FORT WORTH, Texas, (Jan. 30, 2025) – At the Fort Worth Stock Show (FWSSR) & Rodeo ProRodeo Tournament team roping times under four seconds generally earn contestants a good check.
On Thursday night in Dickies Arena, under four seconds was an understatement. Dustin Egusquiza, a seven-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier from Mariana, Florida was the first to throw his rope as the header.
On the heeling side his partner, Levi Lord, from Sturgis, South Dakota, was working to catch feet. The duo who currently lives near Mineral Wells did their job so well that they tied for the arena record with a time of 3.6. Lightning Aguilara and Coleby Payne first set the record in 2022.
Stephenville, Texas brothers Wyatt and Paden Bray stopped the clock on Thursday at 3.9 to set the pace. Lord and Egusquiza knew they had to be faster to get the win.
Bareback rider Jayco Roper from Oktaha, Oklahoma, qualified for his first NFR in 2023. He missed the competition in 2024 and had major life changes, getting married and becoming a dad to twin girls. Now he’s working to be back in Las Vegas next December for rodeo’s championships.
Roper had the high-marked ride in round one of Bracket 4 at 90.5 points aboard Championship Pro Rodeo’s horse named The Crow.
Setting the pace in the women’s barrel race was Weatherford, Oklahoma’s Emily Beisel. Riding her great mare, Ivory on Fire, that she calls Liza, they stopped the clock in 16.11 seconds. That nearly matched the arena record of 16.08 set by Wenda Johnson in 2022.
All these contestants will have their second round of competition on Friday beginning at 2 p.m. A second performance, Friday evening at 7:30 p.m., will feature a new group of contestants making their first appearance in Bracket 6.
FORT WORTH, Texas — The following are unofficial results from Bracket 4, round one of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s Pro Rodeo Tournament, January 30, 2025.
Bareback riding: 1, Jayco Roper, Oktaha, Okla., 90.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s The Crow, $2,318. 2, Mason Stuller, Veneta, Ore., 84, $1,818. 3, Jacob Lees, Caldwell, Idaho, 83.5, $1,418. 4, Nick Pelke, Mondovi, Wis., 81, $1,018.