by Leigh Ann Matthews
The 67th Annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo wrapped up in Las Vegas with several Oklahoma contestants finishing among the top ranks. The 10-night rodeo (Dec. 4-13) at the Thomas & Mack Center crowned the world champions in eight Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events and two Women’s Professional Rodeo Association events for the 2025 season.
Andrew Ward of Edmond earned the team roping header world championship gold buckle in his sixth NFR appearance. Ward teamed up with champion heeler Jake Long of Coffeyville, Kansas, to claim the title. Long has qualified for the NFR 15 times, with his first appearance in 2010. The team placed in eight rounds and split the win in Round 10, helping secure the world championship. Brothers Clay and Jake Smith of Broken Bow finished the 2025 NFR in 11th and 13th on the head side, while Travis Graves of Jay finished seventh on the heel side.
Taylor Munsell of Alva won her first NFR breakaway roping world championship. She set a new regular-season earnings record in 2025 and currently holds the record for the most money by a breakaway roper in a single season in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. Cheyanne McCartney of Kingston finished seventh. Kassie Mowry of Dublin, Texas, won the WPRA Pro Rodeo barrel racing world championship, while Emily Beisel of Weatherford placed seventh and Wenda Johnson of Pawhuska finished 14th.
Wacey Schalla of Arapaho finished second place in the PRC all-around standings behind Utah’s Stetson Wright. The PRCA all-around world champion is awarded to the competitor who earns the most money while competing in at least two events. Schalla finished the 2025 season fifth in bareback bronc riding and fourth in bull riding. At only 19 years old, he achieved several major rodeo milestones, including becoming the youngest cowboy to earn $1 million during his second NFR appearance. Jake Clay of Sapulpa finished fifth in the all-around standings while competing in steer roping and team roping, followed by seasoned NFR roper Coleman Proctor of Pryor, who finished 12th.
Oklahoma cowboys dominated the steer roping, with Cole Patterson of Pawnee winning the world championship and earning his fourth gold buckle, adding to titles from 2021, 2023 and 2024. Riley O’Rourke of Skiatook placed second, followed by Jake Clay of Sapulpa in fourth, and Chet Herren of Pawhuska in fifth. Thomas Smith of Barnsdall finished sixth, Riley Good of Wynnewood placed 13th, Kelton McMillen of Weatherford finished 14th, and Blake Deckard of Eufaula placed 15th.
Rocker Steiner of Weatherford, Texas, won the bareback riding world championship, with Oklahomans Schalla finishing fifth and Roper finishing 14th. The Wright brothers of Utah finished another NFR with multiple championships. Statler Wright won the saddle bronc riding world championship, with brothers Ryder and Stetson finishing second and third. Stetson also claimed the bull riding world championship and all-around title.
Chance Howard of Sallisaw finished 14th in steer wrestling and, notably, was the only Oklahoma cowboy to qualify in the event. The small community of Checotah, dubbed the “Steer Wrestling Capital of the World,” has been home to multiple championship steer wrestlers.
Riley Webb of Denton, Texas, captured the tie-down roping world championship, earning the 2025 title and his third consecutive world championship.
