An Ainsworth, Nebraska teen was a part of rodeo history last week at Kid Rock’s Rock N Roll Rodeo in Arlington, Texas.
Kid Rock and the PBR teamed up to produce the world’s first ever “team” rodeo at AT&T Stadium on March 17. Six teams battled in head to competition, with $500k being paid to the winning team. Coaches Trevor Brazile, Bobby Mote, Sid Steiner, Fred Whitfield, Charmayne James and Cody Ohl guided their respective teams and led them through the competition.
Kieley Walz, a Nebraska High School Rodeo athlete and the 2023 National High School Rodeo Association Breakaway Roping Champion competed against some of the biggest names in rodeo. Walz competed as a member of the Free Riders, one of six teams that battled in head-to-head competition.
Walz roped against professional breakaway ropers Kelsey Domer and Danielle Lowman. Walz beat out both athletes. Domer missed, and Walz edged out Lowman by roping her calf in 3.0 seconds.
4x World Champion bareback rider, Bobby Mote, and Women’s Rodeo Championship Commissioner Linsay Rosser-Sumpter led the Free Riders who ultimately won the competition. All teams were drafted by their respective coaches, except for the Free Riders. Athletes competing for the Free Riders were selected by a qualification process. Walz qualified for the opportunity through her performance at Rodeo Corpus Christi.
The recent high school graduate looks forward to building on her already impressive rodeo resume by competing at the college and professional levels soon.
Listen to our full interview with Kieley Walz here:
