RENO, Nev. – As the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s (PWVT) Reno Rumble rolled to a close on Friday night, seven-time PBR World Finals qualifier Matt Triplett (Canton, South Dakota) and Mexico’s Alvaro Alvarez Aguilar (La Punta Lagos, Mexico) emerged victorious after riding their way to a tie for the Round 1 win.

Triplett had Reno fans buzzing early in the evening as he fired out of the chutes aboard Jackhammer (J.C. Knapp Rodeo Co) for 88 points.

The grizzled PBR veteran led the round until the very last ride of the 45-man competition when Aguilar climbed aboard Rag Doll (Tom Baker Bucking Bulls) and tied Triplett with his own sensational 88-point ride.

For their first-place split, both cowboys earned 5.5 world points and head into Saturday leading the charge.

River Stephenson (Blackfoot, Idaho) punched his ticket into Round 2 when he erupted from the chutes aboard Masimodo (Flying C/ Flying P Bucking Bulls) to secure a third-place finish.  Not far behind the dynamic first-place duo, the Idaho cowboy received an 87.5-point ride score, which earned him three world points.

Four determined cowboys split fourth place on Friday night with matching 87-point ride scores.

As the night began, Aaron Williams (Pismo Beach, California) was matched with Cheap Trick (TDS/ Buentello Bucking Bulls) and delivered the first 87-point score.

Next, 31-year-old Casey Coulter (Kirksville, Missouri) made the 8 aboard SOS (Cannon Cattle Co) followed by back-to-back successful rides from Dalton Rudman (Wellington, Utah) on White Squirrel (Team Wyatt) and Patterson Starcher (Tonganoxie, Kansas) aboard Last Chance (Team Wyatt).

All four riders notched 1.25 world points for their Friday efforts.

The Reno Rumble will continue inside the Reno Events Center as the top bull riders of the PWVT return for Round 2 and the championship round on Saturday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. PDT.

PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) - Reno Rumble
Reno Events Center – Reno, Nevada 
Name, Round 1-Round 2-Event Aggregate-Event Points

1. Matt Triplett, 88-0-0-88.00-5.5 Points.
(tie). Alvaro Alvarez Aguilar, 88-0-0-88.00-5.5 Points.
3. River Stephenson, 87.5-0-0-87.50-3 Points.
4. Dalton Rudman, 87-0-0-87.00-1.25 Points.
(tie). Aaron Williams, 87-0-0-87.00-1.25 Points.
(tie). Casey Coulter, 87-0-0-87.00-1.25 Points.
(tie). Patterson Starcher, 87-0-0-87.00-1.25 Points.
8. Brock Radford, 86.5-0-0-86.50
9. Chance Schott, 85.5-0-0-85.50
10. Marcus Mast, 85-0-0-85.00
11. Dakota Louis, 84.5-0-0-84.50
(tie). Lane Nobles, 84.5-0-0-84.50
13. Venn Johns, 83.5-0-0-83.50
14. Bob Mitchell, 83-0-0-83.00
15. Wyatt Rogers, 79.5-0-0-79.50
Cole Skender, 0-0-0-0.00
Ashton Sahli, 0-0-0-0.00
Marcos Gloria, 0-0-0-0.00
Dalton Krantz, 0-0-0-0.00
Caden Bunch, 0-0-0-0.00
Dakota Eagleburger, 0-0-0-0.00
Coy Robbins, 0-0-0-0.00
Eli Necochea, 0-0-0-0.00
Kyle Jones, 0-0-0-0.00
Clayton Sellars, 0-0-0-0.00
Hunter Ball, 0-0-0-0.00
Quentin Vaught, 0-0-0-0.00
Gage Gay, 0-0-0-0.00
Jory Markiss, 0-0-0-0.00
Josh Frost, 0-0-0-0.00
Mason Moody, 0-0-0-0.00
Francisco Morales, 0-0-0-0.00
Nate Hoey, 0-0-0-0.00
Hayden Harris, 0-0-0-0.00
Jason Landing, 0-0-0-0.00
Ky Hamilton, 0-0-0-0.00
Kache Moosman, 0-0-0-0.00
Paul Knight, 0-0-0-0.00
Chase Robbins, 0-0-0-0.00
Jake Maher, 0-0-0-0.00
Dallee Mason, 0-0-0-0.00
Zach Miles, 0-0-0-0.00
Colt Robinson, 0-0-0-0.00
Cladson Rodolfo Vieira, 0-0-0-0.00
Jared Avina, 0-0-0-0.00

Photo courtesy of Andre Silva/Bull Stock Media