KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Every year keeps getting better for bareback rider Casey Breuer.

Now in his third year in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the 23-year-old cowboy finished his 2015 season among the top 25 in the world standings. More importantly, he closed out his campaign on a high note by winning the American Royal PRCA Rodeo.

“This year was a lot of ups and downs,” said Breuer, of Mandan, N.D. “It started out really slow, then it picked up. From June through August, I went on a pretty good stretch where I was pulling checks and rodeo was fun. The last three or four weeks, it’s been tough.”

It got much better Saturday night. Riding Frontier Rodeo’s Cross Fire during the final performance of this year’s championship, Breuer and the strong sorrel danced across the Hale Arena dirt for 85 points. For that, he pocketed $1,839.

“It feels good to finish with a win for the year to build some momentum for next year,” he said. “With this sport, you have to be consistent all year if you want to be on top. You don’t want to waste any opportunities.”

That’s important, especially for a man who is about to add to his family in a little more than a month. On Oct. 30, Breuer will marry his high-school sweetheart, Brooke, in Mandan. Once the nuptials are complete, he’ll go back to work making a living on the rodeo trail.

Still young in the game, he is taking the lessons learned while traveling with three friends, all of whom can now lay claim to being qualifiers to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s year-end championship that features only the top 15 contestants in each event: brother Ty Breuer, who went to Vegas in 2013; Joe Gunderson, who qualified in 2010; and Tanner Aus, a 2015 finalist.

“Ty and Tanner started traveling together when they started,” Casey Breuer said. “I was lucky enough to jump in with them and Joe.

“Joe got hurt earlier this year, and Tanner ended up making it. Me and Ty got close, but close doesn’t count much in this sport.”

No, it doesn’t, but finishing among the sport’s elite allows Breuer a fresh start on the 2016 season. With a new bride that’s part of his life, there’s little wonder why he’s so excited for new beginnings.

American Royal Rodeo
Sept. 25-26
Kansas City, Mo.
Bareback riding: 1. Casey Breuer, 85 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Cross Fire, $1,839; 2. (tie) Kyle Brennecke and Devan Reilly, 81, $1,226 each; 4. George Gillespie, 80, $674; 4. Clint Cannon, 79, $429; 6. (tie) Ethan Assman and Will Lowe, 78, $276 each; 7. (tie) Luke Creasy and Mason Clements, 76, $92 each.

Steer wrestling leaders: 1. Clayton Hass, 3.2 seconds, $2,400; 2. (tie) Ryan Bothum, and J.D. Struxness, 4.0, $1,930 each; 4. Casey Martin, 4.1, $1,461; 5. Ryan Swayze, 4.2, $1,147; 6. Dakota Eldridge, 4.3, $835; 7. (tie) Jule Hazen, Josh Clark and Jacob Edler, 4.5, $243 each.

Team roping leaders: 1. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 3.6 seconds, $2,992; 2. Luke Brown/Kollin VohAnh, 4.1, $2,677; 3. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes, Miles Baker/Dustin Serarcy and Joe Bach/Jim Ross Cooper, 4.2, $2 ,047 each; 6. Nick Sartain/Rich Skelton, 4.5, $1,417; 7. (tie) Jeremy Hemmann/Jeff Brown, and Ryan Von Ahn/J.W. Beck, 4.6, $,945 each; 9. (tie) Erich Rogers/Cory Petska, Matt Sherwood/Quinn Kesler, Clay Smith/Paul Eaves and Jake Barnes/Junior Nogueira, 5.1, $157 each.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Chad Ferley, 85 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Groovy, $2,109; 2. Bradley Harter, 84, $1,617; 3. David Martin, 83, $1,195; 4. (tie) Taos Muncy and Hardy Braden, 82, $633; 4. Dalton Davis, 81, $352; 7. (tie) Chuck Schmidt and Jesse James Kirby, 79, $246.

Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Timber Moore, 7.9 seconds, $2,140; 2. Caleb Smidt, 8.0, $$1,861; 3. Dillon Holder, 8.3, $1,582; 4. Ryan Jarrett, 8.4, $1,303; 5. Tuf Cooper, 8.5, $1,023; 6. (tie) Monty Lewis and Clay Brown, 9.0, $605; 8. Cody Quaney, 92, $186.

Barrel racing leaders: 1. Kimmie Wall, 14.30 seconds, $2,107; 2. Vickie Carter, 14.34, $1,791; 3. Deb Guelly, 14.48, $1,475; 4. Carmel Wright, 14.53, $1,264; 5. Jeanne Anderson, 14.55, $1,054; 6. Layna Kight, 14.56, $738; 7. Laura Kennedy, 14.63, $567; 8. Calyssa Thomas, 14.66, $422; 9. Marne Loosenort, 14.67, $290; 10. (tie) Trula Churchill and Sherry Cervi, 14.68, $290 each; 12. Ashley Bauer, 14.69, $211.

Bull riding: 1. Corey Atwell, 88 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Big Money, $2,096; 2. Dallee Mason, 85, $1,607; 3. Trevor Reiste, 81, $1,188; 4. John Young, 79, $768; 5. Kody DeShon, 76, $489; no other qualified rides.