Full Circuit Standings Report Heading into the 2023 Summer Run
A full look at the leaders in each circuit, and who shook up their circuit standings over the weekend of June 1-4, 2023.
Turquoise Circuit header Corey Whinnery and Mountain States heeler Cole Cooper won the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede in Colorado.
Turquoise Circuit header Corey Whinnery and Mountain States heeler Cole Cooper won the 2023 Elizabeth Stampede in Colorado.

As the summer run kicks into gear, contestants across the country are beginning to hit the road, trying to get a leg up in their circuit standings for a top 12 finish when the season wraps up in the fall.

Each year, the top 12 in each of the 12 ProRodeo circuits qualify for their respective circuit finals. From there, the year-end champion and the circuit finals average champion secure their spots at the NFR Open (formerly the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo) held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in July of the following year. 

Here’s a full look at the leaders in each circuit, and who shook up their circuit standings over the weekend of June 1-4, 2023.

Columbia River

Coy Aldrich, hailing from Madres, Oregon, leads the heading side of the Columbia River Circuit, having earned $3,212.45 in winnings. His biggest wins this season came from a fifth-place finish at both the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo in Central Point, Oregon, and the High Desert Stampede in Redmond, Oregon.

On the heeling side, Christopher Lopez of Prineville, Oregon, leads the standings. He has also made significant strides with fifth-place finishes at both the High Desert Stampede and the Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo.

California 

Tanner James, representing Porterville, California, took the reins of the California Circuit heading standings after a fourth-place finish in the average at the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo this past weekend. Additionally, James claimed second place in the first round, boosting his earnings to $9,881.46. Among his notable victories in the circuit this year are wins at the Rowell Ranch Rodeo in Hayward, California, and the Lakeside Rodeo.

Winter Spring, California’s, Brushton Minton continues to maintain his position as the leader in the heeling standings with $11,013.99 in winnings. Minton’s most significant circuit win came from the Oakdale Saddle Club Rodeo, along with a victory at the Gold County Pro Rodeo in Auburn, California.

Notable moves

Over the June 1-4 weekend, Jaxson Tucker of Statesville, North Carolina, made way into the No. 7 position in the heading after winning second in the average and first in the second round at the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo. Fellow header Lane Karney of Creston, California, also joined the top 10 standings, currently occupying the 10th spot, following a third-place finish in the second round at Santa Maria.

On the heeling side, Wyatt Cox from Arroyo Grande, California, surged to the fifth spot after claiming second place in the first round at Santa Maria and fourth place in the average.

Wilderness

Rhen Richard of Roosevelt, Utah, continues to dominate the Wilderness Circuit heading standings with $7,371.17 in earnings. Richard’s biggest circuit win this year came from the Clark County Fair & Rodeo in Logandale, Nevada, where he won second in the first round, fourth in the second round and second in the average.

Matt Liston of Salina, Utah, placed second at the Fort Herriman PRCA Rodeo in Herriman, Utah, and fifth at the Canyonlands PRCA Rodeo in Moab, Utah, over the weekend, solidifying his lead in the heeling. His weekend earnings boosted his total Wilderness Circuit earnings from $2,988.42 to $4,769.81.

Notable moves

Brian Winn from Annabella, Utah, jumped from the third-place position of the heading standings to the No. 2 position after the weekend with wins at both Herriman and Moab. His earnings rose from $2,998.42 to $4,769.81.

Zackery Lewis, from Kamas, Kansas, previously unranked, moved into the No. 2 spot in the heeling standings by winning $1,717.38. A total of seven additional heelers entered the standings following the successful weekend of circuit rodeos.

Montana 

Delon Parker, representing Worden, Montana, currently holds the No. 1 position in the Montana Circuit heading standings with total winnings of $2,976.03. His earnings are a result of his second-place finish at the NILE Pro Rodeo in Billings, which took place in October 2022 at the beginning of the 2023 season, as well as his fourth-place finish at the PRCA Last Stand Rodeo in Coulee City, Washington, which is co-approved for the Montana Circuit.

In the heeling standings, Ryan Zurcher from Powell, Wyoming, currently leads with earnings totaling $2,976.03. Zurcher’s earnings stem from his second-place finish at the NILE Pro Rodeo in Billings and his fourth-place finish at the Last Stand Rodeo in Coulee City with Parker.

Mountain States

Kellan Johnson from Casper, Wyoming currently holds the top spot in the Mountain States heading standings with earnings totaling $3,917.28. Johnson’s earnings primarily come from his third-place finish in the third round and fourth-place finish in the finals at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver.

Kellan Johnson’s roping partner and younger brother, Carson Johnson, leads with earnings of $3,917.28. Like Kellan, Carson earned his winnings from their third-place finish in the third round and fourth-place finish in the NWSS Rodeo finals.

Notable moves

During the recent weekend, Edgar Aguilar from Greeley, Colorado, advanced to the No. 3 position in the heading standings after finishing second at Colorado’s Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo. Aguilar now has total circuit earnings of $1,927.

Meanwhile, Cole Cooper from Montrose, Colorado, climbed to the No. 2 spot in the heeling standings following his win at the Elizabeth Stampede. Cooper now boasts $2,216.05 in circuit earnings.

Turquoise

In the Turquoise Circuit heading standings, Michael Calmelat, hailing from Tucson, Arizona, currently holds the No. 1 position with total earnings of $5,043.61. Calmelat’s significant circuit wins include a second-place finish at Arizona’s Cave Creek Rodeo Days and another(?) at the Parada Del Sol in Scottsdale.

Leading the heeling standings in the Turquoise Circuit is Kolt Campbell from Golden Valley, Arizona, with earnings of $5,243.49. Campbell’s top performances include winning the Pioneer Days Rodeo in Clovis, New Mexico, and securing second place at the Roots N Boots Queen Creek Pro Rodeo in Arizona. Campbell’s successful weekend in Clovis propelled him from the fourth-place position to the top of the standings.

Notable moves

Choc Westcott from San Tan Valley, Arizona, won the Pioneer Days in Clovis, New Mexico, over the weekend to jump to the No. 2 position from the fifth-place spot on the heading side.

Texas

Billy Bob Brown of Carbon, Texas, made a significant leap from the fourth-place position to move into the No. 1 spot on the heading side of the standings after winning fourth place at the Mt Pleasant Rodeo in Texas. With his earnings from the event, Brown now has a total of $12,740.34 for the year.

Corey Hendrick from Bedias, Texas, maintains his lead with earnings totaling $12,852.77. Hendrick’s notable circuit wins include the Waller County Fair & Rodeo in Hempstead, Texas, during the fall, as well as a fourth-place finish at the San Angelo Rodeo.

Notable moves

Over the weekend, Kirby Blankenship from Lampasas, Texas, advanced from third to second place in the heeling standings after securing fourth place at the Mt. Pleasant Rodeo. Similarly, Logan Moore, representing Pleasanton, Texas, made a substantial jump in the heeling standings following his victory at Mt. Pleasant and a third-place finish at Clovis, New Mexico.

Prairie

Coleman Proctor of Pryor, Oklahoma, continues to hold the top position in the Prairie Circuit heading standings. His recent second-place finish at his home state’s Hugo Pro Rodeo and a fourth-place finish at the Flint Hills Rodeo in Strong City, Kansas, increased Proctor’s previous circuit earnings of $7,634.97 to $9,554.39. 

Logan Medlin, Proctor’s partner from Tatum, New Mexico, also saw an increase in earnings to $9,554.39 as a result of their finishes in Hugo and Strong City.

Notable moves

Andrew Ward of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Buddy Hawkins from Stephenville, Texas, jumped from third in the standings to second after winning Oklahoma’s Durant Pro Rodeo and securing sixth-place finishes in both Strong City and at the Bennington PRCA Rodeo in Kansas.

Great Lakes

Up in the Great Lakes, Dalton Turner from Sidney, Arkansas, still holds tight to the No. 1 position on the heading side with $8,299.50 in earnings. His notable circuit wins thus far include splitting the win at the American Royal in Kansas City, Missouri, and securing third place at the Rodeo Grand Island in Nebraska.

Turner’s partner, Clay Clayman from Highlandville, Missouri, also holds the No. 1 spot with earnings of $8,299.50. Clayman’s key wins in Kansas City and Grand Island contribute to his position alongside Turner.

Notable moves

Over the weekend, Adam Rose from Willard, Missouri, won the Extreme Events Championship Rodeo in Waconia, Minnesota, and second at Iowa’s Cherokee PRCA Rodeo to move from seventh on the heading side to No. 4. 

Gus Mosley of Mineral Wells, Texas, also experienced a notable rise in the standings. His win at Waconia and second-place finish at Cherokee propelled him from the No. 10 spot on the heeling side to claim the No. 5 position.

Southeastern

Marcus Theriot continues to lead the pack on the heading side of the Southeastern Circuit with $12,900.64 won. Some of the Lumberton, Mississippi, cowboy’s biggest circuit checks came from winning the Brighton Field Day & Rodeo in Okeechobee, Florida, and finishing second at the 94th Annual Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo.

Justin Yost from Citra, Florida, sits in the No. 1 spot in the heeling standings with $14,240 in earnings. Two of Yost’s significant wins include the 150th Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee, Florida, held in February, and the Franklin Rodeo in Franklin, Tennessee.

Notable moves

Justin Johnson, representing Magee, Mississippi, made a substantial jump to the No. 2 position on the heading side after finishing in second place at the Old Fort Days Rodeo in Fort Smith, Arkansas, over the recent weekend. Johnson’s earnings now amount to $10,505.91.

Likewise, Kaden “Bryce” Graves from Poplarville, Mississippi, moved to the No. 3 spot on the heeling side after finishing second in Fort Smith alongside Johnson. Graves has accumulated $10,505.91 in earnings thus far.

First Frontier

On the East Coast, Robbie Erck from Ft. Edward, New York, jumped into the driver’s seat of the heading standings after winning third at the Cowtown Rodeo in Woodstown Pilesgrove, New Jersey, over the weekend. He now has accumulated $2,532.36 in circuit earnings.

Fred Brunelle of Schuylerville, New York, Erck’s partner, moved from the No. 2 spot into the No. 1 position after their Cowtown finish. Brunelle holds $2,532.36 in circuit earnings.

Notable moves

Chase Quinn, also representing Schuylerville, climbed the ranks on the heading side after winning at Cowtown over the weekend. Quinn now holds the No. 4 position with $1,439.38 in earnings.

On the heeling side, Riley Quinn, from Schuylerville, made a remarkable jump from the 10th position to secure the No. 4 spot following his victory at Cowtown over the weekend with Chase.

Badlands

Bodie Mattson from Sturgis, South Dakota, took control of the heading side of the Badlands Circuit after winning the Cherokee PRCA Rodeo and finishing fifth at Minnesota’s Extreme Events Championship Rodeo in Waconia. Mattson’s total earnings now amount to $5,675.77, moving him from second to first in the standings.

Cash Hetzel of Lemmon, South Dakota, still holds the No. 1 position on the heeling side. After winning Cherokee and placing fifth in Waconia with Mattson, Hetzel now has $6,613.42 in earnings.

Notable moves

Reece Weber of Valentine, Nebraska, secured a third-place finish at Cherokee, placing him in the No. 2 position in the heading standings with earnings of $4,793.75.

Similarly, Matt Kasner from Cody, Nebraska, rose to the No. 2 spot on the heeling side following his third-place finish at Cherokee alongside Weber. Kasner’s earnings now stand at $4,793.75.

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