Rodeo Daily

Bracket 8 Determines Final Set of Qualifiers to Saturday's NWSS Semi-Finals

The final bracket has concluded and the coming weekend will see both the semi-finals and finals of the 2026 NWSS.
Teal Stoll|
NWSS
NWSS | National Western Stock Show Volunteer Photographers

The 2026 National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, Colo., is nearing its end. The performance on Friday night was the final one of a series of brackets.

From each of the eight brackets, three qualifiers in each event moved on to Saturday's semi-finals. Those qualifiers were based on the fastest times and highest scores on a two-round aggregate.

If you like our content, choose Sports Illustrated as a preferred source on Google.

Bareback Riding

It was a battle of former National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifiers in star-studded Bracket 8. Garrett Shadbolt's ride in Round 1 unofficially moved into a tie for second place. Fresh off his first NFR in the bareback riding, Wacey Schalla made the highest-marked ride of the NWSS this year, with an 89-point ride in Round 2.

1. Wacey Schalla
2. Garrett Shadbolt
3. Kashton Ford

Steer Wrestling

Tyke Kipp moved into a tie for second place in Round 2, with a lightning-fast 3.7-second run.

1. Levi Rudd
2. Tyke Kipp
3. Mike McGinn

Team Roping

World Champions Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira earned a check in Round 1, after winning their first performance with a 4.5-second run. An incredible 3.6-second run from NFR qualifiers Dustin Egusquiza and JC Flake topped Round 2, just shy of the arena record.

1. Dustin Egusquiza/JC Flake
2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira
3. Cory Kidd/Carson Johnson

Saddle Bronc Riding

Coleman Shallbetter's 85-point ride in the first performance moved him to a second-place finish in Round 1. Shallbetter took a shot in the arena after dismounting from his Round 2 horse, and we send best wishes to this Colorado cowboy. World Standings leader Wyatt Casper topped the aggregate.

1. Wyatt Casper
2. Ryder Wright
3. Brody Cress

Tie-Down Roping

Riley Webb roping at the NFR
Riley Webb | Nathan Meyer Photography

Three-time World Champion Riley Webb made an 8.1-second run in his first performance, finishing second in Round 1 overall. Dylan Hancock made the best of a challenging shot in Round 2, but it paid off with a semi-finals qualification.

1. Riley Webb
2. Blane Cox
3. Dylan Hancock

Barrel Racing

It was a speedy bracket in the barrel racing, with some of the fastest times of the rodeo so far. Blake Molle and Alyssa Urbanek Wade unofficially finished second and third in Round 1. The 2025 Resistol Rookie of the Year, Makenzie Mayes, made a big move, winning Round 2 and moving on to the semi-finals.

1. Alyssa Urbanek Wade
2. Makenzie Mayes
3. Summer Kosel

Bull Riding

Parker Breding topped his first performance, finishing fifth overall in Round 1 for a nice check. The only bull rider of his bracket with two qualified rides, Jackson Ward took the top of the leaderboard in the aggregate to move on to the semi-finals.

1. Jackson Ward
2. Parker Breding
3. T Parker / Marco Juarez

More Rodeo On SI

Published
Teal Stoll
TEAL STOLL

Teal Stoll is a lifelong Wyomingite from a working ranch family of several generations. Both sides of her family have deep roots in rodeo, as contestants and stock contractors. Teal grew up horseback and actively competes in rodeos and barrel races. She has degrees in both business and accounting, which she uses operating her own bookkeeping service. Teal enjoys spending time with her horses, training colts, and maintaining her string of athletes. When she isn’t at the barn, she can be found reading, doing yoga, or on her paddle board at the lake. Teal lives with her fiancee and a plethora of animals, because she can’t say no to a displaced critter with a sad story. When she isn’t on the road running barrels, she spends her time helping with day to day operations on the family ranch.

Home/News