Written by: PRCA

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LAS VEGAS – The 2015 edition of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER got off to a historical start.

Trevor Brazile, the 22-time world champion, won the tie-down roping with a 6.8-second run – the fastest Round 1 time in WNFR history.

“That’s sweet, I had no idea,” Brazile said of setting the record.

Matt Shiozawa posted a 6.9-second time tonight, which tied the previous Round 1 record set by Cody Ohl in 2004. Brazile wasted little time taking the record for himself.

“I’m going to stay aggressive,” Brazile said. “Some people will be wondering about me taking a risk by only taking one wrap (instead of two) so early in the week. You just have to go with your gut. I’ve been to a few National Finals, and when I feel like the risk is necessary I will try it. I’ve had it go both ways. I’ve reaped the benefits and suffered the consequences.”

Brazile set the record with a little help from his No. 1 sorrel horse, Deputy. “He’s the reason I’m still competitive at 39,” said Brazile, who’s now won a record 60 National Finals go-rounds in tie-down roping, team roping and steer roping.

While Brazile made a statement at the timed-event end, bull rider Parker Breding did the same on the roughstock side.

The 23-year-old from Edgar, Mont., rode for 86.5 points on Smith, Harper and Morgan’s Magic Bullet – but it came with a price.

Breding took a horn under his protective vest to his ribs and needed attention at the Justin Sportsmedicine room after the rodeo.

“I’ve had cracked ribs before, but I’ve never had a bull’s horn get up in my vest like that,” he said. “It’s a scary deal, because people have been killed that way before. I was dang sure blessed tonight, that the bull didn’t stay with me too long.”

Sage Kimzey, the defending world champion and world standings leader, was bucked off, allowing Breding – who entered Las Vegas second – to gain $26,231 on Kimzey in the world standings. Breding now trails Kimzey by less than one round win. However, his competing status for the rest of the WNFR is in doubt.

“He’s OK right now; we’re keeping an eye on him,” said Dr. Tandy Freeman of the Justin Sportsmedicine team. “He’s got some abdominal tenderness, but not anything to suggest he’s got a major injury. He’s probably got a couple of fractured ribs. He’ll probably end up getting some X-rays, and we’ll see how he’s doing tomorrow.”

Bareback rider Tim O’Connell knows about injuries at the WNFR. After suffering several of them during the 10 nights of the 2014 WNFR, he started his second Las Vegas trip in a much better way tonight. O’Connell rode for 84.5 points on D&H Cattle’s Dilly Bar to earn $26,231. It was his second round win, but first outright – he split the Round 4 victory with four-time World Champion Bobby Mote in 2014.

However, O’Connell, the 24-year-old from Zwingle, Iowa, isn’t satisfied with one big check and one victory lap.

“I have Kaycee Feild and five other guys ahead of me and I’m here to win a world title,” O’Connell said. “I’m going to press every night and ride all of them like it’s for the world title. I wrote down my goals when I left this arena last year, and I went and evaluated what I did wrong and what I could do better. My goal is to be the 2015 world champion, and I’m planning on riding like it.”

It was a big night for the team roping duo of Aaron Tsinigine and Ryan Motes. Their 4.1-second time was good enough for the victory. The 4.1 tied for the second-fastest Round 1 time ever at the WNFR.

This was the fourth times Motes has won or split a round win in Las Vegas in 21 runs, which is a success rate of 19 percent – not too shabby.

He said the competition was stiff, making the round win all the more satisfying.

“It’s got to be the toughest first round we’ve ever had,” Motes said. “Right from the beginning it was fast. Normally, there are several misses in the first round – a lot of legs and stuff. Tonight, people were on point and sharp. It’s a lot easier to get going when it is semi-tough. You know people are taking chances and being aggressive.”

For Tsinigine, it was more of the same at the WNFR – cashing a check. Going back to Round 6 of the 2014 WNFR, the 29-year-old from Tuba City, Ariz., has been in the money in six straight rounds – including two victory laps.

Getting to compete with Motes for the first time in the Thomas & Mack Center was something Tsinigine was thrilled about.

“Last year, I was kind of bummed out Ryan didn’t get to come with me (after they roped together during the regular season),” Tsinigine said. “Being here with him this year means everything to me. We are best friends and we get along real good.”

A man familiar with the Thomas & Mack Center, steer wrestler K.C. Jones, found immediate success. Jones began his ninth appearance in Las Vegas by picking up the fourth WNFR round win of his career, and the first in Round 1.

The 44-year-old from Decatur, Texas, posted a 3.4-second time to edge Kyle Irwin’s 3.5 and collect $26,231. The time tied for the third best time ever in Round 1, and it’s one of only seven times that’s been under 3.5 in the round.

“That was a red steer that I didn’t think we would be that fast on, but that little black mare I rode (Smoker, owned by Jud Little), is just so fast, and it worked out,” Jones said.

The big payday was something the 20-year veteran was fired up about.

“It’s so exciting this year with $10 million dollars,” he said. “There are a lot of people who worked hard to get that purse up there for the contestants and we’re really thankful to them. It makes it really exciting when you win $26,000 in (just under) 3.5 seconds.”

Saddle bronc rider Wade Sundell continued his tradition of getting off to a fast start in Las Vegas. Sundell rode for 86.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Fire Lane to win, and it was the sixth time in seven first rounds that Sundell has earned a check.

“They normally win a round on that horse every year here,” Sundell said of Fire Lane. “I knew I had a good chance. That horse is really snappy and I had to keep my chin down. I just let it all hang out.”

It was a tough night for the saddle bronc riders, as it was the first time since 1985 – the first year the WNFR was held in Las Vegas – that fewer than 11 riders recorded a score.

“I didn’t know what was going on at first,” Sundell said of the first three riders being bucked off.  “Nobody was making the whistle. This is a good pen of horses.”

This was the tenth time Sundell has at least split a round win at the WNFR. Sundell has drawn Frontier Rodeo’s Tip Off for Round 2 on Friday night.

“I’ll come gassin’ and I’m due to ride him,” Sundell said of his strategy. “I’ve been on him three times for a total of about eight seconds.”

The 57th annual Wrangler NFR continues Friday with the second round at the Thomas & Mack Center. The action will be televised live and in HD on CBS Sports Net (DirecTV channel 221 and DISH Network channel 158) from 7-10 p.m. PT.

 

First Performance Results, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.

 

Bareback riding:

1. Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, on D&H Cattle’s Dilly Bar, 84.5 points, $26,231; 2. Evan Jayne, Marseille, France, 83, $20, 731; 3. Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah; Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas; Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba; and Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 81, $9,413 each; 7. Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., 80; 8. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 79; 9. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 76; 10. Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 75; 11. Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, 71.5; 12. Bobby Mote, Stephenville, Texas, 67; 13. (tie) Jake Brown, Hillsboro, Texas; Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas; and Clint Laye, Cadogan, Alberta, NS.

World standings: 1. Kaycee Feild, $137,559; 2. Evan Jayne, $123,751; 3. Tim O’Connell, $122,795; 4. Austin Foss, $108,741; 5. Jake Brown, $107,994; 6. Will Lowe, $102,396; 7. Orin Larsen, $101,041; 8. Steven Peebles, $99,499; 9. Bobby Mote, $98,486; 10. Clint Cannon, $96,686; 11. Tanner Aus, $95,660; 12. Caleb Bennett, $91,302; 13. Seth Hardwick, $90,639; 14. Clint Laye, $90,307; 15. Winn Ratliff, $85,754.

 

Steer wrestling:

1. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 3.4 seconds, $26,231; 2. Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 3.5, $20,731; 3. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 3.6, $15,654; 4. (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., and Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 3.8, $8,885 each; 6. Baylor Roche, Tremonton, Utah, 3.9, $4,231; 7. (tie) Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, and Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 4.4; 9. (tie) Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., and Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 4.5; 11. Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 4.7; 12. Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore., 4.8; 13. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La., 5.2; 14. Tanner Milan, Cochrane, Alberta, 6.1; 15. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 6.3.

World standings: 1. Ty Erickson, $115,433; 2. Kyle Irwin, $107,317; 3. K.C. Jones, $107,216; 4. Clayton Hass, $105,181; 5. Hunter Cure, $102,393; 6. Nick Guy, $93,288; 7. Dakota Eldridge, $86,438; 8. Luke Branquinho, $86,191; 9. Baylor Roche, $85,786; 10. Tyler Waguespack, $85,245; 11. Casey Martin, $84,041; 12. Seth Brockman, $81,559; 13. Trevor Knowles, $81,128; 14. Tanner Milan, $76,327; 15. Blake Knowles, $74,747.

 

Team roping:

1. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz./Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas, 4.1 seconds, $26,231; 2. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla., 4.2, $20,731; 3. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas/Kory Koontz, Stephenville, Texas, 4.3, $15,654; 4. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 4.4, $11,000; 5. (tie) Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla./Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, and JoJo LeMond; 7. (tie) Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., and Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 4.7; 9. (tie) Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M./Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., and Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla./Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo., 5.0; 11. Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz./Travis Woodard, Stockton, Calif., 6.4; 12. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 9.7; 13. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn./Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 10.6; 14. Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 14.6; 15. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Clay O’Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., NT.

World standings (headers): 1. Clay Tryan, $151,497; 2. Aaron Tsinigine, $119,999; 3. Derrick Begay, $104,868; 4. Colby Lovell, $104,484; 5. Luke Brown, $103,140; 6. Chad Masters, $102,658; 7. Trevor Brazile, $102,268; 8. Jake Cooper, $90,933; 9. Nick Sartain, $89,579; 10. Erich Rogers, $88,669; 11. Clay Smith, $81,228; 12. Coleman Proctor, $80,130; 13. Riley Minor, $77,592; 14. Matt Sherwood, $77,436; 15. JoJo LeMond, $76,303. World standings (heelers): 1. Jade Corkill, $151,497; 2. Ryan Motes, $118,867; 3. Kollin VonAhn, $109,755; 4. Clay O’Brien Cooper, $105,988; 5. Kory Koontz, $104,121; 6. Patrick Smith, $102,268; 7. Travis Graves, $95,265; 8. Rich Skelton, $89,579; 9. Travis Woodard, $88,519; 10. Paul Eaves, $87,430; 11. Junior Nogueira, $86,833; 12. Cory Petska, $84,827; 13. Jake Long, $78,344; 14. Brady Minor, $76,263; 15. Russell Cardoza, $76,080.

 

Saddle bronc riding:

1. Wade Sundell, Coleman, Okla., 86.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Fire Lane, $26,231; 2. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., 86.0, $20,731; 3. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 83.5, $15,654; 4. Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas, 82.5, $11,000; 5. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 82.0, $6,769; 6. CoBurn Bradshaw, Beaver, Utah, 81.5, $4,231; 7. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 81.0; 8. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, 79.5; 9. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 74.5; 10. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 72.0; 11. (tie) Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah; Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D.; Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah; Bradley Harter, Loranger, La.; and Tyrel Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba, NS.

World standings: 1. Cody DeMoss, $136,166; 2. Wade Sundell, $130,911; 3. Jacobs Crawley, $129,862; 4. Rusty Wright, $125,987; 5. Isaac Diaz, $113,566; 6. Jake Wright, $111,078; 7. Taos Muncy, $108,654; 8. Heith DeMoss, $99,085; 9. Cort Scheer, $98,737; 10. Chuck Schmidt, $94,910; 11. Spencer Wright, $84,338; 12. Zeke Thurston, $82,278; 13. Bradley Harter, $81,310; 14. CoBurn Bradshaw, $80,377; 15. Tyrel Larsen, $71,172.

 

Tie-down roping:

1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 6.8 seconds, $26,231; 2. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 6.9, $20,731; 3. (tie) Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, and Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 7.1, $13,327 each; 5. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 7.5, $6,769; 6. Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas, 8.0, $4,231; 7. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 8.2; 8. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 9.0; 9. Marcos Costa, Childress, Texas, 9.2; 10. Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 9.5; 11. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 9.7; 12. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 10.0; 13. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 12.0; 14. (tie) Sterling Smith, Stephenville, Texas, and Tyson Durfey, Savannah, Mo., NT.

World standings: 1. Tuf Cooper, $140,803; 2. Timber Moore, $136,125; 3. Trevor Brazile, $128,209; 4. Matt Shiozawa, $115,720; 5. Marty Yates, $109,281; 6. Hunter Herrin, $103,813; 7. Caleb Smidt, $101,681; 8. Cade Swor, $101,200; 9. Ryan Jarrett, $95,967; 10. Marcos Costa, $94,343; 11. Monty Lewis, $92,903; 12. Cory Solomon, $92,483; 13. Shane Hanchey, $87,226; 14. Sterling Smith, $82,297; 15. Tyson Durfey, $82,060.

 

Barrel racing:

1. Cassidy Kruse, Gillette, Wyo., 13.84 seconds, $26,231; 2. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 13.90, $20,731; 3. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 13.96, $15,654; 4. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.07, $11,000; 5. Callie duPerier, Boerne, Texas, 14.08, $6,769; 6. Jackie Ganter, Abilene, Texas, 14.09, $4,231; 7. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 14.13; 8. Jana Bean, Fort Hancock, Texas, 14.17; 9. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 14.21; 10. Carley Richardson, Pampa, Texas, 14.24; 11. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 14.27; 12. Sarah Rose McDonald, Brunswick, Ga., 18.89; 13. Taylor Jacob, Carmine, Texas, 19.06; 14. Vickie Carter, Richfield, Utah, 19.16; 15. Deb Guelly, Okotoks, Alberta, 19.29.

World standings: 1. Callie duPerier, $183,692; 2. Lisa Lockhart, $182,251; 3. Sarah Rose McDonald, $144,599; 4. Mary Walker, $135,759; 5. Cassidy Kruse, $117,577; 6. Sherry Cervi, $114,744; 7. Nancy Hunter, $106,686; 8. Fallon Taylor, $96,828; 9. Michele McLeod, $91,397; 10. Taylor Jacob, $90,508; 11. Carley Richardson, $87,820; 12. Jackie Ganter, $83,550; 13. Vickie Carter, $72,768; 14. Jana Bean, $70,162; 15. Deb Guelly, $69,769.

 

Bull riding:

1. Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., 86.5 points on Smith Harper & Morgan’s Magic Bullet, $26,231; 2. Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash., 81.5, $20,731; 3. Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas, 78, $15,654; 4. Caleb Sanderson, Hallettsville, Texas, 74.5, $11,000; 5. (tie) Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla.; Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah; Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla.; Chandler Bownds, Lubbock, Texas; Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah; Kody DeShon, Helena, Mont.; Brett Stall, Detroit Lakes, Minn.; Dustin Bowen, Waller, Texas; Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo.; Reid Barker, Comfort, Texas; Clayton Foltyn, Winnie, Texas, NS.

World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $184,601; 2. Parker Breding, $158,477; 3. Brennon Eldred, $120,041; 4. Wesley Silcox, $115,778; 5. Shane Proctor, $109,744; 6. Cody Teel, $108,672; 7. Chandler Bownds, $98,441; 8. Joe Frost, $93,812; 9. Caleb Sanderson, $86,114; 10. Brett Stall, $86,089; 11. Dustin Bowen, $75,250; 12. Clayton Foltyn, $75,227; 13. Ty Wallace, $73,905; 14. Reid Barker, $73,847; 15. Kody DeShon, $72,633.