For many Team Resistol athletes, qualifying for Puyallup Rodeo’s Championship Sunday was a make-or-break opportunity that could set the tone for the final two weeks of the regular season. With each event paying out $77,000, the stakes were high as athletes looked to earn valuable money, qualify for the CINCH Playoffs Series Finale — the Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, South Dakota — and ultimately secure a position inside the top 15 by Oct. 1.

On a rainy, chilly western Washington afternoon, many athletes bared down in their trusted felt hats, prepared to stay warm and make their mark on the early fall rodeo. Whereas some athletes chose to forgo the traditional post-labor day rules, sporting the same straw hats that carried them to success throughout the summer. 

Many Team Resistol athletes on the bubble, and safely within the top 15, embraced the pressure and capitalized on the opportunity, earning top honors in Puyallup.

In a thrilling tie, world champions Jess Pope and Keenan Hayes shared the bareback riding title. Both Team Resistol athletes have unofficially secured their spots in Las Vegas, but the Puyallup payday made the trip even sweeter.

Steer wrestler Jesse Brown found himself in a similar position, chasing the lead in the world standings and narrowing the gap after earning $13,900 in the final round alone.

Team roping also featured a tie between teams that have all but booked their tickets to Las Vegas. 2025 Resistol Rookie of the Year James Arviso teamed up with NFR qualifier Levi Lord to share top honors at the Puyallup Rodeo, and have pinched their ticket to the Governor’s Cup. 

Saddle bronc rider Ryder Wright found himself atop a highly competitive leaderboard as he earned the title and maintains his position in the top three of the world standings. 

Resistol is proud to be the official hat of the PRCA and CINCH Playoff Series. With the action in Puyallup coming to a close, all eyes now shift to the Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, South Dakota,  the largest and most exclusive rodeo remaining during the final weeks of the regular season. Athletes will pack up their best felt hats, and make the most of the final weeks on the 2026 rodeo trail.