Inaugural Cody Johnson Championship Star-Studded Field Narrowed to 60

After 200 teams backed in the box, the field of competitors has been narrowed to 60 to move on to the short go, Saturday, October 19.

Laura Motley Lambert | Oct 17, 2024

Cody Johnson / Nicole Hester / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

When Cody Johnson announced that he would be hosting a new team roping event back in July, it became the talk of the team roping world. As the news evolved and details were released, Belton, Texas October 15 - 19 was a must stop for team ropers.

So far, the event has lived up to the hype.

Veterans of the sport see hints of resemblance of another country music superstar's team roping of the past. For decades, George Strait hosted his namesake team roping in San Antonio, Texas, but in 2017, Strait announced that after 35 years, it would be the last one.

In his announcements on social media and his website, Johnson spoke of Strait.

“I wanted to respectfully pick up the torch. George Strait is a hero of mine. I’ve met the man a few times, and he’s everything I thought he would be. If we’re talking about a guy in country music who’s stood up for cowboys, and made sure that cowboy was kept at the forefront of his songs, George Strait is my gold standard.”

While he may have used the George Strait Classic as a model, Johnson is setting his own standard. Team ropers and fans alike are reaping the benefits.

With nearly 200 teams vying for the top 60 spots to make the short round, the competition was intense. To qualify, teams needed to be in the top 10 fastest times of one of the six rotations.

When they back in the box on Saturday, October 19 for the short round, everyone will start with a clean slate. They are roping for an incredible prize package that will include a Bill Fick Ford F350 Dually, Bloomer gooseneck stock combo trailer, custom guitar signed by Cody Johnson, Gist buckle, Cactus Saddle, Smarty Trainer, TurtleBox Speaker, Resistol hat, Resistol Hat Pac, Cactus Gear horse blanket and Blue Otter sunglasses. That's just for first.

The reserve champions will earn a Henry 44 mag Golden Boy Rifle with custom engraving, Resistol Hat Pac, Cactus Saddlery Pad and a Cactus Gear horse blanket.

Awards will continue through fourth place and each of the fast times in the three full rounds and short go will be awarded a Clint Orms money clip.

Fans can tune into all the action live on Teton Ridge Plus.

Who will be competing?

Ketch Kelton/Jace Helton
Kavis Drake/Denim Ross
Kellan Johnson/JC Flake
Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle T Lockett
Clint Summers/Jake Long
Tanner Tomlinson/Cory Petska
Kolton Schmidt/Landen Glenn
JR Dees/Michael Fortenberry
Billy Bob Brown/Cooper Freeman
Korbin Rice/Josh Patton
Joe Mattern/Cash Duty
Brye Crites/Levi Lord
Cory Kidd V/Ty Arnold
Bubba Buckaloo/Little Michael Calmelat
Luke Brown/Logan Medlin
Clay Smith/Junior Nogueira
Riley Kittle/Will Woodfin
Chad Masters/Ross Ashford
Curry Kirchner/Tyler McKnight
Andrew Ward/Jake Long
Coleman Proctor/ColebyPayne
Erich Rogers/Cory Petska
Rhen Richard/Dillon Graham
Kolton Schmidt/Chase Tryan
Chris Francis/Cade Passig
Hagen Peterson/Michael Fortenberry
JR Dees/Kaden Profili
Tyler Tryan/Nicky Northcott
Dawson Graham/Douglas Rich
Shane Philipp/Tyler Worley
Manny Esgusquiza/Lane Mitchell
Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord
Colby Lovell/Ty Arnold
Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp
Luke Brown/Jade Corkill
Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira
Trey Gallais/Jeremy Buhler
Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison
Cooper Cowan/Cade Cowan
Clay Smith/Coleby Payne
Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina
Chris Francis/Tyler McKnight
Tyler Tryan/Hunter Koch
Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham
Wyatt Imus/Lucas Falconer
Shane Philipp/Lane Mitchell
James Arviso/Will Woodfin
Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin
Tyler Wade/Paul Eaves
Bubba Buckaloo/Jade Corkill
Cash Duty/Cashton Weidenbener
Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler
Kaleb Driggers/Wesley Thorp
Colby Lovell/Joseph Harrison
Chad Masters/Wyatt Cox
Clay Smith/Nicky Northcott
Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord
Chris Francis/Josh Patton
Tyler Tryan/Denton Dunning
Dawson Graham/Cooper Freeman

Looking at this list, it is surely a who's who of the team roping world. Stay tuned to Rodeo on SI for more coverage of the CoJo Championship.

Published Oct 17, 2024

LAURA MOTLEY LAMBERT

Laura Lambert resides in Wiggins, Colo. With her husband, Ricky and two sons, Brayden and Boedy. She attended the University of Northern Colorado while studying economics. She is an accomplished rodeo athlete and barrel horse trainer. Over the years, Laura has been active in journalism in a variety of roles. While continuing to cover western sports and country music, she is currently enjoying expanding her reach into multiple sports including MLB, NFL, PGA and LPGA. You can reach her at lauralambertmedia@gmail.com