The 2022 College National Finals Rodeo is under way in Casper, Wyoming, from June 12–18. Follow along with Barrel Horse News for updates and results from the championship event for college rodeo students.
Scroll down to find barrel racing results and a link to complete CNFR results.
Media updates thanks to Susan Kanode with contributions from Barrel Horse News magazine
June 18, 2022 — CASPER, WYOMING — The final night of competition at the 2022 College National Finals Rodeo saw the fastest time of the rodeo in the barrel racing, and it was both speed and consistency that led Sadie Wolaver to the championship and Taycie Matthews to the reserve title.
Wolaver, a senior accounting major at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, was the barrel racing leader in the average heading into the final round thanks to her 2008 mare Im A Sharp Frost (A Sharp Frost x Comanche Lin x Tino Silver Chicks). Wolaver and “Princess” drew the last draw position on the ground for the final go, giving her the worst dirt conditions of the finals. She still made one of the fastest runs of the week, tying for third in the round with a time of 14.14 to clinch the average for the national title.
Taycie Matthews of East Mississippi Community College had not turned the barrel racing pattern in less than 14.40 seconds during the first three rounds but qualified for the final round ranked eighth. The sophomore business and marketing major was the only barrel racer of the week to break the 14-second mark as her 2012 stallion Heavenly Firewater (JL Dash Ta Heaven x Fire Water Fanny x Fire Water Flit) smoked the final round with a time of 13.86 to help Matthews finish as reserve national champion.
Scroll down for complete barrel racing results from the entire 2022 CNFR. Find all event results at cnfr.com
2022 College National Finals Rodeo Champions
Bareback – Ty Pope, Missouri Valley College, 318.5 points
Tie-Down Roping – Kincade henry, Panola College, 38.1 seconds.
Breakaway Roping – Bryana Lehrmann, Texas A & M University – Commerce, 9.2 seconds
Saddle Bronc Riding – Shae Fournier, McNeese State University, 315 points
Steer Wrestling – Walt Arnold, Tarleton State University, 16.9 seconds
Goat Tying – (tie) Kamryn Duncan, McNeese State University, 24.9 seconds
Maddee Doerr, Cochise College, 24.9 seconds
Team Roping – Riley Cittle, Cisco College and John Helton, Weatherford College, 34.4 seconds
Barrel Racing – Sadie Wolaver, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 56.86
Bull Riding – Casey Roberts, Three Rivers College, 239.5 points
Men’s All-Around – Cole Walker, University of Tennessee – Martin, 270 points
Women’s All-Around – Bryana Lehrmann, Texas A & M University – Commerce, 310 points
Men’s Team – Tarleton State University, 900 points
Women’s Team – Weatherford College, 538.33
Men’s Rookie – Andy Guzman, Mesalands Community College, 215 points
Women’s Rookie – Kenlie Raby, Missouri Valley College, 80 points
Men’s AQHA Horse of the Year – Kincade Henry, Panola College, Duals Crescent Boon
Women’s AQHA Horse of the Year – Sadie Wolaver, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Im a Sharp Frost
JUNE 14, 2022 — CASPER, WYOMING — In the third round of the 2022 College National Finals Rodeo barrel racing, Jaylie Matthews of East Mississippi Community College rode to the top of the leaderboard with a 14.13 on her mother Kim Matthews’ horse Fame Fire Rocks (Firewaterontherocks x W R Aces Fame x Dash Ta Fame). The 2017 mare joined the Matthews family earlier this year after a successful 2021 futurity year under trainer Janna Beam Brown, winning titles such as the Better Barrel Races Southern Territorial Futurity. The mare is now a pro rodeo money earner with Kim and is proving herself further as a winner with Jaylie at college rodeo’s championship event.
The window for a college rodeo athlete to earn a National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association championship is narrow. To earn more than one and back-to-back titles is a quest that few athletes ever accomplish.
Two of the champions at the 2022 College National Finals Rodeo put themselves in position to do that on Tuesday night at the Ford Wyoming Center. Fans watched Cole Franks, the reigning bareback and men’s all-around champion, move to the top of the leaderboard, and bull rider Tristan Hutchings, who is also competing in the steer wrestling and in contention for the all-around championship.
There are three more performances that feature the third round of competition, Wednesday through Friday. Then the 12 contestants in each event with the highest total scores or fastest total times will advance to Saturday night’s championship round. Scroll down to find barrel racing results and a link to complete CNFR results.
JUNE 13, 2022 — CASPER, WYOMING — The first round of competition at the 73rd College National Finals Rodeo wrapped up June 12. Contestants in steer wrestling, tie-down roping, goat tying, barrel racing and team roping made their first appearance in the Ford Wyoming Center, and it was apparent they came to win.
Texas cowgirl Bradi Good of Abilene is the No. 1 barrel racer in Casper so far. Good, who is a sophomore at Weatherford (Texas) College, qualified in barrel racing and breakaway roping. She was the most successful in barrel racing with a time of 14.22 seconds to win the first round on her 2014 mare Famous Bullets (Lins First Bullet x Dasharuth x Dash Ta Fame). Good and “Gracie” are no strangers to the winner’s circle. At age 17 in March 2019, Good rode her mare to the Elite Extravaganza Futurity Championship in Waco against a tough field of elite futurity veterans.
Gracie has continued to be a winning mount for Good after the aged-event years. Both Good and Gracie are bred to win—Gracie was bred, raised and trained by National Finals Rodeo barrel racer Jana Bean, and Good’s father is a three-time National Finals Steer Roping qualifier, as well as her grandfather and his two brothers.
Good also had a solid 2.8-second run in the breakaway roping Sunday afternoon. It was outside the top eight that earn points, but if she does that two more times, she could be in contention for a national title. Good is in good shape in the women’s all-around race and will be one to watch through the next five days of competition.
At the top of the leaderboard in steer wrestling was a CNFR veteran. Walt Arnold from Coleman, Oklahoma, is making his third appearance at the CNFR. The first time here, he represented Cisco (Texas) College and finished in ninth place.
Last year, Arnold attended college in Stephenville, Texas, as part of the Tarleton State University team and was one spot lower at 10th. This year, he enters the competition as a graduate with a criminal justice degree and is hoping to leave Casper with a championship.
During Monday morning’s competition, he stooped the clock in 4.2 seconds to win the first round. It was a big step toward his goal of finishing No. 1 and earning a National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association championship.
Tuesday will see the second round of competition complete and the third round beginning with slack during the day and the first full rodeo performance beginning at 7 p.m.
2022 College National Finals Rodeo Barrel Racing Results
For complete results from all events, visit collegerodeo.com.
Final Barrel Racing Average on Four: 1, Wolaver, 56.86. 2, Matthews, 57.23. 3, Good, 57.27. 4, Hailey Garrison, Montana State University, 57.30. 5, Bard, 57.42. 6, Victoria Procter, Texas A & M University, 57.60. 7, Emma Smith, Texas A & M University, 57.61. 8, Abby Hepper, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 57.62.
June 18 Barrel Racing Final Round: 1, Taycie Matthews, East Mississippi Community College, 13.86 seconds. 2, Bradi Good, Weatherford College, 14.03.3, (tie) . Sadie Wolaver, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Ellie Bard, Gillette College, 14.14.
June 17 Barrel Racing Leaders, Third Round continued, Perf 4: 1, Jaylie Matthews, East Mississippi Community College, 14.13 seconds. 2, Hailey Garrison, Montana State University, 14.19. 3, (tie) Sadie Walaver, Southwestern Oklahoma State University; Ellie Bard, Gillette College; and Bryana Lehrmann, Texas A & M University – Commerce; 14.22. 6, Abby Hepper, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 14.23. 7, Bradi Good, Weatherford College, 14.32. 8, Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University, 14.33. Total on Three: 1, Wolaver, 42.72. 2, Victoria Procter, Texas A & M University, 43.06. 3, Garrison, 43.13. 4, (tie) Emma Smith, Texas A & M University, and Hepper, 43.21 each. 6, Bradi Good, Weatherford College, 43.24. 7, Bard, 43.28. 8, Taycie Matthews, East Mississippi Community College, 43.37. 9, Kenna McNeill, Oklahoma State University, 43.39. 10, Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University, 43.43. 11, Kiara Begay, University of Arizona, 43.44. 12, Shaw Nelson, South Dakota State University, 43.69.
June 16 Barrel Racing Leaders, Third Round continued, Perf 3: 1, Jaylie Matthews, East Mississippi Community College, 14.13 seconds. 2, Hailey Garrison, Montana State University, 14.19. 3, (tie) Sadie Walaver, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and Bryana Lehrmann, Texas A & M University – Commerce, 14.22. 5, Abby Hepper, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 14.23. 6, Bradi Good, Weatherford College, 14.32. Total on Three: 1, Wolaver, 42.72. 2, Garrison, 43.13. 3, (tie) Emma Smith, Texas A & M University, and Hepper, 43.21 each. 5, Bradi Good, Weatherford College, 43.24. 6, Taycie Matthews, East Mississippi Community College, 43.37. 7, Kenna McNeill, Oklahoma State University, 43.39. 8, Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University, 43.43.
June 15 Barrel Racing Leaders, Third Round continued, Perf 2: 1, Jaylie Matthews, East Mississippi Community College, 14.13 seconds. 2, (tie) Sadie Walaver, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and Bryana Lehrmann, Texas A & M University – Commerce, 14.22. 4, Abby Hepper, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 14.23. 5, Bradi Good, Weatherford College, 14.32. 6, Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University, 14.33. Total on Three: 1, Wolaver, 42.72. 2, (tie) Emma Smith, Texas A & M University, and Hepper, 43.21 each. 4, Bradi Good, Weatherford College, 43.24. 5, Taycie Matthews, East Mississippi Community College, 43.37. 6, Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University, 43.43.
June 14 Barrel Racing Third Round, Perf 1: 1, Jaylie Matthews, East Mississippi Community College, 14.13 seconds. 2, Bryana Lehrmann, Texas A & M University – Commerce, 14.22. 3, Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University, 14.33. 4, Kiara Begay, University of Arizona, 14.36. Total on Three: 1, Emma Smith, Texas A & M University, 43.21. 2, Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University, 43.43. 3, Kiera Begay, University of Arizona, 43.44. 4, Kelly Bang, Dickinson State University, 43.75.
June 13 Slack Barrel Racing Second Round: 1, Emma Smith, Texas A & M University, 14.18 seconds. 2, Sadie Walaver, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 14.24. 3, Maren Powers, California State University – Fresno, 14.24. 4, (tie) Victoria Procter, Texas A & M University, and Tayla Moeykens, Montana State University, 14.31. 6, Kenna McNeill, Oklahoma State University, 14.32. 7, (tie) Abby Hepper, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and Shaw Nelson, South Dakota State University, 14.33 each.
June 12 Barrel Racing First Round: 1, Bradi Good, Weatherford College, 14.22 seconds. 2, Sadi Wolaver, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 14.26. 3, Hadley Tidwell, Ranger College, 14.27. 4, Victoria Proctor, Texas A & M University, 14.41. 5, Brittney Cox, Montana State University – Northern, 14.49. 6, Jaiden Wilmoth, Northeastern Oklahoma State University, 14.50. 7, Madison Camozzi, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 14.52. 8, Taycie Matthews, East Mississippi Community College, 14.54.
