Schalla looking for all around title at National Western Stock Show Rodeo

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Wacey Schalla is advancing to the Semi-Finals at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo in two events after his success in Bracket 7. The Arapaho, Oklahoma resident finished at the top of the leaderboard in bareback riding with an 82-point ride on Legend Rodeo Stock’s Illegal Smile on Thursday night. He has a total of 161.5 points in that event and was the only man in the bracket to last eight seconds in both rounds in the bull riding. NWSS photo by Ric Andersen

DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 23, 2025) — One year ago, Wacey Schalla made his first appearance at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo when he competed in bareback riding.

This year, the 19-year-old athlete from Arapaho, Oklahoma, qualified in the bareback riding and bull riding and is having success in both. He competed in Bracket 7 and finished at the top of the leaderboard twice. Schalla qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in his signature event, the bull riding finishing the 2024 season in seventh place. He was outside of the top 15 that qualify for rodeo’s championship in the bareback riding at 27^th. He is hoping to change that this year and be in Las Vegas next December competing in two events.

With the success that he is having in the Denver Coliseum, that is certainly a possibility. He finished at the top of Thursday’s bareback riding with 161.5 points on two head and 167.5 points in the bull riding. He is at the top of the leaderboard and will be competing in Saturday’s Semi-Finals in both events.

Kodie Jang is getting a great start to his 2025 season in steer wrestling. The native of Townsville, Queensland, Australia stopped the clock in 4.4 and 4.1 seconds in Bracket 7. His total of 8.5 was at the top of the board and he will get to compete again on Saturday. Jang currently lives in Morgan Mill, Texas, and is ninth in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings. He has been a member of the organization since 2017 and while he has yet to qualify for the NFR, he has been there in the past helping his fellow competitors.

If his success continues here and throughout the season, Jang will be representing his home country in Las Vegas next December. The regular season ends next September and there are a lot of rodeos to go to between now and then. The National Western Stock Show Rodeo has traditionally been the beginning of the New Year and the series of building rodeos that have big prize money. Winning here can give competitors momentum and jump start their season.

Photo courtesy of National Western Stock Show & Rodeo Instagram

There are two performances at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo on Friday at 1:30 and 8 p.m. Bracket 8 will be completed and all of the Semi-Finals qualifiers will be determined.

DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 23, 2025) — The following are results from the National Western Stock Show Rodeo.

Bracket 7 – Round 1

Bareback Riding: 1, (tie) R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Red Face and Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., on The Cervi Brothers’ Patches 85.5. 3, Andy Gingerich, Aberdeen, S.D., 82. 4, Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla., 81.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Ryan Schuckburgh, Innisfail, Alberta, 3.6 seconds. 2, Riley Westhaver, High River, Alberta, 4.1. 3, (tie) Garrett Curry, Richmond, Texas, and Kodie Jang, Townsville, Queensland, 4.4 each.

Team Roping: 1, Lightning Aguilera, Athens, Texas and Dustin Davis, Terrell, Texas, 4.3. 2, (tie) Tee McLeod, Waldeck, Saskatchewan, and Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont.; and Peyton Walters, Justin, Texas and Reno Stoebner, Bastrop, Texas, 6.3 each. 4, Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn, and Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 11.1.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Logan Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, on The Cervi Brothers’ Storm Warning, 73.5. 2, Beau Scarborough, Pine Bluffs, Wyo., 72. 3, Q McWhorter, Petrolia, Calif., 71. 4, Tanner Hayes, Elkhart, Kan., 67.

Tie-Down Roping: 1,(tie) Seth Andersen, Shoshoni, Wyo., and Tom Crouse, Gallatin, Mo., 8.5 seconds each. 3, Lane Livingston, Seymour, Texas, 8.7. 4, Roy Lee, Marshall, Mo., 8.8.

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, McKenna Coronado, Kanarraville, Utah, 14.75 seconds. 2, Kailey Mitton, Mt. Sterling, Utah, 14.81. 3, Michelle Alley, Madisonville, Texas, 14.83. 4, Ivy Hurst, Springer, Okla., 14.90.

Bull Riding: (two rides) 1, Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla., 83.5 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Dreams. 2, Mason Spain, Forney, Texas, 79.

Bracket 7 – Round 2

Bareback Riding: 1, Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla., 82 points on Legend Rodeo Stock’s Oakridge. 2, Kody Lamb, Sherwood Park, Alberta, 80.5. 3, R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., 79.5. 4, Andy Gingerich, Aberdeen, S.D., 77.

Steer Wrestling: 1, (tie) Bridger Anderson, Carrington, N.D., and Rowdy Norwood, Amarillo, Texas, 3.9 seconds each. 3, Kodie Jang, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 4.1. 4, Travis Munro, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 4.2.

Team Roping: 1, Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Logan Medlin, Tatum, N.M., 5.1. 2, J7 Bland, Turkey, Texas, and Tyson Thompson, Munday, Texas, 5.7. 3, Lightning Aguilera, Athens, Texas, and Dustin Davis, Terrell, Texas, 9.8. 4, Gary Haynes, Orchard, Colo., and Seth Anderssen, Shoshoni, Wyo., 11.1.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Q McWhorter, Petrolia, Calif., 82.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Willy Wonka. 2, (tie) Brandon Landsford, Cotulla, Texas, and Logan Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, 78. 4, Jack Skavdahl, Harrison, Neb., 75.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Tom Crouse, Gallatin, Mont., 9.2. 2, Seth Andersen, Shoshoni, Wyo., 10.2. 3, Roy Lee, Marshall, Mo., 10.3. 4, Austin Hurlbert, Norfolk, Neb., 10.5.

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, McKenna Coronado, Kanarraville, Utah, 14.56 seconds. 2, Kailey Mitton, Mt. Sterling, Utah, 14.72. 3, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 14.78. 4, Michelle Alley, Madisonville, Texas, 14.90

Bull Riding: (two rides) 1, Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla., 84 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Who’s Aboard. 2, Mason Spain, Forney, Texas, 80.5.

About the National Western Stock Show — Established in 1906, the National Western Stock Show is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization that provides college and graduate level scholarships in agricultural-related fields of study. Its mission is to serve producers and consumers throughout the world by being the premier stock show, equestrian competitions, and center for year-round events. The 16-day show also serves as an entertainment arena, hosting one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, family and educational shows plus Colorado’s larges western trade show. For more information, visit nationalwestern.com.

Jodi Erpelding

I grew up on a Midwest farm with dirt under my fingernails and the sound of wind rustling through cornfields. My childhood was all about 4H – raising pigs and horses, learning to bake and sew, and discovering the magic of transforming a garden into jars of summer sunshine. Those years taught me the value of hard work, the thrill of seeing a project through to the end, and the simple joy of creating something beautiful. A country girl with a need for speed and a thirst for adventure. Maybe that's why I love the feeling of wind in my hair – whether I'm cruising down a dusty road on my Harley or tackling a mountain trail on my trusty mountain bike. Some of my earliest memories of rodeo are watching my father compete at small local events. That's also where my love for country music comes in – long car rides listening to 8 tracks. The lyrics and melodies always spoke to my soul. These days, you'll find me cheering on the cowboys and cowgirls at rodeos, two-stepping to my favorite bands, belting out a country tune at a concert or sharing stories and laughter with friends around a bonfire. When I'm not soaking up the country life and getting my boots dirty, I'm a nurse, caring for folks in my community. Follow along for more stories from the heart of rodeo and country life!