It’s been four seasons since Chet Johnson last qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

It’s about time he returns to the year-end finale as one of the top 15 saddle bronc riders in the game. He deserves to be in that field, and on Sunday and Monday, he proved it.

Johnson, of Gillette, Wyo., placed in all three go-rounds of Bracket 5 at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo and earned$4,667 in just two days of work. Most importantly, it places Johnson into the semifinals of the bracketed format.

Congratulations to Chet and all the others who advanced.

Bracket 5 Semifinalists
Bareback Riding: 1. (tie) Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., and Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, $3,930 each; 3. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., $2,948; 4. Dustin Smith, Rome, Ga., $2,702.

Steer Wrestling: 1. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., $4,177; 2. Sean Mulligan, Coleman, Okla., $2,702; 3. Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., $1,965; 4. Tommy Cook, McAlester, Okla., $1,474.

Team Roping: 1. Caleb Mitchell, Mason, Texas, and Mickey Gomez, Holland, Texas, $3,439; 2. David Key, Stephenville, Texas, and Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, $2,457; 3. (tie) Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont., and Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D.; and Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont., and Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga., $1,965.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Chet Johnson, Sheridan, Wyo., $4,667; 2. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, s.D., $2,948; 3. Jeff Willert, Belvidere, S.D., $1,965; 4. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., $1,719.

Tie-Down Roping: 1. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, $5,404; 2. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., $2,456; 3. Justin Maass, Giddings, Texas, $1,965; 4. Houston Hutto, Tomball, Texas, $1,474.

Barrel Racing: 1. Jane Melby, Backus, Minn., $4,421; 2. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., $3,439; 3. Cassie Moseley, Cedar Lane, Texas, $3,193; 4. Robyn Herring, Huntington, Texas, $2,211.

Bull Riding: 1. Beau Brooks, Strathmore, Alberta, $3,930; 2. Ryan Shanklin, Rocksprings, Texas, $1,965; 3. (tie) Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla., and Shawn Proctor, Tooele, Utah, $1,474 each.