contestants

Name	Bio
Matt Austin	Bull rider Matt Austin grew up idolizing his father, Lonnie, who competed in all three roughstock events, and wondering if he would ever be good enough to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and become a world champion. Austin, 23, doesn't have to wonder any longer, as he has proven to the world of professional rodeo that he is beyond good. Austin, of Wills Point, Texas, turned in a record-breaking year in the PRCA en route to his first world title. By the first of August, Austin had already surpassed Terry Don West's regular-season earnings record of $150,376 set in 2003, and by October he had broken West's single-season earnings record of $211,879 with the $5.25 million Wrangler NFR still two months away. As the curtain fell on the 2005 Wrangler NFR, the PRCA record books were being re-written. Austin set a new PRCA record for highest singleseason earnings with $320,766, surpassing Ty Murray's record of $297,896 set in 1993. "I never would have imagined I would win that much in a year," said Austin, following the 10th round of the Wrangler NFR. "To surpass one of the greatest cowboys in our sport is unbelievable. All this hasn't soaked in yet. I hope to do as well next year. I am going to go out and try my hardest and keep the same mind frame. There is always that stepping stone." Despite entering his second Wrangler NFR with a commanding lead of more than $85,000 over his best friend Bryan Richardson, he never took it for granted and entered the event determined to ride every bull. "I never put it on auto-pilot," he said. "You can never slack up because there's always someone behind you who wants your spot. I've kind of had the attitude all year long that I'm in second place and I've got some catching up to do and I better get on the ball." Austin kept this same attitude all the way through the final round at the Wrangler NFR, even though he locked up the world title in the eighth round. "I came into the 10th round and I was No. 2...No. 2 in the average," said Austin, who also captured the average title with 586.5 points on seven head. "Anything is possible in rodeo. There are all kinds of variables, and anything can happen. I just kept going at it like I was in second place. "The bulls don't know who you are, and they don't know the stats. They aren't going to weaken or change. They are going to continue to get stronger and stronger." All the practicing and goal setting for Austin has paid off in the form of a gold buckle and world title. Thus far, Austin has accomplished all the goals he set for himself in rodeo. In 2003, his goal was to win the Resistol Rookie of the Year award in bull riding, and he did so with earnings of $63,089. In 2004, he set a goal of qualifying for the Wrangler NFR and did, finishing runner-up to world champion Dustin Elliott. In 2005, his goals were to win the College National Finals Rodeo, the Xtreme Bulls title and a world title. He accomplished all three in fine fashion. So, what is his goal for 2006? "Win a second gold buckle and be a two-time world champion," he said with a smile.
Ryan Jarrett	There's a new sheriff in town. All-around standout Ryan Jarrett, in just his second full season in the PRCA, put together a stellar season that ended with his first world all-around title. Jarrett, of Summerville, Ga., combined his exploits in tie-down roping and steer wrestling - as well as some additional money won in team roping - to become the second-youngest all-around world champion in PRCA history and end Trevor Brazile's run of consecutive crowns at three. Only the legendary Ty Murray was a younger all-around champ at 20 when he won his first of a record seven all-around titles in 1989. "It's quite an accomplishment to break his streak," Jarrett said of Brazile. "I've got some big shoes to fill behind him. He's a man of his own, and is one of the greatest guys ever. This means a bunch, and it's really something. It was a lot of hard work, for sure." Despite his age, Jarrett didn't shock too many people by his performance in Las Vegas and his ascension to the top of the ProRodeo ranks. After all, he had been red-hot in the fall and was the only two-event competitor at the Thomas & Mack Center after qualifying in steer wrestling and tie-down roping. Jarrett not only excelled in tie-down roping, he won the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo average title with a total time of 89 seconds on 10 head. He didn't win a round, but placed in six out of 10 rounds to earn $80,517. He finished fifth in the first and fourth rounds, in a tie for second in the sixth round, second in the seventh round, fourth in the eighth round and sixth in the final round en route to the average victory. Combine that with the $34,201 he won in steer wrestling, and the allaround title was his. Jarrett came into the Wrangler NFR nearly $27,000 behind Brazile, but quickly made up ground and took over the all-around lead for good after Round 7. His title was a likelihood, but not an assurance. He still had to work for it, and he did exactly that. "It looks easy up there from the 10th row, but it isn't, I promise you," Jarrett said of his victory. There was no doubt Jarrett knew tie-down roping would be the key to his run for the title. "I just tried to score well and be at the barrier and get it on them quick," Jarrett said. "I just came here to rope like Ryan ropes, not to rope for the go-rounds. That is what I tried to do. That average buckle is icing on the cake." He was strong in tie-down roping and didn't exactly struggle in bulldogging. Jarrett finished fourth in the average at 55.3 seconds on 10 head and won a share of first place with his 3.4-second run in Round 5. Jarrett finished the year with $263,665, more than $50,000 ahead of second-place Lee Graves, who dominated steer wrestling en route to his first Wrangler NFR average and world titles. Brazile, who was hampered by the fact that he did not qualify for the Wrangler NFR in team roping as he had the previous year, finished third with $197,400 after earning just $30,004 in tie-down roping. Jarrett, who emerged victorious and at the top of the PRCA heap, is now automatically one of ProRodeo's most esteemed athletes, a visible representation of the best of the best in the sport.

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