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Sports

Round 1 Sets the Tone With Stories Already Unfolding

Story by (Jackie Jensen Photography)Madison RichmannFri, December 5, 2025 at 11:30 AM UTC·3 min readThe 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo opened with a bang as world title races already shifted, rookies emerged, and returning champions reminded the rodeo world exactly who they are. Cooper Cooke wasted no time getting on a roll, riding Ramblin Man for 88.5 points to earn his first career round win. The second-year qualifier came in sitting sixth in the world, and his opening-night performance instantly tightened the entire world standings race. The bareback riders went an impressive 15-for-15. Waylon Bourgeois, Jess Pope, Wacey Schalla, and Bradlee Miller all finished within a point of one another.

Round 1 Sets the Tone With Stories Already Unfolding

Credit: (Jackie Jensen Photography)

Key Highlights

  • This is an example of how crucial the new quarter-point judging system has already become. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSeason leader Rocker Steiner posted an 82.3.
  • It wasn’t the start he hoped for, but he remains in the average.
  • With nine rounds left, nothing is finished in the bareback riding. One of the biggest surprises of the night came in the steer wrestling when season leader Will Lummus left Round 1 with a no-time.
  • Though heartbreaking, the veteran knows it is far from over yet. Meanwhile, Tyler Waguespack delivered exactly what a five-time world champion does under pressure.
  • He won the round with a 4.0-second run on Swamper, the 2024 AQHA Horse of the Year.
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Sources

  1. Round 1 Sets the Tone With Stories Already Unfolding

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

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