Gold Medals Awarded in Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE CITY (July 26, 2025) – It was an electric night in front of the sold-out crowd at the Utah Days of ’47 Arena in Salt Lake City and all the competitors brought the heat to put on a golden performance for the crowd.
Bull rider Hayes Weight saved the best for last in front the home state crowd setting a new arena record with a 93-point ride aboard Sankey Rodeo’s Magic Touch. Ironically enough the Goshen, Utah, cowboy rode the same bull in 2024 in the semifinal round for 91 to tie the arena record at the time.
"I just have to thank God, my family standing behind me and all the fans here,” stated Weight “I just have to give good props to the stock contractor for a good bucking bull. To draw him here and have that blessing to get on him again there's a little added pressure but I just surrendered and gave it to God, went out there and did my best and it worked out."
In 2024 Weight, despite being bucked off in the gold medal round, still won bronze thanks to that 91-point ride. He left no doubt in 2025 as he got the gold and got the crowd rocking the stadium. The only other one to post a score was Jesse Petri with a 90 on Legacy Rodeo’s Ain’t No Joke. Taking the bronze was Ky Hamilton due to his preview round score.
Two event cowboy Wacey Schalla took home the first gold medal of the night in the bareback riding scoring 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Night Faded. While Schalla didn’t advance in the bull riding earlier this week, he made the most of his trip to Salt Lake in the bareback riding.
"That horse is a big stud of Pete Carr's and I knew today was the day if I was going to find out whether I was a bareback rider or not,” stated Schalla, who is actually No. 1 in the bull riding in the PRCA. “I was just happy to be able to do what I was able to do and come out on top.”
He added $18,000 to not only his bareback riding standings but also his all-around standings. Rocker Steiner of Weatherford, Texas, came the closest to capture the silver medal with an 88.5 on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Secret’s Out and Jacob Lees of Caldwell, Idaho took home the bronze with an 87 on Championship Rodeo’s Hooey Rocks.
"I've never been on a horse that big or have that much power so just to be able to prove to myself that I'm a dominant competitor and hopefully I'll see myself in Vegas this year,” said a very happy Schalla.
The Gold Standard in Rodeo featured a total of 400 competitors, that took their shot at a share of over three-quarters of a million in prize money and a gold, silver or bronze medal that. There were 40 competitors in all the roughstock events (Bareback riding, Saddle Bronc riding and Bull riding) and timed events (Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Tie-down Roping, and Breakaway Roping). The barrel racing had 80.
Chance Howard captured his first gold in the steer wrestling after stopping the clock in 4.1 seconds. Howard, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma outdistanced world champion Tyler Waguespack of Gonzales, Louisiana who had a 4.1. Marc Joiner took the bronze with a 4.7-second run.
A year ago, team roper Shay Carroll won the silver medal with Jace Helton but in 2025 he improved to gold with partner Levi Lord stopping the clock in 4.1 seconds. Carroll of Stephenville, Texas and Lord of Sturgis, SD., were last out and knew exactly what they had to do in order to stand atop the medal stand on Saturday night. Lightning Aguilera and Wyatt Cox won the silver. Kolton Schmidt and Landen Glenn took home the bronze.
The timed events, excluding barrel racing, were a two-go average with the top two advancing to the final round. The roughstock was a one go with the top two advancing to the gold medal round. The barrel racing was a one go with a total of 80 barrel racers – 10 in the morning and 10 during the performance with the top 1 advancing out of each set.
Brushton Minton of Witter Springs, California was the fastest tie-down roper on gold medal Saturday stopping the clock in 7.9 seconds to not only get the gold but also an $18,000 paycheck. He edged Michale Otero with an 8.0 and Tyler Calhoun with an 8.1.
It was a very profitable night for the Otero family with Carlee Otero trumping her husband capturing the gold in the barrel racing with a blistering fast run of 16.84 seconds aboard Regina, who was trained by Brittany Hill but has been out of competition for 18 months. Earlier in the week Otero set a new arena record with a time of 16.70 to advance to the gold medal round. Kassie Mowry, who won the gold in 2024 had the record board Jarvis with a 16.71. Mowry advanced to the finals this year but a downed barrel cost her a return to the medal stand. Finishing second was Katie Halbert and capturing the bronze was Halyn Lide with a 17.14.
“I was shaking, that was more nerve wracking than the NFR,” stated Otero about standing atop the medal stand tonight in Salt Lake City. “I am so excited. What a blessing. This win nearly guarantees a trip back to the NFR this year and solidifies my goal.”
Scores/times did not carry forward to the Gold Medal Round (only to break ties). The eight (8) competitors in each event in the Gold Medal Round competed in a sudden-death format with the winner collecting a Gold Medal and $18,000 cash.
A year ago breakaway roper Rickie Fanning stood on the medal stand in the silver medal position but in 2025 she moved up to the gold medal position with a time of 2.3 seconds. Fanning of Martin, SD., was the last gunner out and knew what she needed to have to earn gold. She went out, did her job and now she is a gold medalist at the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo. Taking the silver was Ryland Lufkin with a 3.1 and the bronze went to Carly Christian with a 3.9.
While there was no doubt who won the gold in the saddle bronc riding with Sage Newman posting an 88 point on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Larry Culpepper, there was a bit of confusion for the silver and bronze. During the live show it was announced Ben Andersen, Chase Brooks and Wyatt Casper all tied with an 87 meaning once the tiebreakers were determined it was Brooks receiving the silver and Casper the bronze. However, upon further evaluation by the judges it was determined there was an error on the judges’ sheets and Andersen actually finished with an 87.5 to win the silver. Brooks was bumped down to a bronze.
The 2026 Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo will be July 21-25, 2026. Mark your calendars and plan to join us in 2026.
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Results: - Performance 5 – July 26, 2025
Bareback riding: 1. Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, OK, 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Night Faded, $18,000; 2. Rocker Steiner, Weatherford, TX, 88.5 on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Secret’s Out, $13,000; 3. Jacob Lees, Caldwell, ID, 87 on Championship’s Hooey Rocks, $8,000; 4. (tie) Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, NE and Cooper Cooke, Victor, ID, 85.5, $3,250 each.
Gold Medal: Wacey Schalla
Silver Medal: Rocker Steiner
Bronze Medal: Jacob Lees
Steer wrestling: 1. Chance Howard, Sallisaw, OK, 4.1 seconds, $18,000; 2. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, LA, 4.3, $13,000; 3. Marc Joiner, Loranger, LA, 4.7, $8,000; 4. Jace Melvin, 5.4, $4,000.
Gold Medal: Chance Howard
Silver Medal: Tyler Waguespack
Bronze Medal: Marc Joiner
Team roping: 1. Shay Carroll, Stephenville, TX/Levi Lord, Sturgis, SD, 4.1 seconds ,$18,000 each; 2. Lightning Aguilera, Athens, TX/Wyatt Cox, Arroyo Grande, CA, 4.3, $13,000; 3. Kolton Schmidt, Barrhead, AB/Landen Glenn, McAlester, OK, 5.0, $8,000; 4. Brye Crites, Welch, OK/Tyler Worley, Berryville, AR, 5.1, $4,000.
Gold Medal: Shay Carroll/Levi Lord
Silver Medal: Lightning Aguilera/Wyatt Cox
Bronze Medal: Kolton Schmidt/Landen Glenn
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sage Newman, Melstone, MT, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Larry Culpepper, $18,000; 2. (Ben Andersen, Eckville, AB, 87.5 points on Andrew’s Rodeo’s All or Nothin, , $13,000; 3. (tie) Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, MT, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Pretty Woman and Wyatt Casper, Miami, TX, on Championship Rodeo’s Tickled Pink, 87, $6,000 each.
Gold Medal: Sage Newman
Silver Medal: Ben Andersen
Bronze Medal: Chase Brooks
*Chase Brooks won the tie-breaker to get the bronze after having an 88.5 in the earlier rounds when compared to Wyatt Casper gets the bronze due to an 87 in earlier rounds.
Tie-down roping: 1. Brushton Minton, Witter Springs, CA, 7.9 seconds, $18,000; 2. Michael Otero, Perrin, TX, 8.0, $13,000; 3. Tyler Calhoun, Richards, TX, 8.1, $8,000; 4. John Douch, Huntsville, TX, 8.9, $4,000.
Gold Medal: Brushton Minton
Silver Medal: Michael Otero
Bronze Medal: Tyler Calhoun
Breakaway roping: 1. Rickie Fanning, Martin, SD, 2.3 seconds, $18,000; 2. Ryland Lufkin, Menan, ID, 3.1, $13,000; 3. Carly Christian, Oakley, ID, 3.9, $8,000; 4. Braylee Shepherd, Fitzhugh, OK, 7.0, $4,000
Gold Medal: Rickie Fanning
Silver Medal: Ryland Lufkin
Bronze Medal: Carley Christian
Barrel racing: 1. Carlee Otero, Perrin, TX, 16.84 seconds, $18,000; 2. Katie Halbert, Port Lavaca, TX, 16.98, $13,000; 3. Halyn Lide, China Springs, TX, 17.14, $8,000; 4. McKale Seitz, 17.43, $4,000
Gold Medal: Carlee Otero
Silver Medal: Katie Halbert
Bronze Medal: Halyn Lide
Bull riding: 1. Hayes Weight, Goshen, UT, 93 points on Sankey Rodeo’s Magic Touch, $18,000; 2. Jesse Petri, Dublin, TX, 90 on Legacy Rodeo’s Ain’t No Joke, $13,000; no other qualified rides
Gold Medal: Hayes Weight
Silver Medal: Jesse Petri
Bronze Medal: Ky Hamilton*
*Ky Hamilton wins the bronze after having the highest score from the semifinal round with a 90.5