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Faith pro cowboy Cole Elshere rodeoed from Aberdeen to Las Vegas this year.
The saddle bronc rider rode in the Dacotah Stampede in Aberdeen in August and then finished up his season this weekend in Nevada. He was in Vegas for the 10-day 54th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo that started Dec. 6 and ended Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center.
It was his first Finals rodeo. On Dec. 10, Elshere won Round 5 with an 83-point ride on Lunatic Fringe.
“He was the horse I wanted because I knew I could ride him and he fit my style, but I knew all of the horses out there tonight were capable of beating Lunatic,” Elshere told the PRCA. “It worked out and I’ve been lucky to place in a few rounds before tonight, but winning a round was my goal in my first WNFR.”
Elshere finished fourth in the WNFR average. The average winners are those who have the best average for the 10 rounds of the WNFR.
Elshere also finished seventh in the world standings, based on money won during the 2011-12 season. He won $124,437 this season.
Elshere joined two other South Dakotans who won prestigious rounds at the Finals. On Friday, another Dacotah Stampede veteran won a round in barrel racing. Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs won Round 9 in 13.66 seconds.
The wife and mother of three also reached a milestone during her sixth straight Finals. The 47-year-old crossed the $1 million mark in earnings during her 12-year-career.
“When you really put things in perspective and see the stats on how few have reached that level, it makes it that much more sweet to know it’s a very elite group,” Lockhart told cowgirlimaging.com. “I’m honored.”
Lockhart finished third in the WNFR average and fifth in the world. She won $180,336 this season.
On Wednesday, Todd Suhn of Hermosa won Round 7 of steer wrestling in a time of 3.6 seconds. Suhn has qualified for the WNFR in steer wrestling 16 times, second only to Roy Duvall, and has won nearly $600,000 at the rodeo, but the feeling never gets old.
“I haven’t done it in a long time, so it was good,” Suhn told the PRCA.
Bullrider Ardie Maier of Timber Lake lacerated his riding hand on the first night, but he rode through the pain. He finished second in Round 4 on Dec. 9.
There were six South Dakotans in the WNFR this year, most of whom have rodeoed in Aberdeen. The other three were Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, saddle bronc riding; Todd Suhn, Hermosa, steer wrestling; and Nikki Steffes, Vale, barrel racing. Steffes was fifth in average.
Here are the 2012 world champions:
Bareback riding: Kaycee Feild of Payson, Utah (second world title, two in a row).
Steer wrestling: Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif. (fourth world title, two in a row).
Team roping — header: Chad Masters of Cedar Hill, Tenn. (second world title).
Team roping — heeler: Jade Corkill of Fallon, Nev. (first world title).
Saddle bronc riding: Jesse Wright of Milford, Utah (first world title).
Tie-down roping: Tuf Cooper of Decatur, Texas (second world title, two in a row).
Barrel racing: Mary Walker of Ennis, Texas (first world title).
Bull riding: Cody Teel of Kountze, Texas (first world title).
All-around: Team roper and tie-down roper Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas (17 world titles total, 10 of which are in all-around where he has won the last seven in a row). Brazile earned $298,626 team roping and tie-down roping this season.
Here are some highlights of the 10-day WNFR from the Professional Cowboy Rodeo Association:
Cowboys from different teams won world championships in team roping. Corkill won the heeler division, and Masters the header division. The last time that happened in 2007, Masters also was the header champion and Walt Woodard of Stephenville, Texas, won the heeling world championship gold buckle.
Saddle bronc rider Wright won his first world championship by earning $797 more than second-place finisher Cody DeMoss of Heflin, La. Wright earned $226,887 this season and DeMoss $226,090.
Bull rider Teel won his first world championship by earning $1,056 more than second-place finisher and three-time world champion J.W. Harris of Mullin, Texas.
The 53-year-old Walker looked like anything but the WNFR rookie that she was, winning $146,941 over 10 days and leaping from third to first in the world standings. She not only won the world title and the WNFR average, but also the Ram Truck Top Gun Award, given to the top earner in a single event at the WNFR.
|54th annual Wrangler|
|National Finals Rodeo|
|At Las Vegas|
|Thomas & Mack Center|
|BAREBACK RIDING|
|Saturday’s 10th round|
1. J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., 86.5 points on Lancaster & Pickett Pro Rodeo's Top Flight, $18,257; 2. Bobby Mote, Stephenville, Texas, 86.0, $14,429; 3. (tie) Steven $Dent, Mullen, Neb.; Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, and Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 85.5, $7,754; 6. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 84, $2,945; 7. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 82; 8. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 79.5; 9. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., 78.5; 10. Caleb Bennett, Morgan, Utah, 76; 11. Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 74.5; 12. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., 74; 13. (tie) Matt Bright, Azle, Texas; Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., and Jared Keylon, Uniontown, Kan., NS.
|WNFR Average Winners|
1. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 834 points on 10 head, $46,821; 2. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 813, $37,987; 3. Bobby Mote, Stephenville, Texas, 809.5, $30,036; 4. J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., 808, $22,085; 5. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., 801, $15,901; 6. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., 795.5, $11,484; 7. Caleb Bennett, Morgan, Utah, 782.5, $7,951; 8. Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 780.5, $4,417; 9. Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 738.0 on nine head; 10. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., 706.5; 11. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 641 on eight head; 12. Matt Bright, Azle, Texas, 636; 13. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 630; 14. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 570.5 on seven head; 15. Jared Keylon, Uniontown, Kan., 457.5 on six head.
|Final World Standings|
1. Kaycee Feild, $276,850; 2. Will Lowe, $220,269; 3. Bobby Mote, $200,289; 4. J.R. Vezain, $199,304; 5. Steven Dent, $157,763; 6. Wes Stevenson, $141,667; 7. Caleb Bennett, $127,989; 8. Jessy Davis, $126,324.
|STEER WRESTLING|
|Saturday’s 10th round|
1. Gabe Ledoux, Kaplan, La., 3.3 seconds, $18,257; 2. Bray Armes, Gruver, Texas, 3.5, $14,429; 3. Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo., 3.7, $10,895; 4. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 3.9, $7,656; 5. (tie) Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., and Matt Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas, 4.2, $3,828 each; 7. Beau Clark, Belgrade, Mont., 4.4; 8. (tie) K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, and Les Shepperson, Midwest, Wyo., 4.6 each; 10. Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D., 4.7; 11. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 4.8; 12. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 4.9; 13. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif., 5.2; 14. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 13.5; 15. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif., NT.
|WNFR Average Winners|
1. Les Shepperson, Midwest, Wyo., 48.6 seconds on 10 head, $46,821; 2. Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 50.0, $37,987; 3. Beau Clark, Belgrade, Mont., 54.3, $30,036; 4. Bray Armes, Gruver, Texas, 55.2, $22,085; 5. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 57.7, $15,901; 6. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 62.9, $11,484; 7. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 36.8 on nine head, $7,951; 8. Todd Suhn, Hermosa, S.D., 41.2, $4,417; 9. Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo., 43.3; 10. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif., 49.2; 11. Matt Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas, 50.6; 12. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 51.1; 13. Gabe Ledoux, Kaplan, La., 35.6 on eight head; 14. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif., 36.8; 15. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 46.2.
|Final World Standings|
1. Luke Branquinho, $158,963; 2. Casey Martin, $145,065; 3. Les Shepperson, $143,826; 4. Wade Sumpter, $139,955; 5. Dean Gorsuch, $139,036; 6. Bray Armes, $131,249; 7. Ethen Thouvenell, $120,192; 8. Gabe Ledoux, $120,085.
|TEAM ROPING|
|Saturday’s 10th round|
1. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 4.0 seconds, $18,257 each; 2. (tie) Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, and Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Dugan Kelly, Paso Robles, Calif., 4.1, $12,662 each; 4. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.9, $7,656; 5. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn./Clay O'Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., 5.2, $4,712; 6. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas, 5.7, $2,945; 7. Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn./Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont., 6.1; 8. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 10.0; 9. (tie) Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas/Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore.; Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont./Paul Eaves, Millsap, Texas; Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz.; Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan.; Brock Hanson, Casa Grande, Ariz./Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas; Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., and Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Dakota Kirchenschlager, Stephenville, Texas, NT.
|WNFR Average Winners|
1. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn./Clay O'Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev., 73.4 seconds on 10 head, $46,821 each; 2. Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn./Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont., 65.2 on nine head, $37,987; 3. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas, 46.4 on eight head, $30,036; 4. Brock Hanson, Casa Grande, Ariz./Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas, 63.8, $22,085; 5. Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Ga./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 31.2 on seven head, $15,901; 6. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 40.5, $11,484; 7. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 52.3, $7,951; 8. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas/Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., 52.5, $4,417; 9. Turtle Powell, Stephenville, Texas/Dugan Kelly, Paso Robles, Calif., 54.9; 10. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 55.2; 11. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Dakota Kirchenschlager, Stephenville, Texas, 27.0 on five head; 12. Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore./Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., 38.8; 13. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont./Paul Eaves, Millsap, Texas, 46.9; 14. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, 35.5 on four head; 15. Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 49.3.
|Final World Standings|
|Headers|
1. Chad Masters, $196,099; 2. Kaleb Driggers, $194,888; 3. Trevor Brazile, $182,903; 4. Keven Daniel, $166,689; 5. Erich Rogers, $161,843; 6. Derrick Begay, $155,233; 7. Brock Hanson, $141,582; 8. Clay Tryan, $138,787.
|Heelers|
1. Jade Corkill, $190,797; 2. Clay O'Brien Cooper, $189,666; 3. Patrick Smith, $184,403; 4. Chase Tryan, $166,189; 5. Kory Koontz, $161,128; 6. Cesar de la Cruz, $153,805; 7. Ryan Motes, $150,657; 8. Travis Graves, $137,287.
|SADDLE BRONC RIDING|
|Saturday’s 10th round|
1. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 86 points on Smith Harper & Morgan Rodeo's Painted Feather, $18,257; 2. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 85, $14,429; 3. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, 84, $10,895; 4. (tie) Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, and Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, 80.5, $6,184 each; 6. (tie) Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D.,and Sterling Crawley, College Station, Texas, 77.5, $1,472 each; 8. Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., 76.5; 9. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 75.5; 10. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 73; 11. (tie) Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., and Tyrell Smith, Cascade, Mont., 72.5; 13. (tie) Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa; Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., and Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, NS.
|WNFR Average Winners|
1. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 798.5 points on 10 head, $46,821; 2. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 740.5 on nine, $37,987; 3. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 628.0 on eight, $30,036; 4. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 620.5, $22,085; 5. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 609.0, $15,901; 6. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 583.0 on seven head, $11,484; 7. Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., 553.0, $7,951; 8. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, 548.5, $4,417; 9. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 533.5; 10. Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, 512.5; 11. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 488.5 on six head; 12. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 483.5; 13. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, 470.5; 14. Tyrell Smith, Cascade, Mont., 470; 15. Sterling Crawley, College Station, Texas, 396.5 on five head.
|Final World Standings|
1. Jesse Wright, $226,887; 2. Cody DeMoss, $226,090; 3. Cody Wright, $203,661; 4. Wade Sundell, $193,494; 5. Taos Muncy, $157,427; 6. Jake Wright, $125,840; 7. Cole Elshere, $124,437; 8. Cody Taton, $98,428.
|TIE-DOWN ROPING|
|Saturday’s 10th round|
1. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, 7.0 seconds, $18,257; 2. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 7.2, $14,429; 3. Bradley Bynum, Sterling City, Texas, 7.3, $10,895; 4. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 7.5, $7,656; 5. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 7.6, $4,712; 6. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 7.9, $2,945; 7. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 8.3; 8. Clif Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 9.0; 9. Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, 13.2; 10. Houston Hutto, Tomball, Texas, 15.8; 11. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, 16.3; 12. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 17.0; 13. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 20.6; 14. (tie) Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., and Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, NT.
|WNFR Average Winners|
1. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 87.8 seconds on 10 head, $46,821; 2. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 90.6, $37,987; 3. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 92.5, $30,036; 4. Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, 92.9, $22,085; 5. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, 93.8, $15,901; 6. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla., 95.6, $11,484; 7. Bradley Bynum, Sterling City, Texas, 97.7, $7,951; 8. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, 112.9, $4,417; 9. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 83.6 on nine head; 10. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 85.8; 11. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 92.0; 12. Houston Hutto, Tomball, Texas, 113.9; 13. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 73.7 on eight head; 14. Clif Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 82.0; 15. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 53.0 on four head.
|Final World Standings|
1. Tuf Cooper, $232,885; 2. Justin Maass, $197,594; 3. Cody Ohl, $177,277; 4. Clint Robinson, $169,730; 5. Shane Hanchey, $159,311; 6. Adam Gray, 153,016; 7. Bradley Bynum, $132,949; 8. Ryan Jarrett, $125,849.
|BARREL RACING|
|Saturday’s 10th round|
1. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 13.57 seconds, $18,257; 2. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 13.76, $14,429; 3. Lee Ann Rust, Stephenville, Texas, 13.87, $10,895; 4. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 13.96, $7,656; 5. Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D., 13.97, $4,712; 6. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 14.01, $2,945; 7. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, 14.04; 8. Benette Barrington-Little, Ardmore, Okla., 14.09; 9. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 14.12; 10. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., 14.23; 11. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., 14.91; 12. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 18.94; 13. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 19.06; 14. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 19.07; 15. Kelli Tolbert, Hooper, Utah, 24.13.
|WNFR Average Winners|
1. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 141.79 seconds on 10 runs, $46,821; 2. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 143.52, $37,987; 3. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 143.96, $30,036; 4. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 144.69, $22,085; 5. Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D., 147.19, $15,901; 6. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., 156.32, $11,484; 7. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., 158.41, $7,951; 8. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, 158.97, $4,417; 9. Benette Barrington-Little, Ardmore, Okla., 160.45; 10. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 161.46; 11. Lee Ann Rust, Stephenville, Texas, 164.59; 12. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 170.32; 13. Kelli Tolbert, Hooper, Utah, 178.56; 14. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 178.92; 15. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 135.78 on nine head.
|Final World Standings|
1. Mary Walker, $274,233; 2. Carlee Pierce, $204,322; 3. Brittany Pozzi, $194,224; 4. Lindsay Sears, $190,062; 5. Lisa Lockhart, $180,336; 6. Kaley Bass, $154,306; 7. Brenda Mays, $137,748; 8. Sherry Cervi, $130,263.
|BULL RIDING|
|Saturday’s 10th round|
1. Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash., 86.5 points on Wild Card Rodeo's Squawk Box, $18,257; 2. Seth Glause, Cheyenne, Wyo., 81.5, $14,429; 3. (tie) Beau Schroeder, China, Texas, and Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo., 79.5, $9,276 each; 5. (tie) J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas; Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas; Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas; Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D.; Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla.; Tate Stratton, Kellyville, Okla.; Cody Samora, Cortez, Colo.; Cody Whitney, Sayre, Okla.; Clayton Savage, Casper, Wyo.; Tag Elliott, Thatcher, Utah, and Brett Stall, Detroit Lakes, Minn., NS.
|WNFR Average Winners|
1. Beau Schroeder, China, Texas, 423 points on five head, $46,821; 2. Seth Glause, Cheyenne, Wyo., 417.5, $37,987; 3. Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla., 334.5 on four, $30,036; 4. Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash., 330.5, $22,085; 5. Clayton Savage, Casper, Wyo., 326.0, $15,901; 6. Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas, 305.5, $11,484; 7. J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, 261.0 on three, $7,951; 8. Brett Stall, Detroit Lakes, Minn., 249.5, $4,417; 9. Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo., 244; 10. Cody Whitney, Sayre, Okla., 175.5 on two head; 11. Tag Elliott, Thatcher, Utah, 168; 12. Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas, 156; 13. Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D., 76 on one head; 14. (tie) Tate Stratton, Kellyville, Okla., and Cody Samora, Cortez, Colo., NS.
|Final World Standings|
1. Cody Teel, $201,978; 2. J.W. Harris, $200,922; 3. Seth Glause, $192,818; 4. Beau Schroeder, $181,871; 5. Trevor Kastner, $168,553; 6. Shane Proctor, $145,871; 7. Kanin Asay, $129,868; 8. Clayton Savage, $125,167.
John Papendick is the managing news-sports editor for the American News. Reach him at jpapendick@aberdeennews.com.
Blog: aberdeensports.net/inthehuddle.
Twitter:#jpapendick