CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The 2025 Rodeo Corpus Christi concluded Saturday night as a new slate of champions hoisted the coveted surfboard trophy under the lights of the American Bank Center. The high-stakes event awarded over $600,000 in prize money, with breakaway roper Martha Angelone standing out as the only repeat champion, successfully defending her title in commanding fashion. All results from the event can be found here.
In breakaway roping, Martha Angelone (Stephenville, Texas) repeated as champion at Rodeo Corpus Christi with a commanding 3.4-second run in the Kid Rock Rodeo Round (KRRR), earning $18,000 and bringing her total event winnings to $24,001. Her dominance was consistent all week: she won the Wild Card round with a 3.49, placed first in Progressive Round one, and delivered a 3.02 in the Showdown to secure her spot in the final round. Kieley Walz (Ainsworth, Nebraska) and Taylor Raupe (Springtown, Texas) tied for second place in the KRRR, both turning in 3.67-second runs and collecting $6,000 each. Walz had started strong by winning the Wild Card with a 3.37 and followed with the fastest time in Progressive Round two at 3.53. Raupe advanced with a 4.07 in the Wild Card and a 3.85 in the first progressive round before posting a 4.21 in the Showdown to earn her spot in the final.
Shad Mayfield (Lipan, Texas) claimed his second Rodeo Corpus Christi tie-down roping champion title with an 8.67-second run in the Kid Rock Rodeo Round, earning $18,000 and bringing his total event earnings to $24,000. Mayfield’s campaign began with a 12.1-second Wild Card run that helped him advance, followed by the fastest time in Progressive Round Two—a 9.63 after a 9.67 in Round One. He entered the Showdown ranked first in the average and laid down a 9.56 to move into the KRRR, where he sealed the win. Jarvis Demery (Beggs, Oklahoma), who had posted one of the fastest times of the week—a 9.21 in Progressive Round One—finished second with a strong 9.02 in the KRRR, collecting $9,000. Demery also ran 9.67 in Progressive Round 2 and 12.43 in the Showdown, concluding the week with $21,500 in total earnings. Third place went to Dalton Porch (Kadoka, South Dakota), who qualified through a 9.84 in the Wild Card and runs of 9.77 and 11.51 in the progressive rounds. He earned $3,000 in the KRRR and totaled $9,000 for the event.
Chase Crane (Oklahoma City, OK) captured first place in the steer wrestling, with a lightning-fast 5.24-second run in the KRRR, earning $18,000. Crane’s route to the final was built on consistency, with a 7.9-second run in Progressive Round One and a 7.05 in Round 2. He then delivered a 6.00 in the Showdown to secure his place in the final. 2024 champion, Tyler Pearson (Atoka, Oklahoma) finished second with a 6.51-second effort, taking home $9,000. Pearson had earlier placed second in Progressive Round One with a 5.9 and advanced with a combined average of 10.59, followed by a 6.84 in the Showdown. Levi Rudd (Chelsea, Oklahoma), who won the Wild Card round with a 5.56-second run, rounded out the podium in third place. He had posted an 8.48 in Progressive Round One and 5.56 in Round Two to maintain a solid average of 14.04. Rudd’s week concluded with a 5.03 in the Showdown and a third-place KRRR finish worth $3,000.
In saddle bronc riding, Cole Elshere (Faith, South Dakota) earned first place in the KRRR with an 84.5-point ride, claiming $18,000. Elshere had a steady climb to the top, posting 80.5 in Progressive Round 1 and 78 in Round 2, giving him a 158.5 average. He scored 79.5 in the Showdown to advance to the final. Bailey Small (Fall River Mills, California) took second place in the KRRR with an 82-point ride and $9,000. He entered the competition with a 73-point ride in the Wild Card round, followed by the highest Progressive Round 2 score of 87. Gus Gaillard (Morse, Texas) finished third with an 81.5-point ride in the KRRR, adding $3,000 to his earnings.
Jordan Driver (Garden City, Texas) delivered a clutch performance in the final round of barrel racing with a 14.826-second run to secure the Rodeo Corpus Christi championship and $18,000, finishing with $21,500 in total earnings. Her path to victory included a third-place Wild Card time of 14.793 and consistent progressive round times that kept her in strong contention. Kappie Bryant (Stephenville, Texas) finished second with a 15.175 and earned $9,000, building on steady performances throughout the week. Brandie Inman (Nowata, Oklahoma) rounded out the top three with an 18.113-second effort in the Showdown, earning $3,000. Alishea Broussard (Estherwood, Louisiana) posted the fastest average across the progressive rounds and placed first in Round 2, ultimately earning $16,111 after a tough break in the final round.
In team roping, it was a battle to the finish as the top three teams fought their way through every round to earn a shot at the KRRR. Andrew Ward (Edmond, Oklahoma) and Jake Long (Morgan Mill, Texas) emerged victorious with a clutch 5.43-second run in the KRRR, earning them first place and $18,000. Their consistent showing throughout the week included a 5.82-second win in Progressive Round 1 and a 7.42 in Round 2, giving them a 13.24 average and second place overall heading into the Showdown. There, they posted a 5.35—the fastest time of that round—which set them up for the title-winning performance. Billy Bob Brown (Carbon, Texas) and Trey Johnson (Weatherford, Texas) claimed second place with a 6.00 in the Showdown and a 6.00 in the KRRR, taking home $9,000. Their earlier runs of 6.26 and 6.64 placed them second in both progressive rounds and earned them a cumulative average of 12.9, the highest of any team entering the final stages. Jeff Flenniken (Caldwell, Idaho) and Buddy Hawkins (Stephenville, Texas) posted a 6.22 in the KRRR to finish third and earn $3,000. The duo had shown steady improvement throughout the week with progressive runs of 6.32 and 11.59 and a 5.98 in the Showdown.
In bareback riding, Dean Thompson (Altamont, Utah) delivered an 83.5-point ride in the Kid Rock Rodeo Round to win first place and collect $18,000, bringing his total earnings to $20,000. Thompson’s week started with an 80-point ride in Progressive Round 1 and a 79 in Round 2. His combined average of 159 placed him third overall heading into the Showdown, where he scored an 84.5 to earn his spot in the KRRR and ultimately claim the title. Roedy Farrell (Thermopolis, Wyoming) took second place in the KRRR with an 82-point ride and $9,000. Farrell was dominant early, winning Progressive Round 1 with an 81 and advancing with a combined average of 157. He followed that with an 80.5 in the Showdown to qualify for the finals. 16-year-old Kash Loyd (Cleburne, Texas) placed third with an 81.5-point ride in the KRRR, earning $3,000. Loyd had earlier won the Wild Card round with a score of 82 and scored 77.5 and 80.5 in the progressives to stay competitive through every stage.
No athletes covered in the KRRR. However, Joao Henrique Lucas (Whitesboro, Texas), Tristen Hutchings (Monteview, Idaho), and Clayton Sellars (Stephenville, Texas) each earned $3,000 for qualifying.
All Rodeo Corpus Christi event champions and earnings:
Event/Champion/Total Winnings
Bareback: Dean Thompson ($20,000.00)
Steer Wrestling: Chase Crane ($18,000.00)
Team Roping: Andrew Ward/Jake Long ($28,000.00)
Saddle Bronc: Cole Elshere ($18,000.00)
Breakaway: Martha Angelone ($24,001.00)
Tie Down: Shad Mayfield ($24,000.00)
Barrel Racing: Jordan Driver ($21,500.00)
Bull Riding: Joao Henrique Lucas ($3,000.00)
The first and second-place non-drafted athletes from Rodeo Corpus Christi (minus bull riding) will qualify for the 2025 WCRA Kid Rock N Roll Rodeo Team, “The Free Riders”. The final team roster will be announced on Monday, May 12.
Fans can watch the final round of Rodeo Corpus Christi on the PBR App at 7 p.m. CDT. On May 10.
Additionally, the Kid Rock Rodeo Round will air on CBS Sports Network on May 25 at Noon EDT.
Since launching in May 2018, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $18.2 Million in new money to rodeo athletes. All rodeo athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA or the VRQ should be directed to wcrarodeo.com
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media/WCRA
