DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 22, 2026) — A year ago, when Tom Crouse made the trip to compete at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo, a lot of rodeo fans hadn’t heard his name.
That changed here when he qualified for the Semi-Finals and Championship Finals. He used the momentum to build on his most successful year in his career qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) last December. And while that didn’t go as well as he had hoped, he still earned nearly $70,000 in Las Vegas and finished 11th in the world standings.
Crouse grew up on a ranch taking care of cattle and riding horses. Competing in the tie-down roping has come naturally through that background and competing at rodeos that include livestock shows are some of his favorites. His success in Denver has been aboard a blue-roan horse that Crouse calls “Doc.” They got the job done in 11.3 seconds in the first round, then came back Thursday night with a 7.9-second run. Crouse’s total of 19.2 seconds will now see he and Doc back in the Denver Coliseum for Saturday’s Semi-Finals. They had the fastest total time in Bracket 7.
Bareback rider Sam Petersen of Helena, Montana also competed at his first NFR last year and has his eye on the gold buckles awarded to world champions. Petersen finished as the reserve world champion in 2025. He earned the top spot in his event here on Thursday as well with a total of 161 points on two rides.
The final bracket of preliminary competition will be completed on Friday with performances at 1:30 and 7 p.m., where the remaining Semi-Finals quaifiers will be determined.
DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 22, 2026) — The following are results from the National Western Stock Show Rodeo.
Bracket 7 – Round 1
Bareback Riding: 1, Trisstan Hansen, Dillonn, Mont., 81 points on The Cervi Brothers’ How’s It Hanging. 2, (tie) Sam Petersen, Helena, Mont., and Cole Hollen, Liberty Hill, Texas, 78.5. 4, Weston Timberman, Columbus, Mont., 78.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Riley Reiss, Manning, N.D., 3.8 seconds. 2, Traden Anderson, Hanna, Okla., 4.8. 3, Seth Peterson, Minot, N.D., 5.5. 4, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 5.7.
Team Roping: (three times)1, Jhett Trenary, Arthur, Neb., and Daniel Reed, Ada, Okla., 4.7 seconds. 2, Kolton Schmidt, Barrhead, Alberta, and Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont., 5.1. 3, Payton Pirrung, Hartford, S.D., and Tucker White, Hershey, Neb., 5.6.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Statler Wright, Beaver, Utah, 83 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Cactus Flats. 2, Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho, 82.5. 3, Tyrel Roberts, Drayton Valley, Alberta, 82. 4, Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 81.5.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Quade Hiatt, Canyon, Texas, 8.3 seconds. 2, Bo Pickett, Caldwell, Idaho, 10.3. 3, (tie) Lane Livingston, Seymour, Texas, and Tom Crouse, Gallatin, Mo., 11.3.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Jordan Driver, Garden City, Texas, 14.91 seconds. 2, Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, Mont., 15.09 seconds. 2, Jeannette Etchebarne, Newberg, Ore., 15.10. 3, BryAnna Haluptzok, Ardmore, Okla., 15.17.
Bull Riding: 1,
Bracket 7 – Round 2
Bareback Riding: 1, Sam Petersen, Helena, Mont., 82.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s High Rolling Sid. 2, Weston Timberman, Columbus, Mont., 79.5. 3, Tristan Hansen, Dillon, Mont., 79. 4, Jayco Roper, Oktaha, Okla., 78.5. (advancing to Semi-Finals) 1, Petersen, 161. 2, Hansen, 160. 3, Roper, 159.
Steer Wrestling: 1, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 4.0. 2, Traver Johnson, Eltopia, Wash., 4.1. 3, Nick Guy, Sparta, Wisc., 5.2. 4, Hayden Webb, Wheatland, Wyo., 6.5. (advancing to Semi-Finals) 1, Lord, 9.7. 2, Riley Reiss, Manning, N.D., 11.6. 3, Seth Peteersen, Minot, N.D., 14.6.
Team Roping: (one time) Kolton Schmidt, Barrhead, Alberta, and Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont., 5.4. (advancing to Semi-Finals) 1, Schmidt and Tryan, 10.5. (on one) 2, Jhett Trenary, Arthur, Neb., and Daniel Reed, Ada, Okla., 4.7. 3, Payton Pirrung, Hartford, S.D., and Tucker White, Hershey, Neb..
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Tyrel Roberts, Drayton Valley, Alberta, 82.5 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Wine & Dine. 2, (tie) Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D., and Eastan West, New Underwood, S.D., 78.5 each. 4, Jasper Frost, Browns Valley, Calif., 78. (advancing to Semi-Finals) 1, Roberts, 164.5. 2, Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho, 160. 3, West, 157.5.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Tom Crouse, Gallatin, Mo., 7.9 seconds. 2, Pecos Tatum, La Plata, N.M., 9.1. 3, Bo Pickett, Caldwell, Idaho, 11.1. 4, Quade Hiatt, Canyon, Texas, 11.6. (advancing to Semi-Finals) 1, Crouse, 19.2. 2, Hiatt, 19.5. 3, Tatum, 20.5.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, (tie) Mataya Eklund, Durant, Okla., and Katie Halbert, Port Lavaca, Texas, 15.04 seconds each. 3, Jordan Driver, Garden City, Texas, 15.12. 4, Emma Parr, Greensboro, Ala., 15.15. (advancing to Semi-Finals) 1, FDriver, 30.03. 2, Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, Mont., 30.29. 3, Eklund, 30.45.
Bull Riding: 1, Stetson Wright, Beaver, Utah, 88.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Sting. 2, Canyon Bass, Johnson City, Texas, 84. 3, Sage Vance, Sidney, Iowa, 83. 4, Bryce Jensen, Huntsville, Texas, 79.5. (advancing to Semi-Finals) 1, Vance, 170. 2, Bass, 167. 3, Jensen, 161.5. (on one) 4, Wright, 88.5 * Wright will replace Jensen in the Semi-Finals due to a scheduling conflict.
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. It’s 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 largest western trade show. For more information, visit nationalwestern.com.
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