More than 40 area competitors headed to 2023 NFR in Las Vegas

By GRACE KIKER
October 20, 2023

It’s almost time for the most prestigious rodeo in the world, the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. There’s a reason Stephenville is known as the Cowboy Capital of the World, and the contestants from our area headed to the bright lights prove it’s true. There are more than 40 professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls headed to compete for 10 consecutive days against the best of the best from the Cross Timbers area.

On December 7-16 at the Thomas & Mack Stadium in Las Vegas, these athletes will showcase their hard work and dedication to the sport of rodeo against others competing for the titles. If you can’t make the trip out there, you will be able to catch them from your living room on TV and catch up the next day with The Flash.

Some of these great contestants call Stephenville home, and others were here for higher education or great opportunities this area has to offer, either way; we will be cheering for them all this December! They will be competing every night not only for prize money and go-round titles, but also for World Titles.

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Below is a comprehensive list of area competitors headed to Las Vegas in December:

Bareback Riding

• No. 5 in the standings Leighton Berry- Weatherford
• No. 7 in the standings Rocker Steiner- Weatherford
• No. 15 in the standings Richmond Champion- attended TSU

Steer Wrestling

• No. 15 in the standings Don Payne- Stephenville

Team Roping (Headers)

• No. 1 in the standings Kaleb Driggers- Stephenville
• No. 3 in the standings Nelson Wyatt- Stephenville
• No. 4 in the standings Dustin Egusquiza- Mineral Wells
• No. 9 in the standings Tanner Tomlinson- Lipan
• No. 13 in the standings Clint Summers- Stephenville
• No. 15 in the standings Luke Brown- Lipan

Team Roping (Heelers)

• No. 1 in the standings Wesley Thorp- Stephenville
• No. 2 in the standings Junior Nogueira- Stephenville
• No. 4 in the standings Levi Lord- Stephenville
• No. 5 in the standings Logan Medlin- Stephenville
• No. 6 in the standings Jeremy Buhler- attended TSU
• No. 7 in the standings Paul Eaves- Lipan
• No. 8 in the standings Patrick Smith- Lipan
• No. 9 in the standings Buddy Hawkins- Stephenville
• No. 10 in the standings Jake Long- Stephenville
• No. 11 in the standings and No. 7 in the All-around Paden Bray- Stephenville
• No. 12 in the standings Hunter Koch- Stephenville
• No. 14 in the standings Jonathan Torres- Stephenville
• No. 15 in the standings Tyler Worley- Stephenville

Steer Roping

• No. 5 in the standings Slade Wood- Stephenville
• No. 10 in the standings Taylor Santos- Stephenville

Saddle Bronc

• No. 12 in the standings Brody Cress- attended TSU

Tie-down Roping

• No. 1 in the standings Riley Webb- attended Whitehorse
• No. 2 in the standings Shad Mayfield- Lipan
• No. 3 in the standings Haven Meged – Stephenville
• No. 5 in the standings Ty Harris- Stephenville

Breakaway Roping

• No. 1 in the standings Shelby (Boisjoli) Meged -Stephenville
• No. 2 in the standings Hali Williams – Comanche
• No. 3 in the standings Martha Angelone- Stephenville
• No. 4 in the standings Sarah Angelone- Stephenville
• No. 5 in the standings Kelsie Domer- Dublin
• No. 10 in the standings Jackie Crawford – Stephenville

Barrel Racing

• No. 2 in the standings Jordon Briggs – Tolar
• No. 6 in the standings Kassie Mowry- Dublin
• No. 10 in the standings Ilyssa Riley- Hico
• No. 12 in the standings Stevi Hillman- Granbury
• No. 13 in the standings Hailey Kinsel- Huckabay