Fort Worth, Texas – March 1, 2019 – Lives will be changed and champions will be crowned at RFD-TV’s
The American Rodeo as the event returns to Arlington, Texas on March 2-3, 2019. Athletes traveled from
across the U.S. to compete at the Cowtown Coliseum in The American Semi-Finals, which determines
who will have a chance to compete for $2.35 million at AT&T Stadium in The American.
Today concludes the Semi-Finals and the world now knows who will advance to compete at AT&T
Stadium on March 2-3 for a total purse of $2.35 million.
“The stage is set for our sixth annual The American Finals, and we will see in two days who will walk
away a champion,” said Randy Bernard. “The payout from the past five days of competition ranks us in
the top 12 rodeos in the U.S.”
15-time Wrangler National Finals Qualifier Will Lowe is headed to AT&T Stadium to compete for a
chance at one million in The American. Lowe won the short go of the Semi-Finals with an average score
of 169 on two head. The top six competitors from the Semi-Finals will compete in The American. In
addition to Lowe, Garret Shadbolt, Wyatt Denny, Wyatt Bloom, Dantan Bertsch and Clint Laye will come
back for The American long go tomorrow. Stephen Culling will be making his first appearance in AT&T
Stadium after winning The American Semi-Finals short go Steer Wrestling with a time of 4.07. Tomorrow
he will have the opportunity to prove himself against the best in the business and fight for his piece of
the million dollar payout. Joining him in advancing to the Finals will be JD Struxness, Cody Cassidy,
Denver Berry, Dakota Eldridge and Tee Burress who comprise the top six athletes of the short round.
“Athletes advancing to the Finals now have the opportunity of a lifetime to win millions and be crowned
a Western Sports legend in one of the biggest stadiums in the country.” said Bernard.
Marcus Theriot and McCoy Profili may not have the previous success of their fellow Semi-Finals
competitors, but they were the dream team of the short go winning the team roping with a time of 3.79.
With Theriot on the head side and Profili heeling, they will go on to compete against the top 10 teams
from 2018, in addition to the top six teams qualifying from the Semi-Finals; Coleman Proctor and Ryan
Motes, Spencer Mitchell and Russell Cardoza, Rhen Richard and Cody Droscher, Kellan Johnson and
Carson Johnson, and Marcus Theriot, qualifying a second time, with heeler Coleby Payne. It was a great
night for the “Jakes” in the Saddle Bronc Riding. Jake Finlay finished first in the Semi-Finals short go
earning a cumulative score of 168 over two rounds. Finishing behind him in second was Jake Watson
with 163.5 points. Spencer Wright, Layton Green, Mitch Pollock and Cole Elshere round out the top six
from the Semi-Finals and move on to AT&T Stadium for The American Finals.
The breakaway roping just got faster and faster as the rodeo went on tonight in the final Semi-Finals
performance. The crowd erupted when Sawyer Gilbert roped her calf with a time of 2.23 seconds, only
to have that time crushed by Amber Crawford a few competitors later who finished a with a time of
2.16. Not to be beaten, world champion Lari Dee Guy took the lead and finished first in the short go with
a blazing fast time of 2.02 seconds. The top 16 breakaway ropers will move on to compete tomorrow at
The American Finals. Ty Harris made a practice run in the short go of the Semi-Finals tie down roping.
The 2018 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association champion qualified two spots into the final
performance Friday night, but had a no time with his first calf. Undaunted, the young cowboy roped
again just minutes later and showed he was only adding suspense with his first run. He tied his calf in
7.57 seconds and shot to first place, stealing the lead from Riley Pruitt, son of Troy Pruitt, the World
Champion tie down roper in 1990. Also advancing to AT&T Stadium tomorrow are the remaining four of
top six from the Semi-Finals; Haven Meged, Monty Lewis, Bobby Abernathy and Seth Cooke.
The ground was fast tonight as the top two barrel racers from the Semi-Finals came in the final
performance in Cowtown Coliseum. Acey Pinkston ran the best time of the week with a 13.851. Brandon
Cullins represented the men well, coming in second with a time of 13.921. Donna Kay Rule’s time of
13.963 held from the third performance to land her in third place and secured her a spot at AT&T
Stadium tomorrow. The top 10 barrel racers from the Semi-Finals will move on to make their run for the
million dollars.
Finals for The American Rodeo are March 2-3 at AT&T Stadium. Live results are available at
http://www.americanrodeo.com/live-results and photos can be found at
https://rfdtv.zenfolio.com/theamerican . Aggregates will be uploaded to The American website, social
media channels and app tomorrow morning.
About RFD-TV’s The American, presented by DISH
Taking place at Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium on March 2-3, 2019, RFD-TV’s The American,
hosts the richest weekend in Western sports. With $2.35 million on the line, the best athletes in
the world will gather in Arlington, Texas to battle for the biggest single paycheck of their lives.
The American invites the top athletes from the 2018 PRCA, WPRA and PBR world standings and
puts them against everyday cowboys and cowgirls who advance from the American Semi-Finals.
If a nationally ranked athlete wins, the prize is $100,000, but if a qualifier from the Semi-Finals –
or an athlete who earned an exemption – wins THE AMERICAN, that contestant shares in a $1
million bonus pool. For more information, please visit: www.americanrodeo.com and
www.RFDTV.com . Follow us on Twitter: @RFDTVAMERICAN and find us on
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RFDTVTheAMERICAN . To buy tickets, go to AmericanRodeo.com
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