Stetson Wright Picks Up Two Round Wins on First Night of Wrangler NFR

LAS VEGAS

Courtesy of the PRCA

If there was any doubt about the health of Stetson Wright entering the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the eight-time PRCA World Champion proved he is back and better than ever.

Broken ribs and other injuries to his midsection in early September kept him out the last month of the regular season. But the time off paid dividends for the 26-year-old from Beaver, Utah, as he took home Round 1 wins in both saddle bronc and bull riding Thursday night before 17,362 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center.

It marks the third time in his career that he won an NFR round in saddle bronc and bull riding on the same night. In 2020, Wright won both events in Round 7 and in 2022 he accomplished the feat in Round 8.

"This night's been a dream," Wright said. "I don't care about the score as long as you're first. It's been a two-year battle to get back here that many people told me I couldn't do. I like to prove people wrong."

Wright kicked off his 11th NFR appearance with a 90-point ride on Wayne Vold Rodeo's Renegade to win Round 1 of saddle bronc. In the bull riding, he matched up with Powder River Rodeo's Big Shasta, the same bull he rode for 90 points a month earlier to capture the title at the Boot Barn Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo Nov. 7-8 in Heber City, Utah.

It was his first ride on the back of a bull since his injury. And on Thursday he matched Big Shasta yet again, this time for 89.75 points at the NFR.

Wright's reaction to the ride was caught on camera. He pointed to the dirt and shouted.

"Well, it's an inside joke with my family, but 'the king is back,'" Wright said. "That's why I was pointing down at the ground. But it was a long journey to get back here."

Wright is in a historic all-around battle with Wacey Schalla. It's the first time since 2001 two roughstock cowboys are competing in two events at the NFR and going for the coveted gold buckle.

Schalla began his second NFR campaign with an 86.25-point ride on Burch Rodeo's Wild Child in bareback. The mark was good for fourth in the round, adding $15,377 to Schalla's season total.

The 20-year-old phenom watched from the bucking chute as Wright rode Big Shasta for 90 points just ahead of him in bull riding. Schalla then went on to ride Hampton Pro Rodeo's Heartbreaker for 88.5 points to place second.

Wright brought in more than $73,000 in earnings with his two first-place rides. His lead over Schalla in the all-around race increased to $62,000. Wright also overtook him as the No. 1 bull rider in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings with nine rounds to go.

"I feel super good," Wright said. "I've been wanting to get the buckles, the money on top of it is just a bonus. We're happy to be here and ready for nine more rounds."


Bareback rider Cooper Cooke takes Round 1 win at NFR

Cooper Cooke's ascension as one of the top bareback riders in the world picked up speed during the 2025 season.

His career earnings jumped by $155,000, the most he has won during the regular season since joining the PRCA in 2022. During Round 1 of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Cooke proved yet again he is one of the best young talents in PRORODEO, matching up with Legend Rodeo Stock's Ramblin Man — the Bareback Horse of the Night — for an 88.5-point ride to win the round.

"It's awesome. I feel like it makes it a little more worth it when you have to work your butt off and make that a businessman ride," Cooke said. "I felt like I went out there and did that tonight and it was awesome."

The win in Round 1 of the NFR added $36,668 to Cooke's total earnings for the season. Last year, during his first NFR, he won $38,435 over the course of 10 nights.

The hefty payday moved Cooke to No. 6 in the 2025 PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings, a four-spot jump from when he exited the bucking chutes at the Thomas & Mack Center Thursday night.

But perhaps most importantly, it gave the 23-year-old Victor, Idaho, cowboy momentum heading into the remaining nine rounds in Las Vegas.

"If you can break that ice in the first round it gives you all the confidence to keep going and get more confident throughout the week," Cooke said. "I just keep taking it day by day and keep doing businessman things."


Tyler Waguespack shines with Round 1 win

Steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack is yet again chasing PRORODEO history.

The Gonzales, La., bulldogger entered the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with the most world champions out of the Top 15 field with five, just one shy of the record held by Homer Pettigrew.

A 4.0-second run to kick off his 11th NFR put him in position to chase his sixth title, as he moved up to No. 2 in the world with just a $23,000 gap between him and season leader Will Lummus.

"It's awesome, you know? I mean, just to be able to kick your NFR off and hit the ground with some momentum is awesome," Waguespack said. "I'm really excited about the next nine rounds."

At 34 years old, Waguespack is a seasoned veteran in his discipline. But the bright lights of Las Vegas and the Thomas & Mack Center can still be intimidating. Especially when factoring in having to rely on the steers.

Hesitation from the steer could have been detrimental to Waguespack's first run. But he took a chance, and it paid off.

"You know, my steer kind of froze, just a little bit. And I mean everybody's kind of nervous about the barrier," Waguespack said. "But the steers here are so fast you have to take a cut at them. I was really happy with our pusher, Andy Hilton. He's been doing a really good job there.

"He got the steer firing out so I was able to make a good start. Then, the horse set my feet on the ground and pretty much did the rest for me. I just had to hold on for the ride."


Lightning Aguilera/Kaden Profili take Round 1 win

Team roping header Lightning Aguilera and heeler Kaden Profili got off to a dream start during the opening performance of the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

The duo strung together a 4.0-second run to beat Andrew Ward/Jake Long by two-tenths of a second and win the round.

"Oh, there's nothing like it," Profili said of winning the round. "I'm glad to be back in this arena and get another chance to compete against the best."

Aguilera relished his first-round win in his second appearance at the Thomas & Mack Center. In 2022, he and Jonathan Torres placed in four rounds, highlighted by a second-place finish in Round 6.

"I can't even explain it," Aguilera said. "It's amazing, like no other feeling in the world."

Profili earned the second-round win of his career in his second trip to Las Vegas. Last season, he and Brenten Hall placed in four rounds and won Round 6.

Profili credited Aguilera for setting them up for success in the opening round.

"It was fantastic," he said. "He did a great job setting me up and got him so fast that I had time for another swing, making it easy on me."

Shad Mayfield nears arena record in Round 1 win


Shad Mayfield lived up to his nickname, "Money," in Round 1 of the NFR.

The Clovis, N.M., tie-down roper had a blazing run of 6.8 seconds to win the round and was just four-tenths of a second shy of the Thomas & Mack arena record set by Haven Meged in 2023.

"It's one of the first NFRs that I've started out with a bang and that's what I wanted to do," Mayfield said. "Put the pressure on them and ride with nothing to lose. That's how I'm going to continue to rope."

The round win helped Mayfield close the gap set by season leader and two-time defending champion Riley Webb, who tied Tom Crouse for second in the round with a 7.90-second run.

Mayfield said everything went right for him in Round 1. He knew he had drawn a strong calf that fit the strengths of him and one of his prized horses, Lollipop.

He now sits less than $31,000 behind Webb for the No. 1 ranking in the world.

"When I saw the calf that I had, I knew it was stronger and going to fit me and my horse really well," Mayfield said.

"I've said it before but going for it in the first couple go-rounds is crucial. Guys are backed off the barrier and that wasn't the case with me. It all started with being on the barrier, setting me up for a good throw, and my horse was amazing."


Kassie Mowry starts title defense strong with Round 1 win

Kassie Mowry had faith in her gray horse, Will.

He's a veteran who she has had success with in years past, in particular inside the Thomas & Mack Center at the NFR. But he has widely been looked at as a "backup horse" with Mowry's success on Jarvis, her star gelding.

But Mowry revealed Jarvis would not join her down the alleyway this year, opening the door for Will to shine in his absence. He and Mowry did just that with a 13.66-second run to kick off her title defense with a Round 1 win.

"I'm so proud of Will. He deserves this," Mowry said. "I feel like he gets overshadowed a lot because he's considered a backup horse, but he'd be first in a lot of people's barns. He can get it done too."

Mowry credited her familiarity with Will for their ability to perform at a high level on rodeo's biggest stage.

Drawing first out helped, too, as it caters to Will's strengths.

"He's Mr. Dependable. I know what to expect from him when I get on him," Mowry said. "So, I just tried to use that to my advantage. I got a great draw, first out, and he's always run strong first out of the gate."

Entering Round 2 of the NFR, Mowry holds just under a $25,000 lead over Hailey Kinsel, who placed second in Round 1 with a run of 13.70 seconds.

"It's a fight every single year," Mowry said. "I don't think that it changes much for me but I continue to put my best foot forward."

2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results
First round, Dec. 4
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

Bareback Riding: First round: 1. Cooper Cooke, 88.5 points on Legend Rodeo Stock's Ramblin Man, $36,668; 2. Waylon Bourgeois, 86.8, $28,980; 3. Jess Pope, 86.5, $21,882; 4. Wacey Schalla, 86.3, $15,377; 5. Bradlee Miller, 86, $9,463; 6. Dean Thompson, 85.5, $5,914; 7. (tie) Jacek Frost and Tilden Hooper, 85 each; 9. Cole Franks, 84.5; 10. Sam Petersen, 84.3; 11. Garrett Shadbolt, 84; 12. Rocker Steiner, 82.3; 13. (tie) Mason Clements and Kade Sonnier, 81.5 each; 15. Jayco Roper, 79.5.
World Standings: 1. Rocker Steiner, $313,547; 2. Jess Pope, $235,512; 3. Sam Petersen, $231,901; 4. Bradlee Miller, $226,937; 5. Cole Franks, $210,362; 6. Cooper Cooke, $189,262; 7. Dean Thompson, $182,450; 8. Kade Sonnier, $181,507; 9. Garrett Shadbolt, $178,261; 10. Waylon Bourgeois, $176,843; 11. Wacey Schalla, $161,486; 12. Jacek Frost, $153,543; 13. Jayco Roper, $149,775; 14. Mason Clements, $140,131; 15. Tilden Hooper, $139,951.

Steer Wrestling: First round: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 4.0 seconds, $36,668; 2. (tie) Ty Erickson, Kyle Irwin and J.D. Struxness, 4.2, $22,080 each; 5. Scott Guenthner, 4.7, $9,463; 6. (tie) Jesse Brown and Dakota Eldridge, 5.0, $2,957 each; 8. (tie) Chance Howard and Justin Shaffer, 5.4 each; 10. Rowdy Parrott, 5.5; 11. Tucker Allen, 5.9; 12. Stetson Jorgensen, 10.0; 13. Gavin Soileau, 14.2; 14. Bridger Anderson and Will Lummus, NT. World Standings: 1. Will Lummus, $205,116; 2. Tyler Waguespack, $182,493; 3. Jesse Brown, $175,114; 4. J.D. Struxness, $170,752; 5. Justin Shaffer, $165,773; 6. Rowdy Parrott, $160,877; 7. Tucker Allen, $160,867; 8. Stetson Jorgensen, $146,029; 9. Kyle Irwin, $145,300; 10. Ty Erickson, $138,040; 11. Dakota Eldridge, $137,873; 12. Scott Guenthner, $132,070; 13. Bridger Anderson, $119,328; 14. Chance Howard, $118,298; 15. Gavin Soileau, $115,899.

Team Roping: First round: 1. Lightning Aguilera/Kaden Profili, 4.0 seconds, $36,668 each; 2. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 4.2, $28,980; 3. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 4.8, $21,882; 4. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 5.1, $15,377; 5. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 5.7, $9,463; 6. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 6.6, $5,914; 7. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 6.9; 8. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 9.0; 9. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 9.3; 10. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 10.0; 11. (tie) Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, Luke Brown/Trey Yates and Kolton Schmidt/Jonathan Torres, NT. World Standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $208,498; 2. Tanner Tomlinson, $203,270; 3. Andrew Ward, $188,034; 4. Clint Summers, $186,618; 5. Derrick Begay, $176,202; 6. Dustin Egusquiza, $170,703; 7. Clay Smith, $168,490; 8. Lightning Aguilera, $161,404; 9. Cyle Denison, $157,917; 10. Jake Smith, $157,420; 11. Tyler Wade, $153,366; 12. Dawson Graham, $141,934; 13. Riley Minor, $135,025; 14. Luke Brown, $133,303; 15. Kolton Schmidt, $129,938. World Standings (heelers): 1. Junior Nogueira, $208,498; 2. Jade Corkill, $186,944; 3. Jake Long, $186,288; 4. Colter Todd, $173,850; 5. Travis Graves, $169,382; 6. Levi Lord, $168,322; 7. Kaden Profili, $160,204; 8. Coleby Payne, $159,293; 9. Lane Mitchell, $158,946; 10. Wesley Thorp, $153,366; 11. Douglas Rich, $146,670; 12. Dillon Graham, $141,934; 13. Brady Minor, $135,025; 14. Trey Yates, $133,303; 15. Jonathan Torres, $121,672.

Saddle Bronc Riding: First round: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, 90 points on Wayne Vold Rodeo's Renegade, $36,668; 2. Weston Patterson, 88.5, $28,980; 3. Kade Bruno, 88, $21,882; 4. Brody Wells, 87.8, $15,377; 5. Sage Newman, 87.5, $9,463; 6. (tie) Zeke Thurston and Ryder Wright, 87, $2,957 each; 8. Damian Brennan, 86.5; 9. Brody Cress, 85.8; 10. Lefty Holman, 85.5; 11. Q Taylor, 84.8; 12. Statler Wright, 84.3; 13. Ben Andersen, 83.3; 14. Dawson Hay, 82; 15. Zachary Dallas, 81.5 World Standings: 1. Ryder Wright, $306,951; 2. Damian Brennan, $288,153; 3. Dawson Hay, $278,621; 4. Zeke Thurston, $257,226; 5. Kade Bruno, $246,948; 6. Brody Wells, $240,084; 7. Sage Newman, $215,958; 8. Weston Patterson, $212,715; 9. Stetson Dell Wright, $212,004; 10. Zachary Dallas, $208,403; 11. Statler Wright, $191,872; 12. Brody Cress, $190,092; 13. Q Taylor, $167,562; 14. Ben Andersen, $159,661; 15. Lefty Holman, $154,872.

Tie-Down Roping: First round: 1. Shad Mayfield, 6.8 seconds, $36,668; 2. Joel Harris, 7.6, $28,980; 3. (tie) Tom Crouse and Riley Mason Webb, 7.9, $18,630 each; 5. Brushton Minton, 8.0, $9,463; 6. Marty Yates, 8.1, $5,914; 7. (tie) John Douch and Dylan Hancock, 9.3 each; 9. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Kincade Henry, 9.8 each; 11. Zack Jongbloed, 10.1; 12. Haven Meged, 10.2; 13. Ty Harris, 24.0; 14. Kyle Lucas and Riley Pruitt, NT. World Standings: 1. Riley Mason Webb, $333,762; 2. Shad Mayfield, $302,978; 3. Kincade Henry, $196,718; 4. John Douch, $184,970; 5. Dylan Hancock, $182,104; 6. Joel Harris, $179,834; 7. Tom Crouse, $176,438; 8. Riley Pruitt, $175,787; 9. Marty Yates, $172,525; 10. Brushton Minton, $165,106; 11. Zack Jongbloed, $147,678; 12. Ty Harris, $147,197; 13. Haven Meged, $143,805; 14. Kyle Lucas, $139,298; 15.

Barrel Racing: First round: 1. Kassie Mowry, 13.66 seconds, $36,668; 2. Hailey Kinsel, 13.70, $28,980; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 13.79, $21,882; 4. Katelyn Scott, 13.81, $15,377; 5. Tricia Aldridge, 14.11, $9,463; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 14.12, $5,914; 7. Andrea Busby, 14.17; 8. Julie Plourde, 14.26; 9. Tayla Moeykens, 14.96; 10. Emily Beisel, 18.85; 11. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 18.88; 12. Carlee Otero, 18.89; 13. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, 18.90; 14. Wenda Johnson, 18.94; 15. Halyn Lide, 19.96. World Standings: 1. Kassie Mowry, $250,113; 2. Hailey Kinsel, $225,297; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $210,630; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $201,350; 5. Emily Beisel, $199,005; 6. Megan McLeod-Sprague, $184,975; 7. Carlee Otero, $178,494; 8. Tricia Aldridge, $160,645; 9. Anita Ellis, $156,992; 10. Katelyn Scott, $156,141; 11. Halyn Lide, $154,614; 12. Tayla Moeykens, $152,561; 13. Hayle Gibson-Stillwell, $150,032; 14. Wenda Johnson, $148,428; 15. Andrea Busby, $143,099.

Bull Riding: First round: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, 89.8 points on Powder River Rodeo's Big Shasta, $36,668; 2. Wacey Schalla, 88.5, $28,980; 3. Hayes Weight, 87, $21,882; 4. Ky Hamilton, 86, $15,377; 5. JR Stratford, 85, $9,463; 6. Luke Mackey, 84.8, $5,914; 7. Mason Moody, 83; 8. Jesse Petri, 75.5; 9. Qynn Andersen, Hudson Bolton, T.J. Gray, Tristen Hutchings, Bryce Jensen, Rawley Johnson and Jordan Spears, NS. World Standings: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, $396,843; 2. Wacey Schalla, $391,576; 3. Ky Hamilton, $342,995; 4. Tristen Hutchings, $302,882; 5. Hayes Weight, $202,870; 6. T.J. Gray, $194,148; 7. Hudson Bolton, $189,478; 8. JR Stratford, $184,953; 9. Qynn Andersen, $171,987; 10. Jordan Spears, $170,713; 11. Bryce Jensen, $167,043; 12. Mason Moody, $166,060; 13. Rawley Johnson, $158,778; 14. Luke Mackey, $154,832; 15. Jesse Petri, $154,080.

All-Around: 1. Stetson Dell Wright, $485,007; 2. Wacey Schalla, $423,342; 3. Dylan Hancock, $171,494; 4. Brushton Minton, $166,927; 5. Jake Clay, $142,536; 6. Paden Bray, $112,953; 7. Tanner Green, $101,314; 8. Seth Hall, $100,966; 9. Cole Clemons, $99,801; 10. Slade Wood, $98,651.