FOR
IMMEDIATE USE: Nov 18
For more information,
contact: PR@RFDTV.com
or (214) 477-6999
RFD-TV’S THE AMERICAN RODEO NEWS
TIPS
Cowboys
from Bareback, Saddle Bronc and Team Roping qualifying events advance to THE AMERICAN
This weekend, Bareback,
Saddle Bronc and Team Roping qualifying events were held, advancing more
competitors to THE AMERICAN Semifinals. The Bareback and Saddle Bronc events
were held in Rapid City, S.D. at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The Team
Roping event was held in Fort Worth, Texas at Will Rogers Coliseum. THE
AMERICAN Semifinals will take place in Mesquite, Texas on Feb. 22-23, 2014. The top finishers from each event after the Semifinals
will advance to RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN Presented by Polaris RANGER on March 2, 2014 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
THE AMERICAN is the richest one-day rodeo in history, with a payout of $2
million.
See below for the latest qualifier results and
some additional story ideas to include in your coverage of RFD-TV’s THE
AMERICAN Presented by Polaris RANGER
rodeo.
Bareback event held in
Rapid City, S.D. on Nov. 17, 2013.
Top
5 qualifiers advance: 1st Cimmaron Gerke, 2nd
Morgan Wilde, 3rd Kelly Wardell, 4th Shawn Minor, 5th
Eric Swenson
- Cimmaron Gerke is a 5 time WNFR
Qualifier and won the College National Finals Rodeo Bareback Riding champion in
2003. He will be competing against his idol in the Semifinals, Kelly Wardell. - Kelly Wardell is the oldest of the
bareback qualifiers at 50 years old. He has been competing for 33 years,
qualified for the NFR four times, and won a silver medal at the 2002 Olympics.
Along with competing in Bareback, Wardell is an MMA fighter. - Shawn Minor is an 18 time IPRA World Champion.
Saddle Bronc event held in Rapid City, S.D. on Nov. 17.
Top
5 qualifiers advance: 1st Dustin Flundra, 2nd
Jesse Kruse, 3rd Louie Brunson, 4th Cole Elshere, 5th
Chase Brooks
- Dustin Flundra is THE AMERICAN’s first
Canadian qualifier, and is a 3-time Canadian Saddle Bronc World Champion. - Jesse Kruse won PRCA World Champion
Saddle Bronc Rider in 2009. - Cole Elshere is the cousin to Saddle
Bronc riders Ryan Elshere, and 4 time WNFR qualifier J.J Elshere - Chase Brooks lists his traveling partner
and fellow qualifier Jesse Kruse as someone he looks up to in the sport of
Saddle Bronc riding.
Team Roping event held
in Fort Worth, Texas on Nov. 15.
Top
10 teams advance: 1st Blaine Vick and Brandon
Bates, 2nd Joshua Torres and Wesley Thorpe, 3rd Chance
Thompson and Tyler Magnus, 4th Jesse Harville and Dustin Davis, 5th Coleman Proctor and Jet Hillman, 6th
Tate Kirchenschlager and Derrick Peterson, 7th Bubba Backaloo and
Dakota Kirchenschlager, 8th Chance Kiehne and Kirt Jones, 9th
Shain Sproul and Kinney Dale Harrell, 10th Aaron Macy and Casey
Chamberlain
RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN
Presented by Polaris RANGER will take
place on March 2nd at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Tickets are on sale
and prices range from $20 to $150, not including taxes. They can be
purchased at the AT&T Stadium Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations and
online at www.americanrodeo.com.
The Semifinals is the
last opportunity for an athlete to qualify to compete in RFD-TV’S THE AMERICAN
Presented by Polaris RANGER. It takes
place on Feb. 22-23, 2014 in Mesquite, Texas. Tickets for The Semifinals are
available now for $14, $20 and $30 not including taxes. They can be purchased
at the Mesquite Arena’s box office and online at www.americanrodeo.com.