,799; 2. Dustin Egusquiza, $264,799; 3. Kaleb Driggers, $237,620; 4. Coleman Proctor, $200,021; 5. Clint Summers, $186,561; 6. J.C. Yeahquo, $182,751; 7. Brenten Hall, $182,391; 8. Cody Snow, $179,938; 9. Andrew Ward, $178,095; 10. Erich Rogers, $165,041; 11. Jake Smith, $144,800; 12. Luke Brown, $134,482; 13. Clay Smith, $133,950; 14. Derrick Begay, $129,195; 15. Cyle Denison, $118,812. World Standings (heelers): 1. Wesley Thorp, $302,799; 2. Levi Lord, $264,799; 3. Junior Nogueira, $248,745; 4. Jake Long, $189,999; 5. Logan Medlin, $186,788; 6. Kaden Profili, $183,564; 7. Hunter Koch, $181,949; 8. Buddy Hawkins II, $171,245; 9. Kollin VonAhn, $166,896; 10. Paul Eaves, $165,640; 11. Douglas Rich, $144,800; 12. Coleby Payne, $143,064; 13. Jonathan Torres, $141,832; 14. Tanner Braden, $134,959; 15. Travis Graves, $129,106.

Saddle Bronc Riding: Fifth round: 1. (tie) Brody Wells on Sankey Pro Rodeo 7 Phenom Genetics’ The Black Tie and Ryder Wright on Kirsten Vold Rodeo Company’s Crossbreed's Captain Hook, 89.5 points, $30,155 each; 3. Damian Brennan, 89, $20,104; 4. Statler Wright, 88.5, $14,127; 5. (tie) Wyatt Casper and Zachary Dallas, 87.5, $7,063 each; 7. Dawson Hay, 86; 8. Ben Andersen, 85.5; 9. Sage Newman, 85; 10. Brody Cress, 84.5; 11. Zeke Thurston, 84; 12. Lefty Holman, 83.5; 13. Kolby Wanchuk, 83; 14. Kade Bruno, 82; 15. Logan Hay, NS. Average leaders: 1. Wyatt Casper, 427 points on five head; 2. Dawson Hay, 426.5; 3. (tie) Damian Brennan and Zeke Thurston, 425.5 each; 5. Zac Dallas, 412.5; 6. Kolby Wanchuk, 412; 7. Kade Bruno, 411.5; 8. Ben T. Andersen, 403.5; 9. Ryder Wright, 351 points on four head; 10. Brody Wells, 345.5; 11. Brody Cress, 338; 12. Sage Newman, 337.5; 13. Statler Wright, 335.5; 14. Lefty Holman, 329.5; 15. Logan Hay, 163.5 points on two head. World Standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $356,438; 2. Damian Brennan, $332,688; 3. Zeke Thurston, $305,875; 4. Wyatt Casper, $289,189; 5. Brody Cress, $260,030; 6. Kade Bruno, $255,959; 7. Lefty Holman, $237,839; 8. Brody Wells, $223,772; 9. Dawson Hay, $213,279; 10. Sage Newman, $209,712; 11. Statler Wright, $196,951; 12. Kolby Wanchuk, $170,028; 13. Zachary Dallas, $146,220; 14. Ben Andersen, $137,285; 15. Logan Hay, $137,250.

Tie-Down Roping: Fifth round: 1. Joel Harris, 7.6 seconds, $33,687; 2. Haven Meged, 8.0, $26,624; 3. Shad Mayfield, 8.1, $20,104; 4. Quade Hiatt, 8.2, $14,127; 5. Ty Harris, 8.4, $8,693; 6. Shane Hanchey, 8.8, $5,433; 7. Riley Mason Webb, 9.0; 8. Kincade Henry, 9.4; 9. Hunter Herrin, 9.8; 10. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Marty Yates, 10.2 each; 12. Dylan Hancock, 10.6; 13. Cole Clemons, 11.0; 14. John Douch, 12.7; 15. Zack Jongbloed, NT. Average leaders: 1. Riley Mason Webb, 38.4 seconds on five head; 2. Shad Mayfield, 43.1; 3. Tuf Cooper, 44.3; 4. Ty Harris, 45.1; 5. Quade Hiatt, 46.4; 6. Shane Hanchey, 46.9; 7. Haven Meged, 52.3; 8. Dylan Hancock, 53.4; 9. Joel Harris, 55.1; 10. Cole Clemons, 55.7; 11. Kincade Henry, 57.7; 12. Zack Jongbloed, 34.5 seconds on four head; 13. Marty Yates, 36.8; 14. John Douch, 40.8; 15. Hunter Herrin, 46.5. World Standings: 1. Riley Mason Webb, $354,592; 2. Shad Mayfield, $333,294; 3. Ty Harris, $276,986; 4. Haven Meged, $257,933; 5. Joel Harris, $207,224; 6. Zack Jongbloed, $203,061; 7. Shane Hanchey, $193,110; 8. Dylan Hancock, $179,398; 9. John Douch, $171,237; 10. Marty Yates, $165,868; 11. Tuf Cooper, $165,698; 12. Hunter Herrin, $162,796; 13. Kincade Henry, $150,958; 14. Quade Hiatt, $146,211; 15. Cole Clemons, $122,111.

Barrel Racing: Fifth round: 1. Kassie Mowry, 13.43 seconds, $33,687; 2. Carlee Otero, 13.51, $26,624; 3. Emily Beisel, 13.53, $20,104; 4. (tie) Andrea Busby and Lisa Lockhart, 13.57, $11,410 each; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 13.59, $5,433; 7. LaTricia Duke, 13.65; 8. (tie) Ashley Castleberry and Shelley Morgan, 13.66 each; 10. (tie) Halyn Lide, Abby Phillips and Leslie Smalygo, 13.68 each; 13. Dona Rule, 13.70; 14. Wenda Johnson, 13.81; 15. Tiany Schuster, 13.89. Average leaders: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 67.54 seconds on five runs; 2. Andrea Busby, 68.38; 3. Tiany Schuster, 68.65; 4. Ashley Castleberry, 68.71; 5. LaTricia Duke, 69.26; 6. Kassie Mowry, 72.29; 7. Carlee Otero, 73.38; 8. Emily Beisel, 73.57; 9. Shelley Morgan, 73.85; 10. Abby Phillips, 74.24; 11. Dona Kay Rule, 74.65; 12. Wenda Johnson, 78.99; 13. Halyn Lide, 79.55; 14. Lisa Lockhart, 83.81; 15. Leslie Smalygo, 70.64 seconds on four runs. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $340,701; 2. Kassie Mowry, $292,905; 3. Leslie Smalygo, $214,057; 4. Ashley Castleberry, $203,055; 5. Carlee Otero, $202,760; 6. Tiany Schuster, $193,841; 7. Emily Beisel, $184,109; 8. Andrea Busby, $177,172; 9. Lisa Lockhart, $162,298; 10. Abby Phillips, $151,037; 11. LaTricia Duke, $150,541; 12. Halyn Lide, $140,659; 13. Dona Kay Rule, $131,481; 14. Wenda Johnson, $127,970; 15. Shelley Morgan, $126,623.

Bull Riding: Fifth round: 1. Cooper James on Sutton Rodeos’ Schott In The Dark, 88.5 points, $43,105; 2. T.J. Gray, 86, $36,042; 3. Josh Frost, 82.5, $29,522; 4. Tyler Bingham, Dustin Boquet, Chase Dougherty, Tristen Hutchings, Trey Kimzey, Jeter Lawrence, Trevor Reiste, Wacey Schalla, Clayton Sellars, Jordan Spears, Jace Trosclair, Hayes Weight and Creek Young, NS. Average leaders: 1. Cooper James, 340 points on four head; 2. Josh Frost, 336.5; 3. Tristen Hutchings, 257.5 points on three head; 4. Jace Trosclair, 250.5; 5. Tyler Bingham, 250; 6. Trey Kimzey, 170 points on two head; 7. Clayton Sellars, 166; 8. Jeter Lawrence, 87.5 points on one head; 9. T.J. Gray, 86; 10. Trevor Reiste, 84.5; 11. (tie) Chase Dougherty and Dustin Boquet, 82.5 each; 13. (tie) Wacey Schalla, Hayes Weight, Jordan Spears, NS. 16. Creek Young, Inj. World Standings: 1. Josh Frost, $326,381; 2. T.J. Gray, $290,885; 3. Jace Trosclair, $268,878; 4. Cooper James, $266,438; 5. Clayton Sellars, $252,140; 6. Jeter Lawrence, $250,908; 7. Hayes Weight, $246,023; 8. Tristen Hutchings, $230,008; 9. Wacey Schalla, $204,096; 10. Trey Kimzey, $195,777; 11. Chase Dougherty, $187,510; 12. Tyler Bingham, $178,268; 13. Trevor Reiste, $177,733; 14. Jordan Spears, $139,997; 15. Creek Young, $131,609; 16. Dustin Boquet, $131,352.

All-around: 1. Shad Mayfield, $271,360; 2. Junior Nogueira, $250,660; 3. Coleman Proctor, $229,934; 4. Wacey Schalla, $177,953; 5. Tuf Cooper, $171,270; 6. Erich Rogers, $156,496; 7. Tyler Pearson, $128,912; 8. Paden Bray, $107,547; 9. Jake Clay, $101,966; 10. Slade Wood, $97,955.

Top Gun: 1. Riley Mason Webb, $137,685; 2. Hailey Kinsel, $136,599; 3. Kassie Mowry, $130,622; 4. Bradlee Miller, $118,125; 5. (tie) Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp, $111,032; 7. Ryder Wright, $105,175; 8. Josh Frost, $101,281; 9. Cooper James, $95,848; 10. Zeke Thurston, $94,490.