As the days go on the field of competitors is narrowing itself down at RodeoHouston. Two Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifiers punched their tickets to the semifinals in Super Series 2.
Tie-down roper Tyler Milligan and bull rider Trevor Kastner both finished in the No.1 qualifier spot for the Super Shootout next week.
Milligan locked up his spot with two round wins with a pair of 7.8 and 7.9-second runs. It’s a place he’s felt comfortable roping at over the years.
“I really like that rodeo, it seems to fit me pretty well when it comes to my roping style,” said Milligan, 24. “It’s a longer box and it fits my style a little better. I drew great calves the entire time I was down there, so I just tried to stay out of my own way.”
The Pawhuska, Okla., cowboy’s last trip to the Wrangler NFR was in 2020. He said indoor winter rodeos can set you up for a successful season if you can take advantage of the opportunity in front of you.
“If you can have a good winter, it can definitely set you up to make the Finals that’s for sure. It’s a lot easier taking off in the summer when you have a little bit of money won,” he said.
“It not only puts a little something in your pockets to travel, but it can provide confidence to a guy as well to keep it rolling.”
Trevor Kastner is another cowboy that hopes his recent stretch of success has his 2022 ProRodeo season pointed in the right direction. The veteran bull rider is sitting 21st in the latest PRCA | RAM World Standings but could see his spot in the standings rise after qualifying for the Houston semifinals.
“Just staying on was the main reason (for my success) and getting my bulls rode down there I guess,” said Kastner, a six-time Wrangler NFR qualifier. “In these rodeos where you have to qualify if you can stay on, you’re probably going to advance because you’re going against eight or 10 guys instead of the normal 60 at a full-on rodeo.”
Kastner won Round 1 with an 84-point ride on Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s Jack Hammer, then followed that up with a second-place finish in Round 3 to earn $5,000 in the Super Series. He plans to carry his same mentality into next week’s semifinal.
“It’s one of those deals where you just have to find a way to stay on three more,” he said. “That includes the semifinals, the short round, and then the final four round.
“I’m the type of guy where I try to have the same mentality every time, whether you’re riding for $1,000 or $50,000. Just go out there and do your job and try to stay on your bull.”
You can catch the semifinal action and the remainder of Rodeo Houston video highlights on The Cowboy Channel and the PRCA on The Cowboy Channel Plus App, March 9-19.