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The 2026 PRCA Rookie class has been very impressive from the very beginning of the season. In the bull riding, one standout is Gillette, Wyoming's Hayden Welsh.
This week, Welsh has been in his homestate in Casper, Wyoming at the College National Finals Rodeo competing for Odessa College. Hayden started it off with a 79.75 point ride in round 1 for third in the round. A no score in round did not hurt his cause much when he came back with 83.75 points in round 3 for second.
Welsh leads the average going into Saturday night finals with 163.50 points on two.
The 20 year old cowboy is chasing several big goals this year, and a College National Title would be one accomplished. After his week in Casper, Welsh will hit the road for the summer with the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in his sight.
Right now in the bull riding World Standings, Welsh sits 4th with over $100,000 won already for the year. Fellow Rookie Noah Lee sits just ahead of him in those standings. Hayden started his year back in October when he won the Permit Finals. He followed that up shortly by a big win at the Mountain States Circuit Finals. That momentum kept rolling through the Sandhills Stockshow and Rodeo, the National Western, and still today all the way to the college finals.
Most recently, Welsh had much success in Sisters, Oregon where he won over $7,500 between the rodeo and the Xtreme Bulls event there. This young kid is hanging with the best of them on all stages.
Odessa college is part of the Caprock region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Welsh finished second in the region, qualifying for the CNFR in the black and blue vest.
The Odessa Wranglers sent three athletes to Casper, and has put together a strong showing. The teams facebook page shared results from the finals saying, "All 3 of our athletes have performed outstanding at the CNFR!! All 3 of them are headed to the Short Round tomorrow night!!"
One round remains before the 2026 College National Champions will be crowned. Will Hayden Welsh be one of them the same year he qualifies for his first NFR?
Continue reading...
This week, Welsh has been in his homestate in Casper, Wyoming at the College National Finals Rodeo competing for Odessa College. Hayden started it off with a 79.75 point ride in round 1 for third in the round. A no score in round did not hurt his cause much when he came back with 83.75 points in round 3 for second.
Welsh leads the average going into Saturday night finals with 163.50 points on two.
The 20 year old cowboy is chasing several big goals this year, and a College National Title would be one accomplished. After his week in Casper, Welsh will hit the road for the summer with the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in his sight.
Right now in the bull riding World Standings, Welsh sits 4th with over $100,000 won already for the year. Fellow Rookie Noah Lee sits just ahead of him in those standings. Hayden started his year back in October when he won the Permit Finals. He followed that up shortly by a big win at the Mountain States Circuit Finals. That momentum kept rolling through the Sandhills Stockshow and Rodeo, the National Western, and still today all the way to the college finals.
Most recently, Welsh had much success in Sisters, Oregon where he won over $7,500 between the rodeo and the Xtreme Bulls event there. This young kid is hanging with the best of them on all stages.
Odessa college is part of the Caprock region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Welsh finished second in the region, qualifying for the CNFR in the black and blue vest.
The Odessa Wranglers sent three athletes to Casper, and has put together a strong showing. The teams facebook page shared results from the finals saying, "All 3 of our athletes have performed outstanding at the CNFR!! All 3 of them are headed to the Short Round tomorrow night!!"
One round remains before the 2026 College National Champions will be crowned. Will Hayden Welsh be one of them the same year he qualifies for his first NFR?
Continue reading...
