DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 19, 2026) — There is no denying the talent of the athletes competing at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo.
The field in every event includes world champions, National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifiers and rising stars. Fans at the ninth performance got to see all of that. In the bareback riding it was Jacob Lees that moved to the top of the leaderboard. Lees, from Caldwell, Idaho scored 85 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s horse named Freshman 15 to take the lead in the first round. He just needs another good effort on Tuesday in round 2 to advance to the Semi-Finals.
Denver’s rodeo is traditionally the first big rodeo of the new year and kicks off all of the building rodeos. Winning here can give contestants momentum as they travel to Texas for rodeos in Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston, Austin and San Angelo. Winning at these gives contestants an step towards a trip to Las Vegas next December to compete at the NFR – rodeo’s championships.
Lees got to nod his head in the famed yellow bucking chutes of the NFR in 2023 and again in 2024. He finished 11th in the standings both years. He struggled last year and came up short finishing the season in 18th place. His final event was the last day of the season, September 30th. And while he was disappointed, he had a good reason to go home and a lot to look forward to. His wife, Chelsea, was expecting the couple’s first child. They welcomed their daughter, Nevada Rae, on October 14th.
With his fan base growing, Lees has more motivation than ever and that showed with his performance in the Denver Coliseum on Monday afternoon. Steer wrestler Tory Johnson was also successful on Monday. Johnson, from Oklahoma City, stopped the clock in 3.6 seconds. Right behind him was five-time world champion Tyler Waguespack from Gonzales, Louisiana. Waguespack stopped the clock in 3.7 seconds and these two will be fun to watch during round two.
Pro rodeo action continues Tuesday with the second round of Bracket 5 beginning at 7 p.m.
DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 19, 2026) — The following are results from the National Western Stock Show Rodeo.
Bracket 5 – Round 1
Bareback Riding: 1, Jacob Lees, Caldwell, Idaho, 85 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Freshman 15. 2, Bronc Marriott, Grantsville, Utah, 81.5. 3, Mason Stuller, Veneta, Ore., 79. 4, Stetson Bierman, Hidalgo, Ill., 75.
Steer Wrestling: 1. Tory Johnson, Oklahoma City, Okla., 3.6 seconds. 2, Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La., 3.7. 3, Landon Beardsworth, Red Deer County, Alberta, 3.9. 4, Chase Pierre, Brookshire, Texas, 4.7.
Team Roping: 1, Denton Parish, Perrin, Texas, and Corey Hendrick, Bedias, Texas, 5.0 seconds. 2, Brye Crites, Welch, Okla., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas, 5.1. 3, Mason Appleton, Chelsea, Okla., and Sid Sporer, Cody, Wyo., 5.4. 4, Bodie Mattson, Sturgis, S.D., and Arye Aspenscheid, Big Piney, Wyo., 6.8.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Josue Molina, Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, on The Cervi Brothers’ Mesquite Thorn. 2, Leon Fountain, Lemitar, N.M., 77. 3, Jesse Kruse, Bridger, Mont., 75.5. 4, Rig Smith, Holbrook, Idaho, 74.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Colton Suther, Palo Cedro, Calif., 8.0 seconds. 2, Myles Kenzy, Iona, S.D., 8.5. 3, Jett Barrett, Lipan, Texas, 9.5. 4, Teagen Binder, Canyon, Texas, 9.9.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Sydney Graham, Abilene, Texas, 15.02 seconds. 2, Heidi Gunderson, Murdock, Minn., 15.11. 3, Hailey Garrison Graham, Glen, Mont., 15.27. 4, Katie Chism, Tiskilwa, Ill., 15.38.
Bull Riding: (three rides) 1, Koby Jacobson, Haiku, Hawaii, 79.5 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Barf Bag. 2, Kyle Cheney, Powell, Wyo., 78. 3, Brody Hasenack, Hoback, Wyo., 71.
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 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, hostinone 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.
PROVIDED COURTESY OF SUSAN KANODE FOR NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW & RODEO TO TENN TEXAS MEDIA
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