For Immediate Release:
Contact: Johna Cravens 580-235-2664
Schalla’s success continues at Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
FORT WORTH, Texas (Jan. 28, 2026) – Rodeo fans at the sixth performance of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s ProRodeo Tournament saw exciting second round action right out of the gate in bareback riding.
Wacey Schalla from Arapaho, Oklahoma has shown his all-around cowboy skills since he was in high school. He won the National High School Rodeo Association title in 2023 competing in the bareback riding and bull riding – in which he also took the national title.
The next year, he attended Clarendon (Texas) College and earned those same two titles in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. He also started competing in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in bull riding.
He just missed qualifying for his first NFR in both events. Schalla is gaining confidence and momentum in the bareback riding. He qualified for the NFR in that event along with the bull riding last month and finished as the reserve champion in the all-around category. He had the highest score in bareback on Wednesday night at 87 points. Schalla rode United Pro Rodeo’s horse named Marie Leveau and added $2,500 to his earnings. With a total of $4,700 in Bracket 3 winnings, he finished in first place and will be back for the Semi-Finals.
And, he still has two rounds of bull riding in the next bracket. He hopes to advance in both of his events and his bull riding fate in Dickies Arena will be decided in the next two rodeo performances.
The bull riding contest ended the night with four exciting rides. At the top of the leaderboard is Bear Creek, South Dakota’s Stran Smith. He was the only rider in round one to be successful, earning $7,400. He followed that up with an 85-point ride on United Pro Rodeo’s Debo Wednesday.
Smith more than doubled his 2026 season earnings with his success in Dickies Arena so far. Prior to this rodeo, he had $7,926. After being the only rider on Tuesday and finishing in a tie for first on Wednesday, he has already earned $9,725 here. He will be riding in the Semi-Finals with confidence and momentum on his side.
Lane Vaughan of Klamath Falls, Oregon, also scored 85 points on United Pro Rodeo’s bull Crime Report. That tied him with Smith for the round win and earned him a trip to the Semi-Finals as well.
Thursday night’s rodeo begins Bracket 4 with a new group of contestants. Action starts in Dickies Arena at 7:30 p.m. Thursday is TCU Day at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo with those wearing TCU gear getting free grounds admission. Horned Frog spirit groups including the band make special appearances during the rodeo performance.
FORT WORTH, Texas --- The following are unofficial results round two of Bracket 3 at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s ProRodeo Tournament, January 28, 2026.
Bareback Riding: 1, Wacey Schalla, Arapahoe, Okla., 87 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Marie Leveau, $2,500. 2, R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., 85, $1,900. 3, Richmond Champion, Stevensville, Mont., 82.5, $1,500., 4, Ethan Mazurenko, Thorhild, Alberta, Canada, $1,000. Semi-Finals qualifiers: Schalla and Champion. Wild Card qualifier: Landingham.
Steer Wrestling: 1, (tie) Riley Westhaver, High River, Alberta, Canada, and Dane Haas, Neola, Utah, 4.1 seconds, $2,218 each. 3, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 4.2, $1,518. 4, (tie) Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La., and Jacob Edler, Alva, Okla, 4.3, $580 each. Semi-Finals qualifiers: Westhaver and Mason Couch, Bronaugh, Mo. Wild Card qualifier: Haas.
Breakaway roping: 1, (tie) Shalee King, Kaysville, Utah, and TiAda Gray, May, Texas, 2.5 seconds, $2,275 each. 3, Emilee Charlesworth, Marathon, Texas, 2.8, $1,575. 4, Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kan., 3.4, $1,075. Semi-Finals qualifiers: King and Charlesworth. Wild Card Qualifier: Gray.
Saddle bronc riding: 1, Waitley Sharon, Ordway, Colo., 88 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Jazzbo Depew, $2,542. 2, Statler Wright, Beaver, Utah, 87, $1,942. 3, Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D., 83.5, $1,542. 4, James Perrin, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, Canada, 83, $1,042. Semi-Finals qualifiers: Wright and Sharon. Wild Card qualifier: Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas.
Tie-Down Roping: 1, Beau Cooper, Stettler, Alberta, Canada, 8.6, $2,518. 2, Brushton Minton, Witter Springs, Calif., 9.1, $1,918. 3, Treg Schaack, Edgemont, S.D., 12.2, $1,518. 4, Cle Clemons, Okeechobee, Fla., 12.3, $1,018. Semi-Finals qualifiers: Cooper and Tom Crouse, Gallatin, Mo. Wild Card qualifier: Clemons.
Team Roping: (three times) 1, Dustin Equsquiza, Marianna, Fla., and JC Flake, Milsap, Texas, 5.1 seconds, $3,000 each. 2, Jr. Dees, Orange, Texas, and Landen Glenn, McAlester, Okla., $2,400 each. 3, Riley Kittle, Woodland, Ala., and Cole Curry, Liberty, Miss., 8.9 seconds, $2,000 each. Semi-Finals qualifiers: Egusquiza and Flake; Kittle and Curry Wild Card qualifiers: Dees and Glenn.
Barrel Racing: 1, McKenna Coronado, Kanarraville, Utah, 16.29, $2,500. 2, Katelyn Scott, Odessa, Texas, 16.53, $1,900. 3, Summer Kosel, Glenham, S.D., 16.56, $1,500. 4, Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho,16.75, $1,000. Semi-Finals qualifiers: Coronado and Kosel. Wild Card qualifier: Shelley Morgan, Eustace, Texas.
Bull Riding: 1, (tie) Stran Smith, Bear Creek, S.D., on United Pro Rodeo’s Debo, and Lane Vaughan, Klamath Falls, Ore., on United Pro Rodeo’s Ray Ban, 85 points, $2,625 each. 3, Jesse Petri, Dublin, Texas, $1,625. 4, Riley Shippy, Colome, S.D., $1,125. Semi-Finals qualifiers: Smith and Vaughan. Wild Card qualifier: Petri.