On Wednesday night, the top four athletes in each event from Semifinals 2 locked in their spots for Saturday’s Championship round.
Semifinalists compete in a high‑stakes round, with only the top four athletes in each event advancing directly to Saturday’s Championship. The remaining six contestants in each event will move to one of two Wild Card rounds for another opportunity to qualify.
Semifinalist competitor Rocker Steiner punched his ticket for the Championship round. When asked how he was feeling about going into Saturday, he responded:
“Go ahead and just deposit the $65,000 in my account, why don’t ya?”
What he wants more than the money, he says, is for his legacy to be remembered as:
“The guy who never gave up. I mean, against all odds, he bears down and ends up taking it all anyway.”
Semifinal 1 Athletes Advancing:
- Tie-Down Roping
- Riley Webb, Denton, Texas – $6,500
- Quade Hiatt, Canyon , Texas – $8,000
- Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas – $4,000
- Kincade Henry, Mt. Pleasant, Texas – $7,625
- Bareback Riding
- Rocker Steiner, Weatherford, Texas – $7,750
- Keenan Hayes, Hayden Colorado – $7,500
- Cole Reiner, Buffalo, Wyoming – $6,625
- Mason Stuller, Veneta, Oregon – $3,375
- Team Roping
- Derrick Begay, Winslow, Arizona and Colter Todd, Willcox, Arizona – $6,750
- Brady Tryan, Huntley, Montana and Paden Bray, Granbury, Texas – $5,750
- Chad Masters, Lipan, Texas and Jace Helton, Tolar, Texas – $3,500
- Bubba Buckaloo, Kingston, Oklahoma and Cole Curry, Liberty, Mississippi – $5,500
- Saddle Bronc Riding
- Shorty Garrett, Dupree, South Dakota – $6,250
- Eastan West, New Underwood, South Dakota – $9,000
- Jake Finlay, Canyon, Texas – $5,625
- Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah – $6,250
- Steer Wrestling
- Holden Myers, Van, Texas – $6,250
- Seth Peterson, Nunn, Colorado – $5,000
- Dalton Massey, Hermiston, Oregon – $7,875
- Don Payne, Stephenville, Texas – $4,500
- Barrel Racing
- Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas – $6,250
- Chloe Gray, Yatesville, Georgie – $3,875
- Paige Jones, Wayne, Oklahoma – $4,875
- Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Oklahoma – $9,750
- Breakaway Roping
- Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kansas – $9,000
- Macy Young, Wittmann, Arizona – $9,000
- Jill Tanner, Stephenville, Texas – $5,000
- Cadee Williams, Weatherford, Texas – $4,000
- Bull Riding
- Ernie Courson, Sebring, Florida – $5,000
- Hayden Welsh, Gillette, Wyoming – $5,500
- Trevor Reiste, Finley, Oklahoma – $7,750
- Jordan Spears, Caldwell, Idaho – $5,500
For those who did not place in the top four of their semifinal, there is one more opportunity to secure a spot in the championship through the Wild Card rounds.
For competitor Jess Pope, he is optimistic about the chance at another shot out of the chutes.
“I won the Wild Card round in 2022 and later went on to win the Houston Championship,” said Pope. “It’s another chance at winning.”
Path to the Championship
These champions will advance to Saturday’s Championship round, where they will compete for one of rodeo’s most prestigious titles. Additional athletes will continue their journey in the Wild Card rounds, where only the top athlete in each event will earn the final remaining spots in the Championship.
The RODEOHOUSTON Super Series is a 20-day tournament-style competition that ultimately crowns champions in bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, women’s barrel racing and breakaway roping. Each event champion receives $65,000, in addition to winnings earned in earlier rounds, along with a custom-made saddle and belt buckle. Champions also receive an invitation to compete at RODEOHOUSTON the following year.
RODEOHOUSTON is an official PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) (NFR) National Finals Rodeo money event, with earnings from RODEOHOUSTON counting toward qualification for the NFR and the PRCA World Standings. For information about RODEOHOUSTON athletes, click HERE.