Courtesy PRCA ProRodeo

 LAS VEGAS, NEV. – Steven Peebles nearly died just five months ago. Tonight (Dec. 12) he left the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris Ranger with a haul that he only could’ve imagined in his wildest dreams.

The 26-year-old from Redmond, Ore., captured the bareback riding world title, the WNFR average championship and the RAM Top Gun award.

Peebles rode for 83.5 points on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Good Time Charlie to split the Round-10 win and move ahead of four-time World Champion Kaycee Feild by $10,523 after Feild failed to earn a check aboard Frontier Rodeo’s Times Up.

“I tried not to get any butterflies before I got on my horse, and I wanted to have a lot of energy and fight,” Peebles said. “I stared at the horse and just kept saying to myself, ‘He isn’t faster than me. He isn’t faster than me.’”

The horse was just the right speed for Peebles, who was simply thankful to be alive and competing in Las Vegas. He almost lost his life in July after suffering a broken rib that nicked an artery and filled his lungs with blood at the Livingston (Mont.) Roundup. He was rushed to the hospital and made it without a moment to spare as doctors were able to drain his lungs and save his life.

“In the back of that ambulance that day, I begged God for another chance at life, and I told him that if He gave me that chance I would represent him as best I could and go after a world title as hard as I could,” Peebles said. “That’s what’s pushed me this whole time - to not let God down. I look at life completely different now, and I kept fighting for what I wanted. It’s incredible everything worked out as well as it did.”

Heading into the final round, tie-down roper Caleb Smidt knew there was a tall task ahead of him if he was going to claim his first world championship. He trailed 23-time World Champion Trevor Brazile in the world standings, and would need one of the best ropers of all time to falter, while making a solid run of his own.

“I was just planning on winning second,” Smidt said of his mindset entering Round 10. “Trevor’s the King of the Cowboys, the best there ever was, and crazy things happen in Round 10 at the NFR. This a blessing to win this gold buckle, and a dream come true.”

The steer wrestling lead changed hands almost nightly during the 10 rounds of the WNFR, but when the dust settled tonight, Hunter Cure had captured his second gold buckle in three years. Cure - who also won the world title in 2013 - split second place in Round 10 with K.C. Jones with a 3.9-second run to win $18,192. He also moved up to second in the WNFR average with a 52.1-second time on 10 head to capture the gold buckle with $241,515. Dakota Eldridge won the average with 45.6 seconds on 10 head, but finished second in the world with $211,669.

In the end, it was a second gold buckle for Cure, who has become a veteran at the Thomas & Mack Center in his third WNFR appearance.

“I let the bright lights get the best of me the first time I came here (in 2009) and I swore that mistake would never happen again,” said Cure, who showed ice-cold nerves tonight. “The last two times (at the WNFR, 2013 and 2015) was just about keeping my head down and going to work. My heart has been beating for three days.”

An unlikely pair took home the world team roping championships tonight - unlikely because they aren’t partners. There was a split with the gold buckles, as header Aaron Tsinigine - who partners with Ryan Motes - and heeler Kollin Von­Ahn - who ropes with Luke Brown - won the world titles, while their partners both finished second.

“Two or three things needed to go our way for me to be here right now,” the 29-year-old Tsinigine said. “We needed to win the round, for starters. If I could have picked anyone to be here with me it’d be Ryan Motes, my partner and best friend. Congrats to Kollin. He and Luke roped good all week, too. This has been my dream since I was a kid. When I was growing up on the (Navajo) reservation I would have never dreamed of winning a world championship. Everything’s coming true for me tonight.”

While the experience was brand new for Tsinigine, it was the second world title for VonAhn, who won the 2009 championship with Nick Sartain. The 32-year-old from Durant, Okla., entered the WNFR ranked sixth in the world heeling standings. He not only won the gold buckle, but also his third WNFR average title (2009 and 2013).

It was a bittersweet win for him since his partner finished second in the world.

Saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley had already proved in 2013 that he was capable of winning the WNFR average title. Tonight, he grabbed another average buckle, and added his first gold buckle to his trophy case. The 27-year-old from Stephenville, Texas, won the average with a score of 810.5 points on 10 head, even though he didn’t take a single victory lap over the 10 nights of the WNFR. Crawley says his double-buckle win parallels the happiness in his personal and professional lives.

“The beautiful thing is, I didn’t feel any pressure,” Crawley said. “My personal life is so great and that’s where my happiness comes from. Bronc riding is my job, and that’s how I treat it. It’s great to see it pay off. The pressure comes from not wanting to miss the opportunity.”

He earned checks in seven of the 10 rounds, and was one of only two men to ride all 10 horses - CoBurn Bradshaw was 803.5 points on 10 head.

Barrel racer Callie duPerier was competing at her first WNFR, but rode like she’d been here plenty of times. The 22-year-old from Boerne, Texas, entered Las Vegas first in the world, and that’s where she finished - in both the world standings and the WNFR average.

“I thought I was taking the lap just for the winning the average, then when they told me I had won the world I just started crying,” she said. “It is just so awesome. I have to thank God first, my dad and (horse) Dillon, and just everybody that has been behind me all year long.”

The lone world championship that was settled before Round 10 was the bull riding, with Sage Kimzey’s dominant 2015 season ending with his second straight gold buckle after nine rounds.

The 21-year-old from Strong City, Okla., became the first bull rider in history to win the gold buckle in each of his first two seasons as a PRCA card holder.

“This year was a lot different,” he said of his second world title campaign. “I knew what to expect, and how everything worked. Last year, everything was new, but it was a magical year, one I’ll never forget.”

Frontier Rodeo had an awfully good December. Not only was the company voted 2015 PRCA Stock Contractor of the year, its horses won honors as Top Stock of the Wrangler NFR.

Full Baggage was named Top Bareback Horse of the NFR for the third time (and has placed in the top five another two times), while Medicine Woman won for the second time (and has also placed in the top five another two times). Steven Peebles scored 89.5 points to win Round 8 on Full Baggage; Jacobs Crawley scored 88.5 to place second in Round 5 on Medicine Woman.

Two more Frontier horses placed in the top five this year: Showstomper was a first-timer on the list, while Maple Leaf also made the top five in 2013. 

The top bull was Bruiser from D&H Cattle, also a first-timer on the top-five list; he bucked off Kody DeShon in Round 2 and Joe Frost in Round 9.

 Average winners, NFR total earnings and 2015 NFR Top 15:

Bareback riding: Average standings: 1. Steven Peebles, 832.5 points on 10 head, $67,269; 2. Seth Hardwick, 802.5, $54,577; 3. Kaycee Feild, 792.5, $43,154; 4. Tim O’Connell, 785.5, $31,731; 5. Will Lowe, 778.0, $22,846; 6. Tanner Aus, 767.0, $16,500. WNFR earnings: 1. Steven Peebles, $224,054; 2. Kaycee Feild, $175,471; 3. Seth Hardwick, $136,231; 4. Tim O’Connell, $121,353; 5. Tanner Aus, $73,756; 6. Austin Foss, $62,827; 7. Will Lowe, $60,817; 8. Clint Laye, $52,038; 9. Evan Jayne, $43,788; 10. Bobby Mote, $41,462; 11. Jake Brown, $39,558; 12. Winn Ratliff, $26,654; 13. Orin Larsen, $22,529; 14. Clint Cannon, $11,000; 15. Caleb Bennett, $8,462. World standings: 1. Steven Peebles, $314,140; 2. Kaycee Feild, $303,617; 3. Seth Hardwick, $226,870; 4. Tim O’Connell, $217,917; 5. Austin Foss, $171,568; 6. Tanner Aus, $169,417; 7. Will Lowe, $153,799; 8. Jake Brown, $147,551; 9. Evan Jayne, $146,808; 10. Clint Laye, $142,346; 11. Bobby Mote, $139,947; 12. Orin Larsen, $114,156; 13. Winn Ratliff, $112,408; 14. Clint Cannon, $107,686; 15. Caleb Bennett, $99,764.

 Steer wrestling: Average standings: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 45.6 seconds on 10 head, $67,269; 2. Hunter Cure, 52.1, $54,577; 3. Tanner Milan, 52.6, $43,154; 4. Ty Erickson, 55.1, $31,731; 5. Seth Brockman, $22,846; 6. Tyler Waguespack, 63.6, $16,500. WNFR earnings: 1. Hunter Cure, $139,122; 2. Dakota Eldridge, $134,115; 3. K.C. Jones, $117,615; 4. Ty Erickson, $98,154; 5. Tanner Milan, $83,135; 6. Clayton Hass, $79,115; 7. Seth Brockman, $68,115; 8. Baylor Roche, $66,423; 9. Luke Branquinho, $65,365; 10. Casey Martin, $63,603; 11. Trevor Knowles, $52,038; 12. Tyler Waguespack, $50,346; 13. Kyle Irwin, $33,987; 14. Blake Knowles, $24,891; 15. Nick Guy, $23,974. World standings: 1. Hunter Cure, $241,515; 2. Dakota Eldridge, $211,669; 3. K.C. Jones, $198,601; 4. Ty Erickson, $197,933; 5. Clayton Hass, $184,296; 6. Tanner Milan, $159,461; 7. Luke Branquinho, $151,557; 8. Seth Brockman, $149,674; 9. Baylor Roche, $147,979; 10. Casey Martin, $138,759; 11. Tyler Waguespack, $135,591; 12. Trevor Knowles, $133,166; 13. Kyle Irwin, $120,574; 14. Nick Guy, $117,262; 15. Blake Knowles, $99,638. 

 Team roping: Average standings: 1. Luke Brown/Kollin VonAhn, 65.3 seconds on 10 head, $67,269; 2. Coleman Proctor/Jake Long, 98.1, $54,577; 3. JoJo LeMond/Junior Nogueira, 50.2 on nine, $43,154; 4. Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes, 65.3, $31,731; 5. Erich Rogers/Cory Petska, 67.8, $22,846; 6. Trevor Brazile/Patrick Smith, 102.4, $16,500. WNFR earnings (headers): 1. Luke Brown, $142,577; 2. Aaron Tsinigine, $133,904; 3. JoJo LeMond, $117,404; 4. Derrick Begay, $113,596; 5. Coleman Proctor, $110,212; 6. Colby Lovell, $99,423; 7. Trevor Brazile, $89,692; 8. Erich Rogers, $74,885; 9. Nick Sartain, $53,308; 10. Chad Masters, $48,231; 11. Clay Smith, $34,269; 12. Jake Cooper, $31,731; 13. Clay Tryan, $28,769; 14. Riley Minor, $11,000; 15. Matt Sherwood, $11,000. WNFR earnings (heelers): 1. Kollin VonAhn, $142,577; 2. Ryan Motes, $133,904; 3. Junior Nogueira, $117,404; 4. Clay O’Brien Cooper, $113,596; 5. Jake Long, $110,212; 6. Kory Koontz, $99,423; 7. Patrick Smith, $89,692; 8. Cory Petska, $74,885; 9. Rich Skelton, $53,308; 10. Travis Graves, $48,231; 11. Paul Eaves, $34,269; 12. Russell Cardoza, $31,731; 13. Jade Corkill, $28,769; 14. Travis Woodard, $11,000; 15. Brady Minor, $11,000. World standings (headers): 1. Aaron Tsinigine, $227,672; 2. Luke Brown, $224,987; 3. Derrick Begay, $218,464; 4. Trevor Brazile, $191,960; 5. Coleman Proctor, $190,341; 6. Colby Lovell, $188,253; 7. JoJo LeMond, $188,207; 8. Clay Tryan, $169,266; 9. Erich Rogers, $163,554; 10. Chad Masters, $150,889; 11. Nick Sartain, $137,386; 12. Jake Cooper, $122,664; 13. Clay Smith, $115,498; 14. Riley Minor, $88,592; 15. Matt Sherwood, $88,436. World standings (heelers): 1. Kollin VonAhn, $231,601; 2. Ryan Motes, $226,541; 3. Clay O’Brien Cooper, $219,584; 4. Junior Nogueira, $198,737; 5. Patrick Smith, $191,960; 6. Jake Long, $188,555; 7. Kory Koontz, $187,891; 8. Jade Corkill, $169,266; 9. Cory Petska, $159,712; 10. Travis Graves, $143,496; 11. Rich Skelton, $137,386; 12. Paul Eaves, $121,699; 13. Russell Cardoza, $107,811; 14. Travis Woodard, $99,519; 15. Brady Minor, $87,263.

 Saddle bronc riding: Average standings: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 810.5 points on 10 head, $67,269; 2. CoBurn Bradshaw, 803.5, $54,577; 3. Wade Sundell, 737.5 on nine, $43,154; 4. Isaac Diaz, 730.5, $31,731; 5. Zeke Thurston, 671.0, $22,846; 6. Rusty Wright, 653.0 on eight, $16,500. WNFR earnings: 1. Jacobs Crawley, $157,385; 2. Wade Sundell, $168,385; 3. CoBurn Bradshaw, $153,577; 4. Rusty Wright, $118,462; 5. Isaac Diaz, $112,962; 6. Cody DeMoss, $99,423; 7. Cort Scheer, $54,577; 8. Heith DeMoss, $53,731; 9. Taos Muncy, $48,654; 10. Zeke Thurston, $45,692; 11. Jake Wright, $41,038; 12. Tyrel Larsen, $26,654; 13. Chuck Schmidt, $17,346; 14. Spencer Wright, $2,115; 15. Bradley Harter, $0. World standings: 1. Jacobs Crawley, $276,247; 2. Wade Sundell, $273,065; 3. Rusty Wright, $244,448; 4. CoBurn Bradshaw, $229,723; 5. Cody DeMoss, $228,820; 6. Isaac Diaz, $226,528; 7. Taos Muncy, $157,307; 8. Cort Scheer, $153,314; 9. Jake Wright, $136,462; 10. Heith DeMoss, $132,085; 11. Zeke Thurston, $127,970; 12. Chuck Schmidt, $112,256; 13. Tyrel Larsen, $97,826; 14. Spencer Wright, $86,454; 15. Bradley Harter, $81,310.

 Tie-down roping: Average standings: 1. Caleb Smidt, 80.7 seconds on 10 head, $67,269; 2. Monty Lewis, 83.5, $54,577; 3. Matt Shiozawa, 84.2, $43,154; 4. Trevor Brazile, 87.4, $31,731; 5. Marcos Costa, 92.3, $22,846; 6. Marty Yates, 92.7, $16,500. WNFR earnings: 1. Caleb Smidt, $144,904; 2. Trevor Brazile, $126,077; 3. Matt Shiozawa, $121,846; 4. Monty Lewis, $96,885; 5. Hunter Herrin, $77,212; 6. Marty Yates, $77,000; 7. Tyson Durfey, $71,923; 8. Tuf Cooper, $70,654; 9. Sterling Smith, $70,442; 10. Marcos Costa, $53,731; 11. Cory Solomon, $50,769; 12. Shane Hanchey, $44,212; 13. Cade Swor, $38,923; 14. Ryan Jarrett, $28,769; 15. Timber Moore, $26,654. World standings: 1. Caleb Smidt, $242,354; 2. Trevor Brazile, $228,055; 3. Matt Shiozawa, $216,835; 4. Tuf Cooper, $211,457; 5. Monty Lewis, $189,788; 6. Marty Yates, $186,281; 7. Hunter Herrin, $181,024; 8. Tyson Durfey, $153,983; 9. Sterling Smith, $152,739; 10. Timber Moore, $149,452; 11. Marcos Costa, $148,073; 12. Cory Solomon, $143,252; 13. Cade Swor, $126,796; 14. Ryan Jarrett, $124,736; 15. Shane Hanchey, $124,668.

 Barrel racing: Average standings: 1. Callie duPerier, 140.41 seconds on 10 runs, $67,269; 2. Jackie Ganter, 141.07, $54,577; 3. Cassidy Kruse, 144.68, $43,154; 4. Michele McLeod, 145.19, $31,731; 5. Sherry Cervi, 146.04, $22,846; 6. Sarah Rose McDonald, 148.50, $16,500. WNFR earnings: 1. Sarah Rose McDonald, $139,827; 2. Michele McLeod, $138,346; 3. Callie duPerier, $126,923; 4. Cassidy Kruse, $126,077; 5. Lisa Lockhart, $123,538; 6. Fallon Taylor, $90,750; 7. Taylor Jacob, $87,365; 8. Jackie Ganter, $85,462; 9. Sherry Cervi, $49,077; 10. Jana Bean, $41,462; 11. Nancy Hunter, $40,615; 12. Carley Richardson, $19,673; 13. Mary Walker, $15,654; 14. Vickie Carter, $11,000; 15. Deb Guelly, $4,231. World standings: 1. Callie duPerier, $303,846; 2. Lisa Lockhart, $285,059; 3. Sarah Rose McDonald, $284,426; 4. Michele McLeod, $218,744; 5. Cassidy Kruse, $217,423; 6. Fallon Taylor, $187,578; 7. Taylor Jacob, $177,874; 8. Jackie Ganter, $164,780; 9. Sherry Cervi, $163,821; 10. Nancy Hunter, $147,301; 11. Mary Walker, $135,759; 12. Jana Bean, $111,624; 13. Carley Richardson, $107,493; 14. Vickie Carter, $83,768; 15. Deb Guelly, $74,000.

 Bull riding: Average standings: 1. Cody Teel, 656.5 points on eight head, $67,269; 2. Sage Kimzey, 578.5 on seven, $54,577; 3. Shane Proctor, 413.5 on five, $43,154; 4. (tie) Joe Frost and Clayton Foltyn, 404.5, $27,288 each; 6. Ty Wallace, 328.0 on four, $16,500. WNFR earnings: 1. Cody Teel, $185,731; 2. Sage Kimzey, $142,577; 3. Shane Proctor, $113,385; 4. Clayton Foltyn, $108,731; 5. Joe Frost, $83,981; 6. Ty Wallace, $81,231; 7. Wesley Silcox, $74,462; 8. Brett Stall, $65,154; 9. Parker Breding, $44,000; 10. Caleb Sanderson, $38,500; 11. Reid Barker, $15,654; 12. Kody DeShon, $13,327; 13. Brennon Eldred, $6,769; 14. Chandler Bownds, $2,115; 15. Dustin Bowen, $0. World standings: 1. Sage Kimzey, $327,178; 2. Cody Teel, $278,749; 3. Shane Proctor, $202,398; 4. Wesley Silcox, $190,240; 5. Clayton Foltyn, $183,957; 6. Joe Frost, $177,793; 7. Parker Breding, $176,247; 8. Ty Wallace, $155,135; 9. Brett Stall, $151,243; 10. Brennon Eldred, $126,810; 11. Caleb Sanderson, $113,614; 12. Chandler Bownds, $100,557; 13. Reid Barker, $89,501; 14. Kody DeShon, $85,960; 15. Dustin Bowen, $75,250.

 
Caleb Smidt won his first Tie-Down Roping title. (Kirt Steinke/Western Rodeo Images)

World Champion Barrel Racer Callie duPerier and Dillon winning in Round 7 with a time of 13.87. (Kirt Steinke/Western Rodeo Images)

Hunter Cure won his second gold buckle in the Steer Wrestling. (Kirt Steinke/Western Rodeo Images)

Jacobs Crawley won both the average and title in Saddle Bronc Riding.  (Kirt Steinke/Western Rodeo Images)

Sage Kimzey repeated his 2014 World Champion title by again winning the gold buckle in 2015. (Kirt Steinke/Western Rodeo Images)