World Champions

Congratulations to this year World Champion Cowboys and Cowgirls

All Around Cowboy – Ryan Jarrett
Bareback – Will Lowe
Steer Wrestling – Lee Graves
Team Roping – Clay Tryan and Patrick Smith
Saddle Bronc – Jeffery Willert
Calf Roping – Fred Whitfield
Barrel Racing – Kelly Kaminski
Bull Riding – Matt Austin

Wow, was this a year for the PRCA to shine. Matt Austin wins the World Bull Riding Championship as well as the Finals Average and beat the great Ty Murray’s record for single season earnings by taking home over $300,000 but here is the kicker – Matt didn’t win one round at the NFR. There are some great young bull riders who will make the next few years interesting without a doubt.

Will Lowe of Canyon, Texas claimed his second title by surviving what proved to be a cat fight to the finish. In the Saddle Bronc Jeffery Willert hung on by his fingernails to take home the title, while the great Rod Warren won the average title in Vegas. Even though Cody DeMoss and Billy Etbauer tied with a 90 in round ten, neither could make up the ground on Willert who finished high in the round. This may have been one of the most exciting Saddle Bronc finals in recent years. What else can you say about it when in one round they put 12 on the ground? And yes that included the two legends Billy Etbauer and Dan Mortensen.

Steer Wrestling and Team Roping were both fights to the finish. In Steer Wrestling Lee Graves took another title to Canada, in fact he took two as he won the world title and the finals average title. In the Team Roping, Tryan and Smith over came a lot of obstacles, won a lot of round money and stayed on top. We’d like to wish a farewell to the team of Speed and Rich as they announced that next year they’ll both rope with others. We also pray for a speedy recovery to Jake Barnes on the injury he suffered at NFR.

Calf Roping and Barrel Racing also came down to the final day. Well what else would you expect? Fred Whitfield slid in the drivers’ seat late in the week and then never gave up the keys as he battled a slew of big names to take home another title. Ryan Jarrett toped off a solid finish in Steer Wrestling with an Average win in Calf Roping to take home the All-Around title this year. Kelly Kaminski stayed solid all week, even with the number of barrels the girls hit this week there were a few that smoked ‘em when they had to and she was one of them. Kelly won her second title.