ESTES PARK, Colo. – Weston Patterson is on the outside looking in, but he’s got lots of time to put himself in the right position by the time ProRodeo’s regular season comes to a close.
“I’m right there in the top 35 in the world (standings),” said Patterson, 22, originally from Waverly, Kansas, but now living in the tiny western Oklahoma community of Hydro. “It’s a lot better than it was last year, so I’m really thankful for that. I’m just going to keep knocking them out one by one and hopefully be in running for the (National) Finals this fall.”
He gave himself a shot during Tuesday’s fifth performance of Rooftop Rodeo. Patterson rode Cervi Brothers’ Trap Queen for 80 points and sits second in the bronc-riding race with one night remaining in Estes Park’s Rodeo. He’s 34th in the standings with $34,358. Most importantly, he has three months remaining on the regular season in order to put himself into position to play for the biggest pay in rodeo.
Only the top 15 on the money list at the end of September qualify for the NFR, which takes place over 10 days in December at Las Vegas.
“There’s a lot of money still to be won in the next two and a half months, so a guy definitely can’t get sour and start sweating it,” he said.
That’s the maturing process that comes with competing in a sport like rodeo, where there are no guaranteed salaries, and every contestant must pay a fee in order to compete. Cowboys travel tens of thousands of miles in order to make ends meet. In Patterson’s case, he goes from one rodeo to another with three veterans, Jake Clark, Wyatt Casper and Kade Bruno; the latter two have six NFR qualifications between them.
“Especially with the guys I’m in with, I feel like I’ve grown, not just as a rider but also mentally,” Patterson said. “I’m a lot more confident, and I like the way it’s looking.”
Having the right group of guys around him has made Patterson realize how important it is to not only try to ride as well as possible but to also keep a solid approach to the game when it doesn’t.
“Jake has a very positive attitude, and that goes a long way when you’re out here all year,” he said of Clark, who is 47th in the standings this week. “Being on the road can be hard, but thee guys make it a lot easier – being around good, positive traveling partners that keep it cool, calm, relaxed and fun. It makes the season seem actually shorter than it can be.”
Rooftop Rodeo
July 5-10
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Clay Jorgenson, 83.5 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Easy Does It; 2. Donny Proffit, 81; 3. (tie) Cooper Filipek and Lane McGehee, 80.5 each; 5. (tie) Caleb Bennett, Wyatt Denny and Bodee Lammers, 79.5 each.
Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Wyatt Johnson, 3.9 seconds, $1,215; 2. Cole Trainor, 4.2, $1,006; 3. Kodie Jang, 4.3, $796; 4. Hadley Jackson, 4.6, $587; 5. Jacob Sterkel, 5.4, $377; 6. (tie) Kalane Anders and Gage Hesse, 5.6, $105 each. Second round leaders: 1. Austin Eller, 3.7 seconds; 2. Kodie Jang, 4.2; 3. (tie) Zach Hamar and Zackery Woods, 5.0 each; 5. Wyatt Johnson, 5.3; 6. Kalane Anders, 5.8. Average leaders: 1. Kodie Jang, 8.5 seconds on two head; 2. Wyatt Johnson, 9.2; 3. Kalane Anders, 11.4; 4. Gage Hesse, 14.7; 5. Grant Peterson, 15.2; 6. Hadley Jackson, 17.8; no other qualified runs.
Team roping: First round: 1. Coy Brittain/Michael Fortenberry, 5.1 seconds, $1,702 each; 2. Tanner Pallesen/Jade Espenscheid, 5.2, $1,408; 3. Teagan Bentley/Matt Schieck, 5.4, $1,115; 4. (tie) Devon McDaniel/Walt Woodard and Wyatt Murray/Rhett Nebeker, 5.6, $675 each; 6. Brayden Fillmore/Josh Fillmore, 6.0, $293. Second round leaders: 1. Brayden Fillmore/Josh Fillmore, 5.1 seconds; 2. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 5.5; 3. Rio Nutter/Coy Johnson, 5.6; 4. Jase Staudt/Jayden Johnson, 6.3; 5. Todd Drommond/Levi Walter, 6.6; 6. Peter Bennett/Nick Nichols, 8.8. Average leaders: 1. Brayden Fillmore/Josh Fillmore, 11.1 seconds on two head; 2. Jase Staudt/Jayden Johnson, 12.7; 3. Teagan Bentley/Matt Schieck, 15.5; 4. Nate Kirtley/Jett Hillman, 15.7; 5. Coy Brittain/Michael Fortenberry, 16.0; 6. Peter Bennett/Nick Nichols, 17.4; no other qualified runs.
Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Carson Bingham, 80.5 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Kiss My Ace; 2. Weston Patterson, 80; 3. (tie) Shorty Garrett and Q McWhorter, 79.5 each; 5. Statler Wright, 79; 6. Wyatt Casper, 78.5.
Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Hayden Ford, 8.4 seconds, $1,675; 2. Trevor Thiel, 8.6, $1,386; 3. (tie) Cash Fuesz and Cole Walker, 8.8, $953 each; 5. Sterling Smith, 9.0, $520; 6. Ace Slone, 9.1, $289. Second round leaders: 1. Chance Wall, 8.2 seconds; 2. Cash Fretwell, 8.4; 3. (tie) Rodney Jackson and Zack Kirkpatrick, 8.5 each; 5. Hayden Ford, 8.9; 6. (tie) Bryan Moon and Jeremiah Peek, 9.0 each. Average leaders: 1. Hayden Ford, 17.3 seconds on two head; 2. Cash Fretwell, 17.7; 3. Austin Lawrence, 18.4; 4. Cash Fuesz, 18.6; 5. Zaine Mikita, 18.8; 6. Jeremiah Peek, 18.9; no other qualified runs.
Barrel racing leaders: 1. Sharin Hall, 16.33 seconds; 2. (tie) Laura Lambert and Shelley Morgan, 16.41 each; 4. Kelly Allen, 16.43; 5. Madison McCaffity, 16.52; 6. Sage Kohr, 16.60.
Bull riding leaders: No qualified rides.