At the 2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas…2-time world champion steer wrestler Dean Gorsuch of Gering got back in the money in last night’s Round 8, tying for 5th, but slipped to 4th in the world standings.

Only the top 6 placers in each round earn money, and the world standings add together earnings from the regular season, each round of the NFR, and the overall average placing from the NFR.

Gorsuch, an Alliance High School graduate, had gone to Las Vegas sitting 3rd and started strong by finishing 2nd in the first two rounds, but was then shut out until last night.

He trails leader and defending world champion Luke Branquinho of California by about $27,000 with 2 rounds left.

Another steer wrestler from the region…Todd Suhn of Hermosa, SD…is 9th, but just $4,200 out of 5th after finishing 4th in last night’s round.

Bareback rider Steven Dent of Mullen…who came into the NFR just $900 out of the lead…finally earned some money in Las Vegas last night, finishing 5th after not placing in the first 7 rounds. Dent has slipped all the way to 8th, some $63,000 behind overall money leader Kaycee Field of Utah..

J.R. Vezain of Cowley, Wy, continues to come on strong in the event…placing 3rd last night to remain 3rd overall about $56,000 in back of Field.

None of the 3 saddle bronc riders we’ve been following…Cole Elsher of Faith, SD, Cort Scheer of Elsmere, NE,  and 2006 world champ Chad Ferley of Oelrichs…placed last night. Elsher remains 7th, but Scheer and Ferley each slipped a spot and are now 11th and 13th respectively.

In barrel racing, both Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs and Trula Churchill of Valentine earned money last night, placing 4th and 5th respectively. Lockhart placed for the 5th straight round and now has nearly $121,000 while Churchill is at about $85,000.