The dust settled on the inaugural Cody Johnson Championship Event 10.5 with 8.5 Incentive as Edgar Wislar and Kolton Sena claimed the title. The Texan cowboys took home $70,000 ($35,000 each) as the victorious team, dominating a competitive field.
The duo’s hard work and dedication paid off at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton, Texas, where they made history by etching their names in the inaugural chapter of the Cody Johnson Championship Event. The 10.5 winners proudly accepted Cactus Trophy Saddles, custom guitars, Gist buckles, Cactus saddle pads, Resistol hats, HatPacs, and Turtlebox speakers.
Entering the short round in the high-call position, Wislar and Sena led the field by a substantial margin, closing out the competition with an impressive 5.83-second lead in the aggregate. They roped four steers in 31.7 seconds to secure their victory.
Sena, the champion heeler, also earned the Reserve Champion title, taking spliting an additional $50,00 with his partner Benny Tamez. Reflecting on the win, Sena said, “It’s been a good journey. This is a blessing to win together. I felt the pressure to be clean, but I knew I just had to do my job and see how it played out.”
Wislar also commented on the significance of the title and the importance of the event’s inaugural week. “The payout is a blessing. We were so excited for this week; it’s a big deal, and it was great to be part of it,” he said.
In addition to the lucrative 10.5 team roping, the 8.5 incentive also awarded a full prize lineup, including Cactus Saddles, custom guitars, Gist buckles, Cactus saddle pads, Resistol HatPacs, Cactus Gear horse blankets, Resistol hats, and a $6,000 paycheck for Kay Stevens and Kelly Snow, who won with an aggregate time of 43.33 seconds.
The roping event, which awarded a total of $306,000 in prize money, set the stage for The CoJo Open Short Go, with several titles still up for grabs as the celebration of Western heritage and community strength continues.