Rylee George’s Puyallup victory in the Cinch Playoff Series stop came with a 2.4-second run in the championship round, a $15,594 payday, nearly $20,000 earned on the week, and a jump from No. 12 to a projected No. 7 in the WPRA World Standings with $114,428.
George advanced out of Playoff 2 with runs of 2.6 and 2.9 seconds for a 5.5-second average, then smartly played the semifinal round with a 3.2-second run after watching the round fall apart.
“I knew if I made a solid run that I’d have a good chance of making it back to the top four,” George said.
In the four-woman finals, George was first out and determined to set the tone.
“I was talking to Hali [Williams] before we went and she asked what my game plan was, and I told her I was going for first,” George said. “The loop wasn’t the best, but I was glad it went on.”
George’s Standings Shift
Before Puyallup, George was sitting No. 12 in the world standings, uncomfortably close to the NFBR bubble. With her nearly $20,000 weekend—including checks at the Palouse Empire Rodeo in Colfax, Washington ($1,556), and the Lewiston Roundup in Idaho ($2,470)—she’s projected to rise to No. 7, right in the thick of the Top 10 battle.
“I haven’t been that high—ever,” George said. “To be able to [stay inside] the Top 10 would be great coming into the Finals.”
With just weeks left in the regular season, George is now neck-and-neck with names like Maddy Deerman, Cheyanne McCartney, and Hali Williams.
A Bucket-List Win with a Big Atmosphere
For George, Puyallup was more than just another stop—it was a career milestone.
“Puyallup is definitely a bucket-list rodeo, and being able to win it was a lot of fun,” George said.
Adding to the pressure was a packed, vocal crowd.
“They loved it over there,” George said. “Pretty much everybody that got a time, they would scream for you. Even when you had a three-second run, they made you feel like it was a winning run.”
Much of George’s success came with her trusted gelding, Royce, who’s been her main mount all summer. She’s also hauling a backup, Wonder, but Royce has been her go-to.
“Royce has been good all summer,” George said. “He still feels good, and I’m excited for the last couple of weeks we have out here.”
Sioux Falls Bound
By winning Puyallup, George punched her ticket to the coveted Governor’s Cup in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sept. 26–28, where 12 breakaway ropers will rope for one of the richest purses of the season.
“Everybody that was in that top four was so happy they were in Sioux Falls, and I was the same way,” George said. “Sioux Falls is just so much money and it’s a game-changer for everybody.”
Joining George in Sioux Falls is Zoie Bedke, Hali Williams and Martha Angelone. The remaining eight ropers will have to battle their way in via the tour standings, and with only three tour rodeos left (Abilene, Pendleton and Mandan), the pressure is on.
Puyallup Breakaway Results
First round: 1. Aspen Miller, 2.7 seconds, $3,510; 2. Bradi Good, 3.0, $2,633; 3. Braylee Shepherd, 3.1, $1,755; 4. (tie) Martha Angelone and Bailey Bates, 3.2, $439 each; 6. Macy Young and Bailey Bates, 3.2 each; 8. Cheyanne McCartney, 3.5; 9. Taylor Munsell, 3.6; 10. Kendal Pierson, 3.8; 11. Haiden Thompson, 3.9; 12. Erin Johnson, NT.
Second round: 1. Martha Angelone, 2.5 seconds, $3,510; 2. (tie) Bradi Good and Braylee Shepherd, 2.9, $2,194 each; 4. (tie) Bailey Bates and Jenna Dallyn, 3.1, $439 each; 6. (tie) Aspen Miller and Haiden Thompson, 3.2 each; 8. Cheyanne McCartney, 3.3; 9. Erin Johnson, 12.6; 10. (tie) Taylor Munsell, Macy Young and Kendal Pierson, NT.
Advancing: 1. Martha Angelone, 5.7 seconds on two head, $3,949; 2. Bradi Good, 5.9, $4,826; 3. Aspen Miller, 5.9, $3,510; 4. Braylee Shepherd, 6.0, $3,949.
Playoff 2
First round: 1. Maddy Deerman, 2.5 seconds, $3,510; 2. (tie) Rylee A. George and Hali Williams, 2.6, $2,194 each; 4. Joey Williams, 2.7, $878; 5. Zoie Bedke, 2.8; 6. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 3.3; 7. Suzanne Williams, 3.8; 8. Kelsie Domer, 12.1; 9. (tie) TiAda Gray, Kinlie Brennise, Beau Peterson and Josie Conner, NT.
Second round: 1. Beau Peterson, 2.1 seconds, $3,510; 2. Hali Williams, 2.2, $2,633; 3. Kelsie Domer, 2.3, $1,755; 4. Suzanne Williams, 2.6, $878; 5. (tie) Josie Conner and Zoie Bedke, 2.7 each; 7. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli-Meged and Joey Williams, 2.8 each; 9. Rylee A. George, 2.9; 10. (tie) Maddy Deerman, Kinlie Brennise and TiAda Gray, NT.
Advancing: 1. Hali Williams, 4.8 seconds on two head, $4,826; 2. Zoie Bedke, 5.5; 3. Rylee A. George, 5.5, $2,194; 4. Joey Williams, 5.5, $878.
Semifinal: 1. Hali Williams, 2.3 seconds; 2. (tie) Zoie Bedke and Martha Angelone, 2.9; 4. Rylee George, 3.2; 5. (tie) Braylee Shepherd and Bradi Good, 3.4, $1,600 each; 7. (tie) Joey Williams and Aspen Miller, NT, $1,600.
Finals: 1. Rylee George, 2.4 seconds, $13,400; 2. Zoie Bedke, 3.7, $10,050; 3. (tie) Hali Williams and Martha Angelone, NT, $5,050 each.
