Rookie Braxton Whitesell Wins $7,400 in Bracket 1 of Fort Worth’s ProRodeo Tournament

FORT WORTH, Texas (Jan. 24, 2026) — Rookie bull rider Braxton Whitesell continued his standout week in Fort Worth, winning $7,400 in Bracket 1 of the Fort Worth Livestock Show & Rodeo (FWSSR) ProRodeo Tournament at Dickies Arena.

Whitesell earned his tournament berth by winning the FWSSR Rookie Rally on Thursday, January 22. Just two days later, the Walker, Louisiana cowboy advanced to the Semi-Finals by becoming the only bull rider to record a qualified ride in round two, scoring 84.5 points aboard Peaky Blinders from Rafter G Rodeo.

Whitesell Advances as Lone Qualified Bull Rider

Despite an early dismount in round one, Whitesell rebounded in decisive fashion on Saturday night. His winning ride in round two secured the Bracket 1 victory and pushed his Dickies Arena earnings to more than $12,000 in three days, with additional opportunities still ahead as the tournament progresses.

The FWSSR ProRodeo Tournament features a $1.6 million total purse, making it one of the richest stops in professional rodeo.

Barrel Racing Standouts in Bracket 1

Fan favorite Emily Beisel of Weatherford, Oklahoma, delivered a dominant performance in barrel racing, sweeping both rounds of Bracket 1 on two different horses.

• Round One: Beisel won aboard the 15-year-old gray gelding Namgis D 33, better known as Chongo
• Round Two: She returned to the 9-year-old brown mare Ivory on Fire (Liza), clocking a 16.39-second run to win the round and advance to the Semi-Finals

Joining Beisel in the Semi-Finals was Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, South Dakota, the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association career money leader.

How Contestants Qualify for the Tournament

Contestants earn entry into the 56-member FWSSR ProRodeo Tournament field in one of three ways:

• Ranking among the top athletes from the 2025 and early 2026 seasons
• Winning the FWSSR Rookie Rally
• Winning one of seven designated 2025 regional rodeos, including Weatherford, Waxahachie, Cleburne, Gladewater, Mineral Wells, or Denton

More Semi-Finals Qualifiers from Bracket 1

• Steer Wrestling: Jacob Daniell (Cisco, Texas) advanced after winning round two in 4.3 seconds, having earned his tournament slot through the Ellis County Livestock Show & Rodeo in Waxahachie
• Breakaway Roping: Former world champion Shelby Boisjoli-Meged (Calgary, Canada) advanced with two consistent 2.2-second runs, tying for the round-two win with Hannah Giger (Wilburton, Oklahoma)

Contestants in each bracket compete in two rounds, with the top two money earners in each event advancing directly to the Semi-Finals. The third-highest money earner advances to the Wild Card round, where the top two also move on.

The top four competitors from each Semi-Finals will qualify for Championship Saturday, February 7. Visit www.fwssr.com for schedule, tickets and results.

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Unofficial Results

FWSSR ProRodeo Tournament — Bracket 1, Round Two

January 24, 2026

Bareback Riding

1. Jacob Lees, Caldwell, Idaho — 89.5, Lunatic Heaven (Brookman Rodeo), $2,518
2. Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba — 88.5, $1,918
3. Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas — 85, $1,518
4. Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, La. & Myles Carlson, Evanston, Wyo. — 83, $580 each
   Semi-Finals: Lees, Berry • Wild Card: Larsen

Steer Wrestling

1. Jacob Daniell, Cisco, Texas — 4.3, $2,518
2. Tyler Scheevel, Lester Prairie, Minn. — 4.6, $1,918
3. Colin Fox, Manvel, Texas — 4.7, $1,518
4. Gary Gilbert, Paradise, Texas — 5.0, $1,018
   Semi-Finals: Daniell, Joe Nelson • Wild Card: Scheevel

Breakaway Roping

1. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, Calgary, Canada & Hannah Giger, Wilburton, Okla. — 2.2, $2,218 each
2. Summer Williams, Mineral Wells, Texas — 3.1, $1,518
3. Tiffany Schieck, Floresville, Texas & Erin Johnson, Fowler, Colo. — 3.6, $580 each
   Semi-Finals: Boisjoli-Meged, Williams • Wild Card: Rylee George

Saddle Bronc Riding

1. Darcy Radel, Injune, Australia — 87.5, Me Mojo (Korkow Rodeos), $2,542
2. Traylin Martin, Faith, S.D. — 86, $1,942
3. Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah — 83, $1,542
4. Mitch Pollock, Twin Falls, Idaho — 82.5, $1,042
   Semi-Finals: Radel, Boore • Wild Card: Jake Finlay

Tie-Down Roping

1. John Douch, Huntsville, Texas — 8.6, $2,625
2. Ace Reece, Aquilla, Texas — 10.0, $2,025
3. Cash Enderli, Liberty, Texas — 14.4, $1,625
4. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla. — 19.0, $1,125
   Semi-Finals: Douch, Herrin • Wild Card: Enderli

Team Roping

1. Cody Snow, Los Olivos, Calif. & Hunter Koch, Vernon, Texas — 4.0, $2,575 each
2. Kolby Krieger, Fredericktown, Mo. & Michael Fortenberry — 5.2, $1,975
3. Dawson & Dillon Graham, Alberta — 4.8, $1,575 each
4. Colby Lovell & Ty Arnold, Midway, Texas — 10.7, $1,075 each
   Semi-Finals: Graham & Graham; Snow & Koch • Wild Card: Lovell & Arnold

Barrel Racing

1. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Okla. — 16.39, $2,518
2. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. — 16.57, $1,918
3. Sharon Gow, Roseburg, Ore. — 16.68, $1,518
4. Cassidy Deen, Wills Point, Texas — 16.91, $1,018
   Semi-Finals: Beisel, Lockhart • Wild Card: Stephanie Fryar

Bull Riding

1. Braxton Whitesell, Walker, La. — 84.5, Peaky Blinders (Rafter G Rodeo), $7,400
   Semi-Finals: Whitesell, Trevor Reiste • Wild Card: Thayne Elshere