In the last month of the 2023 ProRodeo season, the pressure is on, and Canadian brothers Dawson and Dillon Graham have made diamonds out of it, winning the Horse Heaven Roundup Rodeo in Kennewick, Washington, and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho’s Gem State Stampede.
The Grahams both accumulated $10,551.42 between the wins and, as the countdown is on to the end of the season, that five-figure paycheck has NFR implications written all over it. Now, the team is flirting with their first NFR appearances, with Dawson sitting No. 13 on the head side with $83,124.33 won on the year, and Dillon No. 11 with the same amount on the heel side.
The brothers began their winning streak in Kennewick, where their 5.5 in the first round won them each $2,081 for splitting third. They kept it consistent and were 5.5 in the second round as well to be out of the round money, but their 11.0 on two head brought them back to Saturday night’s short round in the top position. They were 6.3 seconds in the short round to win $490 a man for fourth place and to ultimately take the average win, worth $4,633 a man, with a 17.3 on three head.
Sunday, Aug. 27, the team traveled to Coeur d’Alene, where they bested the field at the one-head rodeo with a 4.2-second run to take the win and pocket $3,136 each.
Brown and Koch climb the ladder
Luke Brown and Hunter Koch’s $8,327.81-weekend inched them closer in the bubble race, moving 13-time NFR header Brown from No. 20 to No. 18 with $72,770.15 and two-time NFR heeler Koch from No. 22 to No. 17 with the same amount won on the year.
Their fast, 5.4-second run in the first round in Kennewick finished them second in the round for $2,686 a man. They were out of the second-round money with a 6.3, but their 11.7 on two head brought them back to the final round second in the average. They both won $175 for sixth in the short round with a 6.9 and $2,216 a man for fifth in the average with an 18.6 on three head.
At the Kitsap Stampede in Bremerton, Washington, Brown and Koch were 4.1 seconds to win $2,693 for fifth place. They also capitalized at the Golden Spike Rodeo in Tremonton, Utah, winning $559 for 13th with a 4.3.
Brown and Koch can continue their climb toward the Top 15 next weekend, Sept. 7–10, at the Cinch Playoffs in Puyallup, Washington. The top 24 in the PRCA Playoff Series qualify to compete at the Washington State Fair Pro Rodeo in Puyallup to vie for a spot at the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Puyallup offers a $144,000 purse for the team roping—$72,000 on both the head and heel side—which is predicted to greatly shake up the final 2023 standings.
Other big wins
Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp raked in $6,292.37 over the week of Aug. 21–27. The NFR veterans were 5.0 seconds in the second round in Kennewick to win $1,477 a man for fifth in the round. Their 3.8-second run in Bremerton finished second for $4,118 a man. Wade remains sixth in the world standings with $102,703.20 and Thorp third with $119,930.47.
Coleman Proctor and Logan Medlin moved deeper into the Top 15 after taking home $5,864.74 each over the week. Seven-time NFR qualifier Proctor moved from No. 13 on the head side to No. 10 with $85,161.74. Three-time NFR heeler Medlin, also jumped to No. 10, with the same amount won on the year—a gain of two holes from No. 12.
Proctor and Medlin were sixth in the second round in Kennewick with a 5.2 to both pocket $1,074, but the highlight was their Tremonton 4.0-second win. Proctor and Medlin both took home $4,790 for the victory.
World Standings
As of Aug. 28, 2023
| Headers | Heelers | ||||
| 1 | Kaleb Driggers | $136,583.45 | 1 | Junior nogueira | $136,583.45 |
| 2 | Dustin Egusquiza | $131,427.15 | 2 | Levi Lord | $131,427.15 |
| 3 | Nelson Wyatt | $130,054.97 | 3 | Wesley Thorp | $126,222.84 |
| 4 | Rhen Richard | $114,604.01 | 4 | Jeremy Buhler | $114,604.01 |
| 5 | Andrew Ward | $111,401.21 | 5 | Buddy Hawkins | $111,401.21 |
| 6 | Tyler Wade | $108,995.57 | 6 | Patrick Smith | $102,501.07 |
| 7 | Tanner Tomlinson | $102,501.07 | 7 | Colter Todd | $100,571.32 |
| 8 | Erich Rogers | $99,328.56 | 8 | Paul Eaves | $99,679.88 |
| 9 | Derrick Begay | $85,404.12 | 9 | Jake Long | $85,447.12 |
| 10 | Coleman Proctor | $85,161.74 | 10 | Logan Medlin | $85,161.74 |
| 11 | Marcus Theriot | $84,261.66 | 11 | Dillon Graham | $83,124.33 |
| 12 | Cody Snow | $84,241.78 | 12 | Paden Bray | $82,841.11 |
| 13 | Dawson Graham | $83,124.33 | 13 | Cole Curry | $81,285.38 |
| 14 | Brenten Hall | $80,970.37 | 14 | Justin Davis | $77,548.47 |
| 15 | Jake Clay | $79,453.18 | 15 | Tyler Worley | $74,503.58 |
PRCA Playoff Series Standings
| Headers | Heelers | ||||
| 1 | Kaleb Driggers | 1130.83 pts. | 1 | Junior Nogueira | 1130.83 pts. |
| 2 | Tanner Tomlinson | 1043.98 pts | 2 | Patrick Smith | 1043.98 pts |
| 3 | Tyler Wade | 947.58 pts | 3 | Wesley Thorp | 1030.75 pts |
| 4 | Derrick Begay | 856.81 pts | 4 | Colter Todd | 856.81 pts |
| 5 | Clay Smith | 824.18 pts | 5 | Jake Long | 767.44 pts |
| 6 | Nelson Wyatt | 747.13 pts | 6 | Coleby Payne | 749.74 pts |
| 7 | Dustin Egusquiza | 720.75 pts | 7 | Levi Lord | 720.75 pts |
| 8 | Marcus Theriot | 707.71 pts | 8 | Cole Curry | 707.71 pts |
| 9 | Cash Duty | 678.69 pts | 9 | Sid Sporer | 678.69 pts |
| 10 | Coleman Proctor | 671.91 pts | 10 | Logan Medlin | 671.91 pts |
| 11 | Clint Summers | 650 pts | 11 | Paden Bray | 632.08 pts |
| 12 | Brenten Hall | 632.08 pts | 12 | Ross Ashford | 616.05 pts |
| 13 | Jr. Dees | 616.05 pts | 13 | Travis Graves | 615.33 pts |
| 14 | Luke Brown | 614.73 pts | 14 | Hunter Koch | 614.73 pts |
| 15 | Andrew Ward | 605.75 pts | 15 | Buddy Hawkins | 605.75 pts |
| 16 | Erich Rogers | 584.93 pts | 16 | Jonathan Torres | 594.25 pts |
| 17 | Cody Snow | 575.05 pts | 17 | Paul Eaves | 584.93 pts |
| 18 | Jake Clay | 571.38 pts | 18 | Douglas Rich | 571.48 pts |
| 19 | Keven Daniel | 550 pts | 19 | Jeremy Buhler | 562.87 pts |
| 20 | Jake Smith | 549.73 pts | 20 | Corey Hendrick | 530.85 pts |
| 21 | Rhen Richard | 542.87 pts | 21 | Trey Yates | 530.18 pts |
| 22 | Coy Rahlmann | 541.25 pts | 22 | Caleb Hendrix | 523.42 pts |
| 23 | Cole Thomas | 541.1 pts | 23 | Clay Green | 523 pts |
| 24 | Chad Masters | 530.18 pts | 24 | Dillon Graham | 521.83 pts |
Full Results
Gem State Stampede
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Aug. 25-27
1. Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.2 seconds, $3,136 each; 2. Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes, 4.4, $2,767; 3. (tie) Kolton Schmidt/Logan Spady and Brady Tryan/Calgary Smith, 4.7, $2,214 each; 5. (tie) Jake Orman/Corey Hendrick and Hagen Peterson/Caleb Hendrix, 4.8, $1,753 each; 7. Brenten Hall/Paden Bray, 4.9, $1,476; 8. Pedro Egurrola/JC Flake, 5.0, $1,291; 9. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 5.4, $1,107; 10. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 5.8, $738.
Kitsap Stampede
Bremerton, Wash., Aug. 23-25
1. Cash Duty/Sid Sporer, 3.5 seconds, $4,752 each; 2. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 3.8, $4,118; 3. (tie) Mason Appleton/Cooper Freeman and Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 4.0, $3,485 each; 5. (tie) Luke Brown/Hunter Koch and Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 4.1, $2,693 each; 7. Garrett Rogers/Jake Minor, 4.2, $2,217; 8. Cody Snow/Jade Corkill, 4.3, $1,901; 9. (tie) Jr. Dees/Ross Ashford and Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 4.4, $1,426 each; 11. (tie) Wyatt Bray/Josh Patton, Jake Clay/Kollin VonAhn and Chad Masters/Trey Yates, 4.5, $898 each; 14. Tanner James/Wyatt Cox, 4.6, $475; 15. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 4.7, $317.
Horse Heaven Roundup Rodeo
Kennewick, Wash., Aug. 22-26
First round: 1. Wyatt Bray/Josh Patton, 5.1 seconds, $3,088 each; 2. Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 5.4, $2,686; 3. (tie) Brye Crites/Rance Doyal and Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 5.5, $2,081 each; 5. Jaxson Tucker/Clay Futrell, 5.7, $1,477; 6. (tie) Garrett Rogers/Jake Minor and Jordan Tye/Andy Carlson, 6.0, $873 each; 8. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 6.1, $269.
Second round: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.5 seconds, $3,088 each; 2. Mason Appleton/Cooper Freeman, 4.8, $2,686; 3. (tie) Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley and Clint Summers/Jake Long, 4.9, $2,081 each; 5. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 5.0, $1,477; 6. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 5.2, $1,074; 7. Kreece Thompson/Landen Glenn, 5.3, $671; 8. Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes, 5.4, $269.
Finals: 1. Wyatt Bray/Josh Patton, 5.2 seconds, $1,015 each; 2. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 5.4, $840; 3. Cash Duty/Sid Sporer, 5.9, $665; 4. Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 6.3, $490; 5. Cory Kidd V/Jason Johe, 6.6, $315; 6. Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 6.9, $175.
Average: 1. Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 17.3 seconds on three head, $4,633 each; 2. Wyatt Bray/Josh Patton, 17.7, $4,028; 3. Cash Duty/Sid Sporer, 18.3, $3,424; 4. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 18.4, $2,820; 5. Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 18.6, $2,216; 6. (tie) Cory Kidd V/Jason Johe and Tanner James/Wyatt Cox, 20.0, $1,309 each; 8. Brye Crites/Rance Doyal, 24.0, $403.
Golden Spike Rodeo
Tremonton, Utah, Aug. 24-26
1. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.0 seconds, $4,790 each; 2. (tie) Lightning Aguilera/Jared Fillmore, Brye Crites/Rance Doyal, Cole Eiguren/Tyler Eiguren, Jake Orman/Corey Hendrick, Hagen Peterson/Caleb Hendrix and Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 4.1, $3,140 each; 8. (tie) Mason Appleton/Cooper Freeman, Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, Cole Thomas/Lane Mitchell and Jaxson Tucker/Clay Futrell, 4.2, $1,373 each; 13. (tie) Luke Brown/Hunter Koch and Brodi Jones/Dylin Ahlstrom, 4.3, $559 each; 15. Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes, 4.4, $319.
Norco Mounted Posse PRCA Rodeo
Norco, Calif., Aug. 25-27
1. Blake Hirdes/Mike George, 5.6 seconds, $1,811 each; 2. Josh Siggins/Faron Candelaria, 6.2, $1,575; 3. Jared Gonzales/Manny Flores, 6.3, $1,338; 4. Dallas Owen/Wade Hooker, 6.5, $1,102; 5. (tie) Presto Burgess/Todd Hampton and Brock Grashuis/Oliver White, 7.0, $748 each; 7. Choc Westcott/Clinton Groff, 7.1, $394; 8. Bronc Boehnlein/Monty Joe Petska, 7.4, $157.
Big Bend Round Up
Waterville, Wash., Aug. 26-27
1. Cory Kidd V/Jason Johe, 4.5 seconds, $1,990 each; 2. Jaxson Tucker/Clay Futrell, 4.7, $1,647; 3. Jordan Tye/Andy Carlson, 4.8, $1,304; 4. Cutter Machado/Dalton Pearce, 4.9, $961; 5. Clayton Hansen/Chase Hansen, 5.0, $618; 6. Kreece Thompson/Landen Glenn, 5.3, $343.
Okotoks Pro Rodeo
Okotoks, Alberta, Aug 25-27
1. Kolton Schmidt/Logan Spady, 3.8 seconds, $1,827 each; 2. Colton Klassen/Rylan Brost, 4.0, $1,589; 3. Devin Wigemyr/Grady Quam, 4.3, $1,350; 4. (tie) Brett McCarroll/Clint Buhler, Kash Bonnett/Trent Tunke, Brady Tryan/Calgary Smith, Clay Ullery/Jake Edwards and Tyce McLeod/Tuftin McLeod, 4.4, $636 each.
Ramona Rodeo
Ramona, Calif., Aug. 24-26
1. Blake Hirdes/Mike George, 5.2 seconds, $2,638 each; 2. Dominic Patino/Tanner Patino, 5.9, $2,294; 3. Shain Sproul/B.J. Campbell, 6.1, $1,950; 4. Brock Grashuis/Oliver White, 6.6, $1,606; 5. Dan Williams Jr./Cody Stewart, 6.7, $1,261; 6. Presto Burgess/Todd Hampton, 7.0, $917; 7. (tie) Erik Pybas/David Gheno and Gabe Ramirez/Randy Harris, 7.5, $401 each.
Salmon Stampede PRCA Rodeo
Salmon, Idaho, Aug. 25-26
1. Shay Dixon Carroll/Max Kuttler, 3.7 seconds, $2,201 each; 2. Hagen Peterson/Caleb Hendrix, 4.1, $1,942; 3. (tie) Cole Eiguren/Tyler Eiguren and Jade Stoddard/Ben Folsom, 4.3, $1,554 each; 5. (tie) Shawn Bird/Zachary Schweigert, Riley Minor/Brady Minor and Colby Siddoway/Colter Buttars, 4.4, $1,165 each; 8. (tie) Jake Clay/Kollin VonAhn and Chaz Kananen/Britt Newman, 4.8, $842 each; 10. Pace Freed/Cole Wilson, 5.2, $518.
Lethbridge Pro Rodeo
Lethbridge, Alberta, Aug 24-26
1. Brady Chappel/Tee McLeod, 5.1 seconds, $2670.07; 2. Keely Bonnett/Logan Bonnett, 5.7, $2321.80; 3. (tie) Derek Hadland/Jackson Braithwaite and Levi Simpson/Logan Cullen, 5.9, $1799.39 each; 5. Jeremy Buhler/Rhen Richard, 6.0, $1276.99; 6. Billy Potts/K’s Thomson, 6.1, $928.72; 7. Kyle Foden/Asa Johnson, 6.5, $580.45; 8. Chase Skocdopole/Stran Pollitt, 9.9, $232.18
Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo
Vinita, Okla., Aug. 23-26
First round: 1. Adam Rose/Gus Mosley, 5.3 seconds, $994 each; 2. Rowdy Jones/Gage Williams, 6.4, $745; 3. Justin Pruitt/Gralyn Elkins, 6.8, $497; 4. Zack Woods/Gavin Foster, 7.0, $248.
Second round: 1. Justin Pruitt/Gralyn Elkins, 4.7 seconds, $994 each; 2. Jesse Stipes/Casey Stipes, 5.5, $745; 3. Wheston Jones/Lane Reeves, 5.6, $497; 4. (tie) Peyton Holliday/Kolton Good and Stratton Lopez/Cody Egusquiza, 6.0, $124 each.
Average: 1. Justin Pruitt/Gralyn Elkins, 11.5 seconds on two head, $1,491 each; 2. Adam Rose/Gus Mosley, 12.2, $1,118; 3. Stratton Lopez/Cody Egusquiza, 13.6, $745; 4. Wheston Jones/Lane Reeves, 16.2, $373.
Cattlemen Days Rodeo
Ashland, Mo., Aug. 25-26
1. Justin Pruitt/Gralyn Elkins, 3.9 seconds, $1,799 each; 2. Clay Bauer/Butch Levell, 4.3, $1,489; 3. (tie) Trent Vaught/Blaine Turner and Zack Woods/Gavin Foster, 4.6, $1,024 each; 5. Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, 5.0, $558; 6. Will Clark/Derrick Crawford, 5.1, $310.
Great Plains Stampede Rodeo
Altus, Okla., Aug. 24-26
1. Payden Emmett/Jace Davis, 5.9 seconds, $1,153 each; 2. Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 6.3, $954; 3. Nick Becker/Kingston Chang, 6.7, $756; 4. Riley Kittle/Jace Helton, 7.1, $557; 5. Casey Tew/Colton Johnson, 7.6, $358; 6. Zack Woods/Gavin Foster, 10.3, $199.
Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series
Steamboat Springs, Colo., Aug. 25-26
1. Clayton Van Aken/Cullen Teller, 4.7 seconds, $1,261 each; 2. Kyon Kreutzer/Clancey Kreutzer, 5.1, $1,043; 3. Garrett Busby/Jay McClain, 5.4, $826; 4. Lydia Van Aken/Clayton Symons, 5.8, $609; 5. (tie) Todd Drommond/Jason DeVore and Jase Staudt/Jayden Johnson, 5.9, $304 each.
The Big 94.5 Country Topeka PRCA Rodeo
Topeka, Kan., Aug. 25-26
1. Kyle VanDerleest/Blake Kadel, 6.9 seconds, $1,022 each; 2. Joe Beaver/Levi Pettigrew, 7.0, $846; 3. Adam Rose/Gus Mosley, 7.9, $670; 4. Zac Parrington/Colton Parrington, 14.5, $494; no other qualified runs.
Interior Frontier Days
Interior , S.D., Aug. 26
1. Cooper White/Tucker White, 4.9 seconds, $1,081 each; 2. Payton Pirrung/Mason Bice, 6.8, $811; 3. Clay Holz/Matt Zancanella, 8.5, $541; 4. Wyatt Tibbitts/Daine McNenny, 9.5, $270.
Mesquite Championship Rodeo
Mesquite, Texas, Aug. 26
1. Riley Kittle/Jace Helton, 5.1 seconds, $1,116 each; 2. Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain, 5.8, $837; 3. Jayse Tettenhorst/Montrel Gilder, 7.0, $558; 4. Trevor Bartlett/Austin Tuley, 8.9, $279.
Cowtown Rodeo
Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J., Aug. 26
1. Jimmy Healy Jr./Casey Cox, 6.7 seconds, $920 each; 2. Keith Brown/Kelton Brown, 7.8, $761; 3. Brandon Chambers/T.R. Serio, 12.3, $603; 4. Lance Hower/Brock Hower, 12.9, $444; no other qualified runs.
Painted Pony Championship Rodeo
Lake Luzerne, N.Y., Aug. 26
1. Kyle Letzelter/T.J. Smith, 6.4 seconds, $790 each; 2. C.J. Werner/Matthew Dyer, 7.0, $592; 3. Robbie Erck/Fred Brunelle, 7.4, $395; 4. Trent Turner/Rodney Melton, 7.5, $197.
Stockyards Pro Rodeo
Fort Worth, Texas, Aug. 25
1. Whit Kitchens/Kaden Prince, 4.5 seconds, $620 each; 2. Payden Emmett/Jace Davis, 4.7, $465; 3. Riley Kittle/Jace Helton, 5.0, $310; 4. Braxton Morgan/C.L. Morgan, 5.9, $155.
Eastern Montana Fair Rodeo
Miles City, Mont., Aug. 23-24
1. Radley Day/Jared Bilby, 4.4 seconds, $1,055 each; 2. Cooper White/Tucker White, 4.5, $873; 3. Braden Pirrung/Jade Nelson, 4.8, $691; 4. Travis Stovall/Kyle DeSaveur, 4.9, $509; 5. Shayne Bishop/John Graham, 5.1, $327; 6. Miles Kobold/Cole Sherwood, 5.2, $182.
Range Days Rodeo
Rapid City, S.D., Aug. 21-23
1. Jay Tittel/T.J. Watts, 4.4 seconds, $2,952 each; 2. Jon Peterson/Trae Smith, 4.5, $2,605; 3. Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, 4.8, $2,258; 4. (tie) Curry Kirchner/Billie Jack Saebens and Eric Martin/Ryon Tittel, 5.1, $1,823 each; 6. Guy Howell/Riley Curuchet, 5.3, $1,563; 7. (tie) Clay Holz/Matt Zancanella and Cooper White/Tucker White, 5.4, $1,302 each; 9. (tie) Tucker Dale/Mason Okke and Radley Day/Jared Bilby, 5.6, $868 each.
