Top finishers from Wild Card 2 secured the final spots for the RODEOHOUSTON Championship.
Cory Solomon won tie-down roping with a time of 8.3 seconds. “This is a hometown rodeo for me and is one that has never gone my way,” Solomon said. “Moving on would be a dream come true.”
Sam Peterson overcame an equipment malfunction to score 89 in bareback riding. “I had a great opportunity, especially with how the pens are set up,” Peterson said. “I’m just glad I got to capitalize on [the moment].”
Coy Rahlmann and Cole Curry took the win in team roping. This is their first professional season competing together. “We kind of grew up together,” Rahlmann said. “We’ve roped together off and on since we were 12 or 13 years old.”
With a score of 85.5, Ben Anderson secured the saddle bronc victory. “My game plan was, ‘If you’re going to be in the Wild Card, you got to be a Wild Card’,” Anderson said. “I feel good.”
Dalton Massey narrowly edged out Stetson Jorgenson in steer wrestling, both winning a 4.1 second run.“Sometimes you tie, and it comes down to tie breakers,” Massey said. “Stetson made a great run, and I made a great run. I was lucky enough to win the tie breaker.”
Michelle Alley ran a 14.43 to win barrel racing and earn her spot in the Championship. “To make the finals is a dream come true,” Alley said. “We are going to go home and rest, come back tomorrow and hopefully do the same thing twice.”
Kendal Pierson, returning from Super Series IV, won breakaway roping with a fast 2.5-second run and is one step closer to $65,000.
Hayes Weight secured the bull riding win with a score of 87.5 aboard Whiskey River of Pete Carr Rodeo Co., earning him a spot in the Championship.The RODEOHOUSTON Finals begins at 2:45 p.m. Sunday in NRG Stadium.
Contestants advancing to the Finals:
- Tie-Down Roping:
- Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas
- Bareback Riding:
- Sam Peterson, Helena, Montana
- Team Roping:
- Coy Rahlmann, Ellsinore, Missouri; Cole Curry, Liberty, Mississippi
- Saddle Bronc:
- Ben Anderson, Eckville, Alabama
- Steer Wrestling:
- Dalton Massey, Hermiston, Oregon
- Barrel Racing:
- Michelle Alley, Madisonville, Texas
- Breakaway Roping:
- Kendal Pierson, Wardlow, Alabama
- Bull Riding:
- Hayes Weight, Goshen, Utah
Visit rodeohouston.com for more information about the 2025 athletes and see all athletes advancing to the Championship here.
About the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage, and provides year-round educational support within the community. Since its beginning in 1932, the Rodeo has committed more than $630 million to the youth of Texas and education. The 2025 Rodeo is scheduled for March 4 – March 23. The 2025 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, presented by Cotton Holdings, is scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 1. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com and follow @RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube for all the latest news.