Rodeo Rundown- Standings Shuffle
We are down to the wire in the PRCA/WPRA regular season. As the clock winds down every contestant within striking distance of the Top 15 is giving it their all. The athletes of Team SUCCEED are finishing strong still striving to make their trip to the Thomas and Mack.
The Calf Ropers of our team have made a big splash with Haven Meged closing the gap between himself and the men who hold down number one and two in the world. Then there is Zack Jongbloed who has set the World Standings on fire. From not being in the hunt in early August to being 10th in the World, he has made it known he is hungry for another NFR qualification.
It is no secret that the last few months of the season, what is fondly referred to as the “Northwest Run”, can shake up the standings in big ways. With some of the world’s largest rodeos happening in the span of a few months, it can be make or break for rodeo athletes. For athletes like Zack Jongbloed who were coming into the last few months of the season behind, these big rodeos provide many opportunities to make up lost ground.
Zack Jongbloed
Our number one money earner this month is Zack Jongbloed. Since Labor Day weekend, Zack has won just over $30,000 skyrocketing him to 10th in the World Standings. Zack has pulled checks from every major rodeo in the past few weeks starting with Ellensburg and Puyallup Washington, Pendleton Oregon and finally Albuquerque New Mexico.
Zack qualified for his first NFR in 2022. Last year he narrowly missed making another trip when he ended up 17th in the World. It is evident that Zack doesn’t want to be on the outside looking in this year.
Zack is a prime example of just how much the standings can change in the last few months of the season. He has gone from well outside of reach of the top 15, to right on the bubble, to now 10th with a little bit of cushion between him and the bubble. When August rolls around it might seem like the end of the season is near but sometimes the biggest standings shakeups come between August and September 30th when the season ends. Zack is a testament to that.
Haven Meged
Haven Meged is no stranger to the winner’s circle or the pressure that comes with these final months of the season. However, he has taken his domination to a new level in the last month. While he might not have moved up in placings in World Standings, he has greatly closed the gap between himself, number 2 Ty Harris and Shad Mayfield who has had a firm hold on 1st in the World Standings all year.
In 2019 Haven won his first World Championship. Last year’s NFR average win secured him the Reserve World Champion spot. It is evident he is hungry for another World title. With picking up consistent checks throughout the Northwest run, Haven continues to close the gap between him and the number one man, making the next World Championship within reach.
In the last three weeks, Haven has won just shy of $10,000 and has been the picture of consistency. His biggest checks came from the Ellensburg and Puyallup rodeos totaling nearly $8,000. Ellensburg is one of the most prestigious rodeos during the Northwest run and Haven was able to walk away with the win in round one.
In the final two weeks of the season there is still a lot of money left on the table. Haven can still close that deficit between himself and the World leaders!
Shelby Boisjoli-Meged
Winning is a family affair for the Meged household. Haven and Shelby both have World Championships to their name and continue with their winning ways. Shelby was the third-highest money earner for Team SUCCEED over the last few weeks bringing in a little over $5,000.
After several years of getting close to a World Championship, Shelby sealed the deal for the first time in 2023. This year she currently finds herself ranked 5th in the World with over $110,000 for the year with two weeks left to add to that total.
Shelby’s earnings have been won fairly evenly across the board. Her biggest checks came from Blackfoot Idaho and White Sulphur Springs Montana with over $4,000 won between the two rodeos. Breakaway Ropers don’t have it as easy as the other events since every rodeo doesn’t offer breakaway roping. The Breakaway Ropers typically have to drive farther to rodeos and enter more rodeos to stay in the hunt for the National Finals Breakaway Roping. Shelby has become a veteran when it comes to the professional rodeo world and we are excited to see her finish this year strong. She will make another trip back to Las Vegas to defend her World Title.
Team SUCCEED Across the Board
We are always so proud of all our members of Team SUCCEED whether they make the NFR or not. This time of year can either be filled with dreams coming true, barely missing your goals, or your dreams coming to a screeching halt altogether. At SUCCEED we support our athletes no matter what their season looks like.
We have had athletes that have had to go home due to horse injuries and athletes that welcomed their first child into the world who have stayed closer to home. And those that it just simply wasn’t in the cards for them this year. No matter what, we are so proud of our team across the board! We look forward to those who are still out on the road finishing this season strong and ultimately finding out who will be the top 15 in each event in a few short weeks.
