Ky Redstrom and Reece Wadhams capped off their first full season together with the 2026 Turquoise Circuit year-end team roping championships, holding on to their respective leads at the Circuit Finals in Cave Creek, Arizona, Nov. 5–7.

Redstrom, a 29-year-old header from Cave Creek, finished with $22,922 in circuit earnings, while Wadhams, the 24-year-old Phoenix man, ended his season with $18,458. Both earned their first year-end circuit titles and punched their tickets to the 2027 NFR Open in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

For two guys who live and rope together every day, winning their first circuit titles in the same year made for a fitting finish to the season.

“Shoot, we’re like best friends—we live together,” Redstrom said. “It’s pretty fun. No pressure.”

Full 2025-2026 ProRodeo circuit finals Results

A Close Call in Cave Creek

While Redstrom entered the Finals with a comfortable lead in the heading, Wadhams had considerably less room for error, with Whip Peterson sitting less than $1,900 behind him heading to Cave Creek.

The weekend didn’t exactly go as planned.

“Really, truly, it was pretty bad,” Redstrom laughed. “The first night I was late, our steer run. I just went into catch mode and didn’t set the run up very good.”

He took a better start in the second round, but another leg kept them out of the money. By the final round, the pair was sitting last in the average with little hope of picking up an aggregate check.

“Really, truly the third night, we were just going to try to win something in the round,” Redstrom said of the plan heading into the last round.

They answered with a 4.9-second run, good for fourth in the round and $555 per man.

For Wadhams, that check made all the difference. Peterson and Pedro Egurrola placed second in the first round and fourth in the average, putting another $2,219 in Peterson’s pocket. Wadhams ultimately held on to the heeling title by just $229.03.

“Circuit finals wasn’t very good,” Wadhams said. “I didn’t rope very good on the first two, and then it came down to what happened on the third steer and we ended up making a good run and I barely ended up winning it.”

It was Wadhams’ first appearance at his claimed circuit finals. Although he’d spent his 2025 rookie season rodeoing with Clayton Van Aken, who went on to win the Mountain States Circuit heading title, Wadhams had claimed the Turquoise Circuit.

This time, he had a title of his own.

Building a Championship Season

Redstrom got his year started with wins at the co-approved rodeos in Las Vegas and Brawley, California, alongside Peterson, giving him an early advantage in the circuit standings.

After teaming up with Wadhams, the two needed a little time to find their rhythm.

Redstrom missed at their first two rodeos together before things started clicking at Scottsdale, Arizona, where they turned in a 4.1-second run to finish third.

“At Scottsdale, I think it was our best run we made,” Redstrom said. “We won third, but it kind of got the ball rolling for us. And after that, I think we placed at every rodeo, like six in a row, I think.”

Outside of the circuit, they entered a few bigger spots, including Reno and Salinas, which served as a gut-check on whether or not they could hand with some of the best in the business.

“At Reno, we didn’t really win much, but we made some good runs,” Wadhams said. “I mean, that felt like it was a pretty good building point in me and his career to where just getting in the mix of it at the bigger rodeos.”

All the Pretty Horses

The year-end titles weren’t the only honors Redstrom and Wadhams took home. Both of their horses were also recognized as Turquoise Circuit Horses of the Year.

Redstrom’s 18-year-old gelding “Whiskey”, registered as Fueled By Whiskey, has been instrumental in his success since he acquired him in February 2025.

Whiskey was originally trained by Shelby Smith, now Shelby Black, and sold through the Rancho Rio Sale. Redstrom’s uncle eventually purchased him before Redstrom traded another horse for him. Despite Whiskey’s somewhat outlaw of a personality, Redstrom credits him for everything.

“He’s just so fast,” Redstrom said. “When he leaves the back of the box, he scores good, but when he leaves there, he’s running so hard and he’s flat. The horns come to me every time.”

Redstrom rode Whiskey at every rodeo throughout the season except Cheyenne. For him, Whiskey’s Horse of the Year honor was as meaningful as his own title.

“I think I was more worried about (him winning it) than anything for a while,” Redstrom said. “He’s special to me.”

On the heeling side, Wadhams relied on his 13-year-old gelding I Like To Swing, known as “Lippy.”

Wadhams purchased Lippy from Ty Yost after the gelding had passed through several hands throughout his career. The horse had previously been started and shown by Joseph Harrison. Since Wadhams purchased him, Lippy has been his go-to rodeo horse, whether he’s entered at a fast setup or a longer score.

“For me, it doesn’t matter what the setup is,” Wadhams said. “I ride him when we’re trying to be fast, I ride him at Cheyenne. I mean, I rode him kind of anywhere, but he gives me the same go.”

That consistency, combined with Lippy’s size and speed, has given Wadhams a horse he can trust in nearly any situation.

On the Calendar

With their first circuit championships behind them, Redstrom and Wadhams are already looking toward a bigger rodeo schedule in 2027.

Like most in the industry, they plan to spend the winter in Arizona, taking advantage of the jackpot scene before loading up to go the ProRodeos, including some in Texas.

The NFR Open will also be a first for both cowboys.

For Wadhams, who is originally from Pueblo, Colorado, the opportunity to compete in Colorado Springs carries an added personal connection.

“I’m super excited,” Wadhams said. “I mean, being from Pueblo, it’s kind of cool too. I’ll be able to hang out up there and a lot of my family will be able to come.”

Beyond the chance to compete for big money at the NFR Open, both are looking at the opportunities it could create through the PRCA Playoff Series.

“Well, I mean (Puyallup and Sioux Falls) are a long ways away, but I mean it’s not impossible,” Wadhams said. “I just think it’s really cool for guys like us for the opportunity to be able to get in the mix of the top 15 in an outside way.”