Winning Stampede at the E, Stephanie Fryar is still in the running to be the winner of the WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo $1 million in bonuses

GUTHRIE, Okla. (January 7, 2024) – Stephanie Fryar (Waco, Texas), created history at the WCRA Stampede at the E Presented by Purple Wave Auction with her swift barrel racing run atop “Fast Frank”. The 42-year-old athlete set the bar high as she was the first to go in the round, and her time of 15.323 seconds was the most groundbreaking performance of the $400,000 event. Fryar was one of only three athletes who were still eligible for the Triple Crown of Rodeo in the final round. Fryar edged out the competition and secured her second consecutive WCRA Major win following her victory at October’s WCRA Rodeo Carolina. If Fryar wins May’s Rodeo Corpus Christi, she will be the second and final recipient of the WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo $1 Million Bonus.

The Triple Round of Rodeo Contender has participated in seven WCRA events since 2020 and has achieved one runner-up title before the Rodeo Carolina. She has earned almost $100,000 in WCRA earnings. During the latest competition in Guthrie, the now two-time WCRA Champion emerged victorious by defeating Kindyl Scruggs (Southhaven, Mississippi) and Cari Titsworth (Mcalester, Oklahoma).

In front of a nearly sold-out crowd at the Lazy E Arena, the first discipline of the Triple Crown of Rodeo round, bareback riding, had fans on the edge of their seats. Taylor Broussard (Esterwood, Louisiana), Donny Proffit (Diamondville, Louisiana), and Chad Rutherford (Itasca, Texas), all had impressive 83+ point rides, which made them the top three contenders for the $15,000 Major payday in the round. Rutherford was the second to last rider and made an impressive 83-point ride, but it was Broussard’s matchup against Stevie Knicks that delivered a critical 86-point ride, which was the highest-marked ride of the week and the top ride of the night.

The team roping event was highly competitive, with only a few hundredths of a second separating the first and second-place positions. The winning title was claimed by the duo of header Peyton Walters (Justin, Texas) and heeler Joe Mattern (Plantersville, Texas) with a speedy 5.52-second run. This was Mattern’s third time winning with WCRA (Windy City Rounds, Titletown Stampede), pushing his WCRA earnings over $170,000. The team of Riley Kittle (Carbon, Texas) and Jace Helton (Tolar, Texas) came in second place with a time of 5.60 seconds, trailing behind the winners.

Cody Doescher (Webbers Falls, Oklahoma) was unstoppable in steer wrestling. After competing in the qualifying rounds, the 3x WCRA event qualifier progressed to the final round of competition. The Oklahoman landed the No. 4 time in the aggregate after notching a 6.13-second run in round one and a 6.64-second time in round two. Doescher delivered a lightning-fast 4.25-second effort in the Triple Crown of Rodeo round, bumping Cody Cabral’s 5.0-second time to the No. 2 spot.

The saddle bronc riding was a slugfest as former Triple Crown of Rodeo Contender Isaac Diaz (Desdemona, Texas), Cash Wilson (Wall, South Dakota), and Triple Crown of Rodeo eligible athlete Gus Galliard (Morse, Texas) battled for the first-place spot. Wilson was the third contestant to go, and he set a high bar by defeating Squash Blossom Steely Dan with a score of 86 points. Diaz recorded a score of 85.5 in the same round. Galliard was the next to compete, and he managed to edge Wilson’s score with a score of 85.5, tying Diaz and ending Wilson’s hopes of winning his second straight WCRA title and staying eligible for the Triple Crown of Rodeo.

Jordan Jo Hollabaugh (Springtown, Texas) delivered the fastest round time in breakaway roping with a stealth 2.33-second time. She entered the round second in the aggregate behind Martha Angelone (Stephenville, Texas). Hollabaugh ran a 2.95-second time in progressive round one and a 2.50-second run in Progressive round two. The Texas cowgirl defeated Josey James’ (Waco, Texas) 2.63-second time and 2x WCRA champion Kelsie Chase’s (Dublin, Texas) 3.00-second time.

Shad Mayfield (Clovis, New Mexico) won the tie-down title at Stampede at the E courtesy of his 8.31-second run in the Triple Crown of Rodeo Round. This was Shad’s third WCRA title. Mayfield topped Guy Raasch’s (Sweeny, Texas) 8.33 and Trevor Hale’s 9.17-second time. Shad Mayfield’s win knocked Haled out of the race for the Triple Crown of Rodeo contention.

As one of only three bull riders to cover, Joao Lucas (Whitesboro, Texas) scored an 88.5 atop Cheddar Bisquit and found himself edging out Clayton Sellar’s (Stephenville, Texas) 75.5 score and Deklan Garland’s (Marlo, Oklahoma) 84.0 score.

All Stampede at The E event champions and earnings from the event:

Since launching in May of 2018, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $16,900,000 in new money to rodeo athletes.