These Defending Champs are WCJR Bound in 2026

The 2026 World Championship Junior Rodeo is underway at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, and the Last Chance Qualifier field is stacked with familiar faces. A year after Casper and Cross Ringelstein roped their way to the Junior World Championship and Bronc Evans claimed the Youth title, all three are back in Guthrie.

The Ringelsteins are still a package deal

Casper and Cross Ringelstein won the 2025 Junior World Championship together, stopping the clock at 4.58 seconds in the final round for a $10,000 payday. The brothers are entered again in 2026 and, true to form, they’re switching ends on each other, drawn together at both #34 and #97 in the Junior LCQ Round 1.

2026 WCJR Team Roping: Schedule, Divisions and How to Enter

Bronc Evans levels up

Nobody dominates youth rodeo quite like Bronc Evans. The Fairview, Missouri, cowboy won the 2025 WCJR Youth World Championship and has stacked wins across nearly every major youth stage—the Junior NFR, The Patriot and multiple WCJR titles among them. This year, he’s aging into the Junior division, and he’s ready for the jump.

“This year, I’m actually going to switch ends—I’m pretty excited,” Evans said. “I finally get to step up into the older age group, so I’m kind of excited to try something new.”

He’s drawn at #45 in the Junior LCQ with a new partner, Stetson Springs. Evans, who calls himself a heeler at heart despite winning on both ends, is heading into his fourth WCJR and says the event feels like home.

“I’ve been at the WCJR the last three years, so it kind of feels like home,” Evans said. “I just try to stay calm, do my job and have faith in my partners and that it’s all going to work out.

The rest of the 2025 class returns

Evans isn’t the only 2025 finalist who’s aged up. Weston Lakin, who headed his way to the 2025 Youth World Championship, is drawn in the Junior LCQ at #51 with a new partner, Brody Freeman. Hagen Wright, who set the pace in Youth Round 1 last year roping with Evans, has also moved up—he’s at #52 with Reid Breedlove. Brax Pinner, runner-up in the 2025 Youth Finals, drew #76 in Junior with new partner Gus Harris.

On the Junior side, 2025 runner-up Treston Brazile is back at #43 and #93 with a new partner, Gabe Williams, after finaling with Denton Parish last year. Cash Cockrum, who placed fourth in the 2025 Junior average with Carson Sonnier, returns at #28 and #79 alongside Grady Harris.

Some 2023 champs are returning as well. Conner Haygood took home the 2023 Youth Heading World Championship, and he’s back in 2026 in the Junior Division roping with KT Hamilton. The 2023 event champs Jacob Stansbury and Haze Bruce are also returning, this time with new partners. Stansbury will head for Kayson Lasyone, and Bruce will head for Rance Winters.

Names trending into Guthrie

A couple of 2026 season standouts are worth circling. Kayson Lasyone sits second in the WCJR 19-&-Under heeling standings with 7,942.25 points. The Winfield, Louisiana, heeler already won this year’s Junior World Championships in Vegas and just claimed his third straight Louisiana High School Rodeo Association heeling title. He’s drawn at #46 with Jacob Stansbury.

“If I’m catching, then I don’t really get nervous,” Lasyone said of his low-key approach to pressure.

Remi Wells, the Central City, Nebraska, all-arounder, sits third in the 19-&-Under heading standings while also leading the Junior breakaway leaderboard. She’s drawn at #82 in Team Roping heading with Carlee Hays.

“I would call myself a stronger header than a heeler,” Wells said. “I started out heeling … but probably I would say breakaway is probably my strong suit.”