Brooke Howell and Sawyer Gilbert Win Championship Titles at Badlands Circuit Finals

Brooke Howell and Sawyer Gilbert have won the Year-End and Average championship titles at the 2023 Badlands Circuit Finals.

During the Badlands Circuit Finals held in Minot, North Dakota, Oct. 13-15, breakaway ropers Brooke Howell and Sawyer Gilbert were crowned champions. Howell won the Year-End title while Gilbert clinched the Average title. As a result, both breakaway ropers have qualified to participate in the Ram NFR Open being held in Colorado Springs, CO next July, where they will face off against other circuits for the coveted National Circuit Championship title.

At the Finals, Howell, hailing from Belle Fourche, South Dakota, finished second in the second round, clocking a 3.1-second run, earning $1,392.21. She also finished third in the average with a total time of 9.4 seconds on three, earning $1,670.66. Her total winnings of $3,062.87 put her in the No. 1 spot in the circuit standings, making her the Year-End champion.

Meanwhile, Gilbert, from Buffalo, SD, won first place in the second round with a 2.3-second run earning $2,227.54 and finished fourth in the third round with a 2.8-second run earning $556.88. Gilbert's total time of 7.7 seconds on three was quick enough to secure first place in the average, worth $3,341.32. She collected $6,125.47 in total for the weekend.

Badlands Circuit Finals Breakaway Results:

First Round:

1. Rickie Fanning 2.300 $2,227.54
2. Danielle Wray 2.400 $1,670.66
3. (tie) Jessica Holmes and Tanegai Zilverberg  2.500 $835.32

Second Round

1. Sawyer Gilbert 2.300 $2,227.5
2. (tie) Brooke Howell and Jessica Holmes 3.100 $1,392.21
3. Danielle Wray 3.300 $556.88

Third Round:

1. Taylor Engesser 2.000 $2,227.54
2. Danielle Wray 2.200 $1,670.66
3. Kayla Olson 2.600 $1,113.77
4. Sawyer Gilbert 2.800 $556.88

Average:

1. Sawyer Gilbert 7.700 $3,341.32
2. Danielle Wray 7.900 $2,505.99
3. Brooke Howell 9.400 $1,670.66
4. Jessica Holmes 18.200 $835.33

2023 Badlands Circuit Breakaway Standings:

1. Brooke Howell, Belle Fourche, SD - $13,671.23 18
2. Tanegai Zilverberg, Holabird, SD - $12,913.73 22
3. Danielle Wray, Ord, NE - $12,315.91 21
4. Sawyer Gilbert, Buffalo, SD - $11,963.08 13
5. Rickie Fanning, Spearfish, SD - $11,839.51 14
6. Jessica Holmes, Buffalo, SD - $11,439.09 18
7. Syerra Christensen, Kennebec, SD - $10,161.44 19
8. Taylor Engesser, Spearfish, SD - $9,857.80 14
9. Kayla Olson, Chadron, NE - $8,803.01 19
10. Samantha Fulton, Miller, SD - $6,887.37 13