A Missouri Valley College alum won the aggregate average in the bareback riding event at the National Finals Rodeo that finished up in Las Vegas Saturday, December 11.

According to prorodeo.com, Jess Pope, of Waverly, Kansas, was consistent throughout the 10-round event, finishing with a flourish, scoring 92 and winning the final round to finish with an aggregate total of 873- a half-point in front of Kaycee Feild. Along the way, Pope also won rounds one, two and seven.

MVC head rodeo coach Ken Mason said Pope’s consistency is what put him at the top.

Mason, who is in his 17th year as head coach, said Pope- who also won the aggregate title at the NFR last year- is a cowboy all the time.

Current MVC junior Cole Franks, of Clarendon, Texas, wound up third with 860 points. Tanner Aus, another Valley alum of Granite Falls, Minnesota, was seventh in the average at 824.5; and MVC grad and three-time World Champion Tim O’Connell, of Zwingle, Iowa, finished 12th in the average at 753.

Mason says Pope and O’Connell often help out with practices because they continue to live in Marshall.

Mason also gave kudos to his wife and says they are very blessed.

Overall, Feild claimed the World Championship by earning $357,420 throughout the year, a little less than $17,000 more than Pope ($340,499), who was second. Franks wound up third with $227,422. O’Connell was sixth with earnings totaling $192,908; and Aus was 13th with $111,786 in earnings.