3 things you may have missed from San Angelo Rodeo's opening weekend

The San Angelo Rodeo kicked off this past weekend at the Foster Communications Coliseum Box Office.

Fans saw early rounds of bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. Winners who advanced qualified for the short-go (a.k.a. finals) on Friday, April 23. On Saturday, the Cinch Chute Out All-Star performance will close out the rodeo.

If you're waiting for the finale at the rodeo, here's what you missed from the opening weekend:

San Angelo Rodeo Parade kicks off weekend

The pomp and circumstance of the rodeo was hailed during a parade in downtown San Angelo Saturday morning.

Tuft Cooper ropes calves and a great story

Tie-down roper Tuft Cooper opened his time at the San Angelo Rodeo with a 7.3 second run, holding a lead in the competition going into next weekend. The son of calf roping legend Roy Cooper attributed a large part of his success to his new horse, Blanco, a 9-year-old gray gelding.

“My dad and grandpa told me that if I had to have the best horse to win. It doesn’t matter how good you rope if you don’t have the best horse," Cooper said. "He fits me as good as any horse ever. I don’t have to do anything more than what I need to do. He does the rest for me.”

In addition to hastily roping calves this weekend, Cooper also saved our own Charles Bryce's bacon this past weekend with a tale he'll be telling for a lifetime.

Bull riders steal the show

The bull riders hung on despite the best efforts of the beasts. Our video highlights from Saturday showcase their best efforts:

San Angelo Rodeo standings after April 11

Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 88 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Hot Flash; 2. Tilden Hooper, 87; 3. Tim O’Connell, 86; 4. Chad Rutherford, 85.5; 5. Luke Creasy, 85; 6. Cauy Pool, 84; 7. Will Martin, 80; 8. (tie) Jacob Lees and Bronc Marriott, 77; 10. Logan Patterson, 74; no other qualified rides. 

Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Wyatt Jurney, 4.0 seconds; 2. Jason Thomas, 4.6; 3. (tie) Clayton Hass and J.D. Struxness, 5.0; 5. (tie) Will Lummus and Kodie Jang, 5.2; 7. Bubba Boots, 5.4; 8. Zack Jongbloed, 6.1. Second round leaders: 1. Kodie Jang, 4.5 seconds; 2. J.D. Struxness, 4.6; 3. Bubba Boots, 4.9; 4. (tie) Jace Melvin and Dirk Tavenner, 5.0; 6. Zack Jongbloed, 5.2; 7. Tanner Brunner, 12.1; 8. Wyatt Jurney, 14.3. Average leaders: 1. J.D. Struxness, 9.6 seconds on two rides; 2. Kodie Jang, 9.7; 3. Bubba Boots, 10.3; 4. Zack Jongbloed, 11.3; 5. Jace Melvin, 11.5; 6. Wyatt Jurney, 18.3; 7. Dirk Tavenner, 18.7; 8. Jason Thomas, 4.6; 9. Clayton Hass, 5.0; 10. Will Lummus, 5.2.

Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.2 seconds; 2. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.3; 3. Hayes Smith/Justin Davis, 4.4; 4. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 4.6; 5. (tie) Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan and Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 4.7; 8. Nick Sartain/Reagan Ward, 5.2; 4. Levi Simpson/Tyler Worley, 7.7; 5. Derrick Begay/Jake Edwards, 10.2; no other qualified times. Second round leaders: 1. Jr. Dees/Rich Skelton, 3.7 seconds; 2. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 5.2; 3. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 5.3; 4. Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord, 8.7; no other qualified times. Average leaders: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 9.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 10.0; 3. Jr. Dees/Rich Skelton, 3.7 seconds on one run; 4. Nick Sartain/Reagan Ward, 5.2; 5. Levi Simpson/Tyler Worley, 7.7; 6. Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord, 8.7; 7. Derrick Begay/Jake Edwards, 10.2; no other qualified times.

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. (tie) Cort Scheer, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s The Darkness, and Isaac Diaz, on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Lucky Cab, 83.5 points; 3. Allen Boore, 83; 4. Lucas Macza, 82.5; 5. Brody Cress, 81.5; 6. Mitch Pollock, 81; 7. Jade Blackwell, 80; 8. Toby Collins, 73; 9. Johnny Espeland, 71; 10. Kolt Ferguson, 65.

Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Tuf Cooper, 7.3 seconds; 2. Riley Pruitt, 8.0; 3. Cooper Martin, 8.6; 4. Westyn Hughes, 8.7; 5. (tie) Blane Cox and Shane Hanchey, 8.9; 7. Chris McCuistion, 9.4; 8. Catfish Brown, 9.8. Second round leaders: 1. Cooper Martin, 8.0 seconds; 2. Tuf Cooper, 8.1; 3. Ty Harris, 8.6; 4. Tyler Milligan, 9.0; 5. Westyn Hughes, 9.7; 6. Riley Pruitt, 12.2; 7. Michael Otero, 14.0; no other qualified times. Average leaders: 1. Tuf Cooper, 15.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Cooper Martin, 16.6; 3. Westyn Hughes, 18.4; 4. Riley Pruitt, 20.2; 5. Tyler Milligan, 24.8; 6. Michael Otero, 25.4; 7. Ty Harris, 26.6; 8. Blane Cos, 8.9 seconds on one run; 9. Cody Craig, 10.3.

Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. Megan Champion, 14.28 seconds; 2. (tie) Kelly Bruner and Jimmie Smith, 14.36; 4. Keyla Polizello Costa, 14.44; 5. Sissy Winn, 14.45; 6. Sherry Cervi, 14.48; 7. McKenzie Morgan, 14.51; 8. Andrea Busby, 14.56; 9. Leia Pluemer, 14.57; 10. (tie) Mindy Goemmer and Stevie Perkins, 14.67. Average leaders: 1. Megan Champion, 30.24 seconds on two runs; 2. Kelly Bruner, 30.28; 3. Keyla Polizello Costa, 30.62; 4. Andrea Busby, 30.67; 5. (tie) Sherry Cervi and Stevie Perkins, 30.81; 7. Sissy Winn, 30.85; 8. Mindy Goemmer, 30.86; 9. Cassidy Champlin, 30.89; 10. Jimmie Smith, 30.94; 11. McKenzie Morgan, 30.97; 12. Kellie Collier, 21.05.

Bull riding leaders: 1. Laramie Mosley, 89 points on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Final Rainbow; 2. Dakota Eagleburger, 84; 3. Gavin Michel, 80; 4. JW Griffin, 71; no other qualified rides.