DENVER, Colo. (January 17, 2023) — Competing in the rodeo at the National Western Stock Show presented by Centura Health is a step towards achieving goals for Chet Weitz from London, Texas.
Weitz started roping as a toddler and won his first saddle in Las Vegas when he was just three-years old. He comes from a competitive family and has used other sports like tennis to improve in his athletic endeavors. He competed in high school and accepted a scholarship at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where he is majoring in wildlife biology and agriculture business.
He has big dreams of being back in Las Vegas as a competitor at rodeo’s championships the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He took another step towards that goal this year. Weitz entered the National Western’s timed-event qualifying competition in tie-down roping and team roping earning another trip to the Mile High City.
He now has a decision to make. Does he stay in Denver for three days or go back to Lubbock and return here to compete on Saturday in the semifinals where he has qualified in both of his events.
Consistency was the key in tie-down where he posted an 8.3 for the second time. Weitz finished bracket 5 as the number one man with a total time of 16.6 seconds.
He also will be advancing in the team roping. He did the heading for Jace Davis, from Stephenville, Texas. They finished two–tenths of a second behind the first place team of Rhett Anderson from Annabella, Utah, and Chris Young from Wittman, Arizona, who were at the top with 11.3 seconds.
Weitz is leading the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rookie of the Year standings in the all-around category and is second in both individual events. If he continues to do well in the Denver Coliseum, he will add to his earnings which could help him earn that award.
As expected, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi is headed to the semifinals in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association sanctioned barrel race. On Monday, Tonozzi was the first runner and she posted the fastest run of the rodeo so far at 14.84. She came back and was the last barrel racer to go on Tuesday. She again had the best time at 15.05 seconds.
Bracket 6 will be featured at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo on Wednesday with two performances at 1:30 and 7 p.m.
DENVER, Colo. — The following are results from the National Western Stock Show Rodeo, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023.
Tenth Performance —
Bareback Riding: 1, Ty Owens, Helena, Mont., 80.5 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Hanna Bear. 2, Logan Patterson, Kim, Colo., 80. 3, Kaleb Norstrom, East Helena, Mont., 79.5. 4, Bradlee Miller, Huntsville, Texas, 78.5. (Total on two–semifinals qualifiers) 1, Miller, 159. 2, Owens, 156.5. 3, Clay Jorgenson, Watford, N.D., 155.Â
Steer Wrestling: 1, Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D., 8.7 seconds. 2, Gus Franzen, Kearney, Neb., 9.5. 3, Joshua Hefner, Knoxville, Tenn., 13.9. 3, (tie) Jacob Edler, Alva, Okla., and Trey Jackson, Keensburg, Colo., 14.5. (Total on two–semifinals qualifiers) 1, Melvin, 13.3. Jackson, 23.7. 3, Franzen, 24.8.
Team Roping: 1, Rhett Anderson, Annabella, Utah, and Chris Young, Wittman, Ariz., 6.0 seconds. 2, Chet Weitz, London, Texas, and Jace Davis, Stephenville, Texas, 6.2. 3, Peter Bennett, Kaycee Wyo., and Brayden Wiesen, Carpenter, Wyo., 11.05. 4, Clayton Van Aken, Yoder, Wyo., and Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 13.95. (Total on two–semifinals qualifiers) 1, Anderson, and Young, 11.3. 2, Wetiz, and Davis, 11.5. 3, Aken, and Skelton, 9.5.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Reed Neely, Sanger, Cali., 84.5 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Capone. 2, Jake Finlay, Goondiwindi, Australia, 80.5. 3, Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 79. 4, Jake Clark, Crane, Ore., 78. (Total on two–semifinals qualifiers) 1, Cress, 159.5. 2, Finlay, 157. 3, Clark, 154.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Cash Enderli, Liberty, Texas, 8.0 seconds. 2, Chet Weitz, London, Texas, 8.3. 3, Zaine Mikita, Byers, Colo., 8.5. 4, Trenton Smith, Bigfoot, Texas, 9.1. (Total on two–semifinals qualifiers) 1, Weitz, 16.6. 2, Enderli, 17.4. 3, Mikita, 17.5.
Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Brittany Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas, 15.05 seconds. 2, (tie) Katie Pasco, Morrow Bay, Colo., and Jane Malby, Wilson, Colo., 15.18. 3, Kari Boxleitner, 15.34. (Total on two–semifinals qualifiers) 1, Tonozzi, 29.89. 2, Pasco, 30.4. 3, Melby, 30.7.
Bull Riding: (One qualified ride) 1, Cullen Telfer, Plant City, Fla.,77.5 points Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Drunkin Ninja. (Total on two–semifinals qualifiers) 1, Telfer, 156.5. 2, Connor Murnion, Jordan Mont., 84.5. 3, Wade Berg, Chaffee, N.D., 76.Â
About the National Western Stock Show — Established in 1906, the National Western Stock Show is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization that provides college and graduate level scholarships in agricultural-related fields of study. Its mission is to serve producers and consumers throughout the world by being the premier stock show, equestrian competitions, and center for year-round events. The 16-day show also serves as an entertainment arena, hosting one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, family and educational shows plus Colorado’s largest western trade show. For more information, visit nationalwestern.com.
