Zeke Thurston Claims Third World Title and Aggregate Championship at WNFR
Zeke Thurston wins his third world championship and walks away with the aggregate title.
Photo by Phil Doyle
EDMONTON, Alberta (December 10th, 2022) – He may not have placed in the last round of the Wrangler National Finals but Jeff Medders said it best – “he didn’t win the battle but he won the war”. Jess Pope exemplified talent and determination all throughout the 2022 season, which is why he is not only the 2022 world champion bareback rider, but the aggregate champion as well. Pope started the finals strong by placing second in the first round with an 87 point ride on “Straight Stick” from J Bar J, and then placed within the top four of all the rounds except two. Pope finished the finals with an average score of 860 points on eight head and $390,620.11 in total earnings for the year.
In the steer wrestling it was a tight race, but only one would come out on top as the world champion. Tyler Waguespack came into the finals with a strong lead and remained on top after placing in six out of ten rounds and splitting for first in the eighth round. Waguespack has now won his fourth world title and finished the year with $268,881.34 won. Walking away with the 2022 WNFR aggregate championship, in the steer wrestling, is Kyle Irwin. After placing in seven out of ten rounds and having a total time of 46.10 seconds, this cowboy is incredibly deserving of this championship.
It was a close call in this event and we were able to witness two teams battle it out during the finals. Walking away with the aggregate team roping championship, and a new record score of 53 seconds flat from seven rounds, was Patrick Smith and Tanner Tomlinson. Taking home the 2022 world championship title Junior Nogueira and Kaleb Driggers, their second world championship in a row. Nogueira and Driggers both finished the season with $340,708.23 won.
The saddle bronc riding was dominated by the Canadians all week long, therefore it is no surprise that one of our own came out on top. After placing in all but one round, Zeke Thurston has now walked away with his third world championship and the aggregate championship. Thurston had won first in the fourth round with an 88.5 point ride on “Heaven on Earth” from the Championship Pro Rodeo and first in the final round with an 89.5 on “All or Nothin” from Andrews Rodeo, while also placing in the top six in every other round except the fifth round where he was just out of the money. Thurston has done it all now by winning a Canadian title and a world title all in the same year. Finishing strong, Thurston has won $399,915.64 total for the 2022 PRCA season.
In the tie-down roping there was another cowboy that walked away with both the aggregate championship and the world championship. Caleb Smidt has now won his fourth world championship and ended the season with $374,736.70 won and ended the finals with a total score of 82.50 seconds after ten rounds.
In the barrel racing, this cowgirl was hard to catch all week long. This WNFR consisted of some of the toughest barrel racers ever witnessed in the Thomas and Mack, but nobody is shocked to see who came out on top. Hailey Kinsel has walked away with yet another world title after winning five rounds and finishing the season with $302,172 in season earnings. Kinsel has also hit the one million dollar mark in career earnings with the help of her great horse Sister. Walking away with the aggregate title was Shelley Morgan, being one of the only ladies to have not hit a barrel during the entire finals. This was Morgan’s fourth qualification to the WNFR but her first aggregate championship.
Lastly, in the bull riding, the man who had won close to one million dollars ($927,940) in the 2022 season: Stetson Wright. Wright had accomplished what every cowboy would dream of at the young age of 23. This is his seventh qualification to the WNFR, his fourth all-around championship, and his second world title in the bull riding. Wright also posted the highest mark bull ride during the entire finals during round four where he was 92 points on “Belly Dump” from the Salt River Rodeo.
Congratulations to all the 2022 World Champions and 2022 Wrangler NFR Aggregate Champions!
2022 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Results
Round 10, Dec. 10
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
All-Around: 1. Stetson Wright, $758,829; 2. Caleb Smidt, $372,964; 3. Josh Frost, $307,965; 3. 4. Zack Jongbloed, $235,261; 5. Marty Yates, $225,732; 6. Haven Meged, $214,306; 7. Coleman Proctor, $212,521; 8. Rhen Richard, $181,703; 9. Taylor Santos, $159,179; 10. Paul David Tierney, $118,792.
Bareback Riding: Tenth round: 1. Kaycee Feild, 92 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo Co.’s Night Crawler, $28,914; 2. Clayton Biglow, 90, $22,851; 3. (tie) Tim O’Connell and Tanner Aus, 88.5, $14,690 each; 5. (tie) Rocker Steiner and Cole Franks, 88, $6,063 each; 7. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Leighton Berry, 86.5; 9. Tilden Hooper, 85; 10. R.C. Landingham, 84; 11. Garrett Shadbolt, 83.5; 12. Ty Breuer, 82.5; 13. Jess Pope, 81.5; 14. Cole Reiner, 80.5; 15. Orin Larsen, Out. Average: 1. Jess Pope, 860 points on ten head, $74,150; 2. Cole Franks, 852, $60,159; 3. Kaycee Feild, 851, $47,568; 4. R.C. Landingham, 846, $34,976; 5. Leighton Berry, 839, $25,183; 6. Tim O’Connell, 838.5, $18,188; 7. Cole Reiner, 829.5, $12,592; 8. Ty Breuer, 812, $6,995; 9. Caleb Bennett, 807.5; 10. Garrett Shadbolt, 806.5; 11. Tilden Hooper, 761 points on nine head; 12. Rocker Steiner, 754.5; 13. Tanner Aus, 738.5; 14. Clayton Biglow, 679 points on eight head; 15. Orin Larsen, 217.5 points on three head. World standings: 1. Jess Pope, $390,620; 2. Kaycee Feild, $316,490; 3. Leighton Berry, $267,274; 4. Cole Franks, $263,378; 5. R.C. Landingham, $246,696; 6. Tim O’Connell, $234,232; 7. Cole Reiner, $228,021; 8. Tanner Aus, $206,851; 9. Tilden Hooper, $188,477; 10. Rocker Steiner, $185,367; 11. Clayton Biglow, $173,605; 12. Caleb Bennett, $163,353; 13. Garrett Shadbolt, $151,257; 14. Orin Larsen, $133,784; 15. Ty Breuer, $122,744.
Steer Wrestling: Tenth round: 1. Jesse Brown, 3.4 seconds, $28,914; 2. Hunter Cure, 3.7, $22,851; 3. Tanner Brunner, 3.9, $17,255; 4. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Kyle Irwin, 4.0, $9,793 each; 6. Ty Erickson, 4.2, $4,664; 7. Tristan Martin, 4.3; 8. J.D. Struxness, 4.5; 9. (tie) Dirk Tavenner and Nick Guy, 5.2; 11. Dakota Eldridge, 6.1; 12. Will Lummus, 14.6; 13. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen, Rowdy Parrott and Timmy Sparing, NT. Average: 1. Kyle Irwin, 46.1 seconds on ten head, $74,150; 2. Jesse Brown, 48.1, $60,159; 3. Tyler Waguespack, 57.1, $47,568; 4. Will Lummus, 61.6, $34,976; 5. Tanner Brunner, 69.2, $25,183; 6. Hunter Cure, 39.3 seconds on nine head, $18,188; 7. J.D. Struxness, 41.9, $12,592; 8. Dakota Eldridge, 43.7, $6,995; 9. Dirk Tavenner, 54.7; 10. Stetson Jorgensen, 55.7; 11. Ty Erickson, 61.3; 12. Tristan Martin, 34.7 seconds on eight head; 13. Rowdy Parrott, 36.3; 14. Nick Guy, 47.8; 15. Timmy Sparing, 49.9. World standings: 1. Tyler Waguespack, $268,881; 2. Will Lummus, $266,188; 3. Kyle Irwin, $249,892; 4. Hunter Cure, $247,309; 5. Jesse Brown, $241,152; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, $235,288; 7. J.D. Struxness, $197,228; 8. Ty Erickson, $192,400; 9. Tanner Brunner, $174,746; 10. Tristan Martin, $170,981; 11. Dakota Eldridge, $159,256; 12. Nick Guy, $148,880; 13. Rowdy Parrott, $130,926; 14. Dirk Tavenner, $127,177; 15. Timmy Sparing, $95,199.
Team Roping: Tenth round: 1. (tie) Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler and Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 3.7 seconds, $23,007 each; 4. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 3.8, $12,125; 5. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 4.2, $7,462; 6. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 4.9, $4,664; 7. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 6.2; 8. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 9.0; 9. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 9.2; 10. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 9.3; 11. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, Clay Smith/Jake Long and Jake Orman/Brye Crites, NT. Average: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 53.0 seconds on ten head, $74,150 each; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 71.4 seconds on nine head, $60,159; 3. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 73.6, $47,568; 4. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 43.2 seconds on eight head, $34,976; 5. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 50.2, $25,183; 6. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 56.2, $18,188; 7. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 38.4 seconds on seven head, $12,592; 8. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 39.1, $6,995; 9. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 45.5; 10. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 30.3 seconds on six head; 11. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 32.2; 12. Lightning Aguilera/Jonathan Torres, 40.8; 13. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 44.9; 14. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 21.7 seconds on four head; 15. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 50.6. World standings (headers): 1. Kaleb Driggers, $340,708; 2. Tanner Tomlinson, $307,095; 3. Clay Tryan, $264,955; 4. Andrew Ward, $226,723; 5. Jr. Dees, $209,730; 6. Coleman Proctor, $207,355; 7. Dustin Egusquiza, $201,831; 8. Tyler Wade, $196,869; 9. Rhen Richard, $178,454; 10. Chad Masters, $169,184; 11. Riley Minor, $155,917; 12. Lightning Aguilera, $152,886; 13. Cody Snow, $137,363; 14. Clay Smith, $131,806; 15. Jake Orman, $129,422. World standings (heeler): 1. Junior Nogueira, $340,708; 2. Patrick Smith, $307,095; 3. Jade Corkill, $231,147; 4. Buddy Hawkins II, $225,181; 5. Levi Lord, $211,128; 6. Logan Medlin, $207,355; 7. Travis Graves, $202,545; 8. Trey Yates, $193,306; 9. Jeremy Buhler, $179,390; 10. Joseph Harrison, $173,855; 11. Jake Long, $173,287; 12. Brady Minor, $155,917; 13. Jonathan Torres, $145,432; 14. Wesley Thorp, $137,363; 15. Brye Crites, $130,764.
Saddle Bronc Riding: Tenth round: 1. (tie) Zeke Thurston, on Andrews Rodeo’s All or Nothin, Kolby Wanchuk, on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ The Black Tie and Chase Brooks, on Sutton Rodeo’s South Point, 89.5 points, $23,007 each; 4. Sage Newman, 88.5, $12,125; 5. (tie) Stetson Wright and Ryder Wright, 88, $6,063 each; 7. Dawson Hay, 87; 8. Kade Bruno, 86.5; 9. (tie) Lefty Holman and Logan Hay, 86; 11. (tie) Brody Cress and Kole Ashbacher, 85; 13. Wyatt Casper, 84; 14. (tie) Layton Green and Tanner Butner, NS. Average: 1. Zeke Thurston, 876.5 points on ten head, $74,150; 2. Logan Hay, 863, $60,159; 3. Brody Cress, 777, $47,568; 4. Lefty Holman, 785 points on nine head, $34,976; 5. Stetson Wright, 781.5, $25,183; 6. Dawson Hay, 775.5, $18,188; 7. Kade Bruno, 757, $12,592; 8. Kolby Wanchuk, 748, $6,995; 9. Tanner Butner, 728; 10. Chase Brooks, 687 points on eight head; 11. (tie) Sage Newman and Ryder Wright, 666; 13. Kole Ashbacher, 657.5; 14. Wyatt Casper, 649.5; 15. Layton Green, 562.5 points on seven head. World standings: 1. Zeke Thurston, $399,916; 2. Lefty Holman, $341,390; 3. Logan Hay, $339,401; 4. Stetson Wright, $335,797; 5. Sage Newman, $320,474; 6. Brody Cress, $246,275; 7. Dawson Hay, $213,122; 8. Kolby Wanchuk, $211,633; 9. Chase Brooks, $204,126; 10. Ryder Wright, $192,673; 11. Kade Bruno, $178,505; 12. Layton Green, $175,808; 13. Wyatt Casper, $145,150; 14. Tanner Butner, $133,481; 15. Kole Ashbacher, $127,543.
Tie-Down Roping: Tenth round: 1. Ty Harris, 7.2 seconds, $28,914; 2. Hunter Herrin, 7.3, $22,851; 3. John Douch, 7.9, $17,255; 4. Marty Yates, 8.0, $12,125; 5. Cory Solomon, 8.4, $7,462; 6. Zack Jongbloed, 8.7, $4,664; 7. Caleb Smidt, 8.8; 8. Tuf Cooper, 9.4; 9. Haven Meged, 11.7; 10. Tyler Milligan, 17.8; 11. Macon Murphy, 18.3; 12. Kincade Henry, 22.1; 13. (tie) Shad Mayfield, Shane Hanchey and Riley Webb, NT. Average: 1. Caleb Smidt, 82.5 seconds on ten head, $74,150; 2. Cory Solomon, 93.4, $60,159; 3. Zack Jongbloed, 95.8, $47,568; 4. Haven Meged, 117.5, $34,976; 5. Tyler Milligan, 129.9, $25,183; 6. Macon Murphy, 136.2, $18,188; 7. Hunter Herrin, 87.1 points on nine head, $12,592; 8. Ty Harris, 96.8, $6,995; 9. Marty Yates, 69.1 seconds on eight head; 10. Shad Mayfield, 92.8; 11. Shane Hanchey, 104.3; 12. Riley Webb, 66.8 seconds on seven head; 13. Kincade Henry, 60.4 seconds on six head; 14. John Douch, 39.4 seconds on five head; 15. Tuf Cooper, 51.5. World standings: 1.
1. Caleb Smidt, $374,737; 2. Shad Mayfield, $269,936; 3. Cory Solomon, $265,303; 4. Hunter Herrin, $258,613; 5. John Douch, $254,376; 6. Zack Jongbloed, $233,962; 7. Marty Yates, $228,106; 8. Haven Meged , $227,897; 9. Kincade Henry, $217,108; 10. Riley Webb, $188,597; 11. Ty Harris, $187,697; 12. Tuf Cooper, $168,892; 13. Tyler Milligan, $160,886; 14. Shane Hanchey, $154,908; 15. Macon Murphy, $148,904.
Barrel Racing: Tenth round: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.35 seconds, $28,914; 2. Margo Crowther, 13.43, $22,851; 3. Shelley Morgan, 13.51, $17,255; 4. Jessica Routier, 13.52, $12,125; 5. Jordon Briggs, 13.62, $7,462; 6. Bayleigh Choate, 13.65, $4,664; 7. Lisa Lockhart, 13.66; 8. Wenda Johnson, 13.67; 9. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.85; 10. Sissy Winn, 14.01; 11. Kassie Mowry, 18.37; 12. Emily Beisel, 18.63; 13. Stevi Hillman, 18.97; 14. Dona Kay Rule, 19.28; 15. Leslie Smalygo, 25.14. Average: 1. Shelley Morgan, 137.28 seconds on ten runs, $74,150; 2. Bayleigh Choate, 138.98, $60,159; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 141.66, $47,568; 4. Jordon Briggs, 142.41, $34,976; 5. Wenda Johnson, 142.76, $25,183; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 143.01, $18,188; 7. Sissy Winn, 144.03, $12,592; 8. Hailey Kinsel, 146.06, $6,995; 9. Margo Crowther, 146.98; 10. Kassie Mowry, 152.33; 11. Emily Beisel, 155.50; 12. Jessica Routier, 158.19; 13. Dona Kay Rule, 159.34; 14. Stevi Hillman, 164.56; 15. Leslie Smalygo, 144.69 seconds on nine head. World standings: 1. Hailey Kinsel, $302,172; 2. Jordon Briggs, $274,520; 3. Shelley Morgan, $265,030; 4. Lisa Lockhart, $253,197; 5. Wenda Johnson, $231,860; 6. Emily Beisel, $221,718; 7. Margo Crowther, $184,751; 8. Bayleigh Choate, $182,971; 9. Dona Kay Rule, $171,019; 10. Leslie Smalygo, $158,343; 11. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, $154,161; 12. Kassie Mowry, $150,121; 13. Sissy Winn, $149,156; 14. Stevi Hillman, $138,064; 15. Jessica Routier, $123,445.
Bull Riding: Tenth round: 1. Tristen Hutchings, 89.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Twilight Zone, $93,270; No other qualified rides. Average: 1. Stetson Wright, 684.5 points on eight head, $74,150; 2. Josh Frost, 589.5 points on seven head, $60,159; 3. Ky Hamilton, 510 points on six head, $47,568; 4. Tristen Hutchings, 447 points on five head, $34,976; 5. Trevor Kastner, 429, $25,183; 6. Trey Kimzey, 347 points on four head, $18,188; 7. Garrett Smith, 256.5 points on three head, $12,592; 8. Trey Holston, 175.5 points on two head, $6,995; 9. Jeff Askey, 175; 10. Creek Young, 169; 11. Cole Fischer, 159.5; 12. JR Stratford, 90 points on one head; 13. Jared Parsonage, 81.5; 14. (tie) Maverick Potter, Lukasey Morris and Reid Oftedahl, NS. World standings: 1. Stetson Wright, $592,144; 2. Josh Frost, $409,630; 3. Tristen Hutchings, $379,786; 4. Ky Hamilton, $278,412; 5. Trevor Kastner, $255,179; 6. Jeff Askey, $229,905; 7. Trey Kimzey, $201,999; 8. Garrett Smith, $197,594; 9. Trey Holston, $171,357; 10. JR Stratford, $142,943; 11. Creek Young, $127,692; 12. Maverick Potter, $126,065; 13. Jared Parsonage, $122,314; 14. Cole Fischer, $110,994; 15. Lukasey Morris, $110,667; 16. Reid Oftedahl, $107,944.
Top Gun: 1. Zeke Thurston, $256,078; 2. Stetson Wright, $237,812; 3. Jess Pope, $231,361; 4. Caleb Smidt, $225,221; 5. Logan Hay, $199,960; 6. (tie) Patrick Smith and Tanner Tomlinson, $199,727 each; 8. Lefty Holman, $191,410; 9. Kaycee Feild, $185,348; 10. Tristen Hutchings, $183,482.
Results courtesy of the PRCA
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