2019 PRCA Media Guide - 2018 World Champions

2018 WORLD CHAMPIONS

TimO’Connell won his third consecutive bareback riding world championship with $319,801 at the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

All-Around

Trevor Brazile Brazile earns 14th all-around title

One of the most decorated rodeo careers in PRCA history ended on a high note. Trevor Brazile won his 14th PRCA-record All- Around gold buckle a fewweeks after announcing that the 2018 season marked the last time he would rodeo full time. He now has an abbreviated schedule so he can spendmore time with his family. “The first question everybody wants to ask is you can’t go out now,” he said at the end of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “But the competitor in me, this is the only way to go out. I hadn’t roped well this week, and I ended up with three round wins. But I also ended up with three two loops, and that’s the most I’ve ever had. It was a special night.Winning doesn’t make it harder for me to walk away, it makes it easier because that’s the way I wanted to go out.” At the close of the 60th Wrangler

chance,”Brazile said.“I had to win the round and do some certain things, but it was at least a chance, and as a competitor that’s all you can ask for.” Brazile’s victory boiled down to the 7.2-second tie-down roping run he made in Round 10. “I’m just thankful for second chances,”he said. “I’m a living testimony that hard work pays off. There are more guys with natural talent out there, I will be the first to admit it. For everybody who is thinking about being a champion in their field, they need to know that hard work pays off. It will surpass everything in the end.” His all-around accumulation in 2018 came from $194,297 in tie-down roping, $105,118 in steer roping and $52,143 in team roping heading. – PRCA Staff

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Phil Doyle

NFR, Brazile added his 24th gold buckle and tallied his 71st career go-round win at the Wrangler NFR – both PRCA records. Brazile has won world titles in all-around (2002-04, 2006-15, 2018); tie-down roping (2007, 2009-10); team roping (2010) and steer roping (2006-07, 2011, 2013-15). With somuchmoney on the table, Brazile was in a three-way race for the all-around with his brother-in-lawTuf Cooper and Wrangler NFR first-timer Rhen Richard. “It’s a really unique situation because I love him (Cooper) somuch, and I’m his biggest fan too,” Brazile said. “It’s a crazy dynamic that we’ve lived for so long, but I can’t wait to just sit back and be able to watch him instead of competing against him.” Going into Round 10, Brazile trailed Cooper by $12,331 in the all-around race. Winning the round with a 7.2-second run and earning $26,231 was the deciding factor. Brazile finished with $335,680 to hold off Cooper ($310,357) and Richard ($274,724). “When I came into Round 10, I was honestly so thankful that I had another

At the 2018 Wrangler NFR, Brazile won his 14th all-around world championship, 24th gold buckle and 71st career go- round win.

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2018 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Bareback Riding

Tim O’Connell O’Connell overcomes challenging season

Tim O’Connell spent the 2018 regular season proving he could battle back fromwhatever rodeo threw at him. He had no trouble doing the same at the 60th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. O’Connell won his third straight bareback riding world championship after his final ride in 2018 (at the Wrangler NFR), winning with $319,801. “It’s surreal,”said O’Connell, 27.“It was a battle fromDay 1.The season started slow, it picked up. It was a fight through the end of the season. It came down tome leaving it all on the line when it came down to the 10th round.” In his two prior seasons, the Zwingle, Iowa, cowboy held leads of $40,668 (in 2016) and $65,259 (2017). His lead heading into the 2018Wrangler NFR was nowhere near those numbers. O’Connell’s lead before Round 1 kicked off was $14,822. He lost the top spot after Round 7; it took a Round 9-win (a 90-point ride on Cervi Champion- ship Rodeo’sVitalix Ain’t No Angel) for O’Connell to regain the lead. He held that lead through Round

10, earning a split of the average and his third consecutive gold buckle. Only seven bareback riders have won four or more world championships. HisWrangler NFR performance was something he fought internally throughout the Finals. It wasn’t until Round 9 O’Connell believed he was on track. He finished by splitting the average with Steven Dent with 849.5 points on 10 head. “I had plenty of sleepless nights, anxiety and was sick to my stomach wondering what’s going on out here,”said O’Connell, who also won Round 3 with an 88.5-point ride on Powder River Rodeo’s Craig at Midnight. “I had this peace about me going into the second eliminator round, and I feel I came and shined at that point. I felt I was backed into a corner and God told me to fight – and I fought.” All those challenges, plus the enjoyment of his first child, son, Hazen, made title No. 3 special. O’Connell said he will feel that every time he dons his new buckle. “I wear them all,”

2018 WORLD CHAMPIONS

he said. “I got a belt made last year that had a 2x on it. I’m going to get a belt made this year that’s going to have a 3x on it. And I’m going to hang it. People ask, ‘Why don’t you keep that in a safe?’This is something cherished tome. I live for these moments. I live to come out on top, and I’mdoing every- thing in my power to be the best in the world. I want my son to see this. I want my family to see this. I’m very proud of these buckles, and I’m going to show them to the world.”’ – Scott Kaniewski

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

O’Connell earned his third consecutive bareback riding world title at the 2018 Wrangler NFR. Only seven bareback riders have won four or more world championships.

2019 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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Steer Wrestling Tyler Waguespack Waguespack clinches second world title

Tyler Waguespack is once again the king of PRCA’s steer wrestlers. The Gonzales, La., cowboy won his second world championship in the last three years with a memorable run Dec. 15 at the 2018 Wrangler National Finals. Waguespack won the gold buckle by earning $260,013 ($180,429 of that at the Wrangler NFR), the most of any steer wrestler. Waguespack won the average and world championship, just like he did in 2016. “This feels just like the first one, and this one feels incredible,”he said.“We worked hard all year long and it paid off in the end.” Waguespack arrived in Las Vegas ranked 10th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $79,584, but he rocketed to the top by placing in six rounds and winning Rounds 1 and 8. “This takes hours and hours of practice, great horsepower and great traveling partners,”he said. Heading into Round 10, Waguespack was leading the world standings by $4,389 over regular-season leader Curtis Cassidy. The X-factor for Waguespack was that he was leading the

average, while Cassidy was tied for 11th and out of the average money. By Round 10, all Waguespack needed to do to secure the world title was catch his steer. That way, he would finish at least third in the average and earn at minimum $43,154. “I knew after the ninth round if I could go in and win the average, the world title would take care of itself,”he said.“I was just making sure to go out there, make a good solid run in the last round and get the job done.” And that’s what he did. Waguespack’s 5.1-second run didn’t place in Round 10, but it clinched the average crown and powered him to the world championship by $43,251. Waguespack said he has come a longway since joining the PRCA in 2012, making his Wrangler NFR debut in 2015 and finishing 11th in the world standings. “I’ve grown a ton since I was first here at the Thomas & Mack Center,” said the 6-foot-1, 190-pound world champion. “I just have more confidence in this building, and that helped me out a bunch.Your nerves are still going everywhere but experience gives you the upper hand.” Waguespack was also

quick to credit the horse he competed on named Scooter, the two-time PRCA | AQHA Horse of theYear for steer wrestling. The horse is owned by his traveling partners Tyler Pearson (the 2017 PRCA Steer Wrestling World Champion) and Kyle Irwin, a four-time Wrangler NFR qualifier. Waguespack also travels withTy Erickson, who is a five-time consecutive NFR qualifier. “Horsepower is a blessing in this event,” Waguespack said. “The better horse, the better you can perform. My traveling partners also helpme a ton. We feed off one another.” – Tracy Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

Waguespack entered the Finals ranked 10th in the world standings, but rocketed to the top by placing in six rounds and winning two.

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2018 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Saddle Bronc Riding

Wade Sundell Sundell earns gold at his eighth NFR

Eight might be Wade Sundell’s lucky number. Thanks to picking up eight checks during his eighth trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the Boxholm, Iowa, cowboy was crowned the 2018 Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion. “Words can’t explain it, it’s amazing,” Sundell said. “I’ve been trying to do it since the first time here, but I’m glad it came and hope there’s more to come.” Sundell has competed at every Wrangler NFR from2009-15. He nearly won theworld twice before, finishing second in 2010 and 2015. “It’s the gold buckle and what everyone wants, it’s the greatest thing ever,” he said immediately after winning the title.“Everyone shoots for it, and it’s what you always work for. Before tonight, I felt good and kept firing away at them.” Sundell won Round 5 with a 92-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s MedicineWoman, the same bronc

“I’d seen her before and knew she would have some moves, and there were a few more than I thought,” he said. “She lived up to every bit of it.” By then, Sundell had climbed from eighth to fifth in the world standings at $194,329 with three rounds left to go. “Just being here is the coolest thing you ever get to do,” he said. “Every day is like the first time. It doesn’t matter where you go or what you do, I’m just glad to be here.” Scoring 85.5 points in Round 8 and then placing second and fourth in the last two rounds, pushed Sundell to the top of the 2018 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $280,636. He won by a margin of $18,202. “Just go day by day and do what you’ve been doing your whole life,”Sundell said.“Keep your chin down and have fun riding bucking horses.” – Matt Naber

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Billie-Jean Duff 2018 WORLD CHAMPIONS

that was the deciding factor in CoBurn Bradshaw’s average win, after nailing a 92-point ride in Round 10. “I told (flankman) Heath Stewart earlier that they (the crowd) were needing to be wowed and that he was about to see something he hadn’t seen in a while,” Sundell said. “I was stoked to have that one. It’s the best she has ever been with me, so I bared down and had fun.” Sundell and Medicine Woman are familiar with each other. Sundell had another 92-point ride on her in the final round of the 2014 Dodge City (Kan.) Roundup Rodeo. “It was everything I figured it would be,”he said.“She wanted to stall out, so I kept gassing on her.” Sundell went on to split the win in Round 7 with Chase Brooks, when both cowboys made 90-point rides. Sundell did it aboard Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Total Equines Angel Fire. The 90 points tied the round record set by Billy Etbauer in 2009. Sundell had never ridden Angel Fire, but said he had a good idea of what the bronc might do.

Sundell won his first saddle bronc riding world championship after placing in eight rounds at the 2018 Wrangler NFR.

2019 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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Team Roping

Clay Smith (header) Smith/Eaves win the

Although team roping header Clay Smith entered the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in first place and heeling partner Paul Eaves was in second – both with $115,345 – the duo had a long race ahead of them for the gold buckle. They took that long race in stride, pulling away in the latter stages of the Wrangler NFR to claim their first world championships in their respec- tive events, while setting single-season records by finishing with $289,921. Entering the Finals, Smith had a slim $392 lead over No. 2 header Kaleb Driggers, while Eaves was $591 behind Driggers’partner, Junior Nogueira. So, doing well in the average was essential. With high payoffs and fans, family and sponsors watching closely, the pressure was on for Smith and Eaves.

Round 1 was a chance to set the early tone, but during their first run, Smith and Eaves missed the steer and recorded a no time, while Driggers and Nogueira pulled into the lead. But during Round 2, Smith and Eaves posted a 4.0-second run, winning the round and pulling Smith within $3,838 of Driggers in heading and Eaves within $4,822 of Nogueira in heeling. “It sure helped to get some money the second round,”said Smith, 27.“We’re going to keep going at them and see what happens. That’s all we can do, keep making the best round we can make.”  Smith and Eaves split for fifth in Round 3 and won Round 5, which enabled them to pull back into the lead of their respective events.Their 3.8-second win in the fifth roundmoved Smith and Eaves from sixth to fifth in the average.

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2018 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Team Roping

Paul Eaves (heeler) battle in team roping Eaves said the steer was a big factor in the victory.

do. There’s no difference between here and when we go to Odessa (Texas). It’s just the same routine.” By Round 10, Smith and Eaves put together a team roping championship run. They stopped the clock in 4.4 seconds to clinch third in the average – 34.5 seconds on eight head. They each cashed in for $174,577 at the Finals. “It’s everything we’ve worked for,” Smith said. “We just stayed aggressive and tried to win some- thing on every one of them (the steers). We were catching them, getting good checks and that’s a big advantage.” The duo remained strong in the average and weathered the storm at the 2018 Wrangler NFR. – Amber Baillie

“The steer was really good, one of the better steers we’ve drawn,” said Eaves, 28. “Tonight, he was pretty straight, and it makes a difference to be fast. Everything came together.” During Round 6, they added $15,654 to their bank accounts, placing third in the round and building nearly $30,000 leads on their closest competitors. Despite the big payoffs at the Wrangler NFR, the duo tried not to treat the Finals different than other rodeos. “The same as we would at a regular rodeo,” Smith said. “We make sure the horses are warmed up and that’s really it, we just focus on what we need to

2018 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Smith and Eaves won their first team roping world titles after placing third in the average at the 2018 Wrangler NFR and finishing with a single- season record of $289,921.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

2019 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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Tie-down Roping

Caleb Smidt Smidt captures second title with consistency

Cowboys like Shane Hanchey,Tuf Cooper,Tyson Durfey and Trevor Brazile were prominent in the conversationwhen talking about the potential 2018 PRCA Tie-down Roping World Champion. Caleb Smidt, the 2015 Tie-down RopingWorld Champion, flew under the radar. But following Round 10 at the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the Bellville, Texas, cowboy was basking in the spotlight with the gold buckle. “This is awesome,” Smidt said. Smidt earned $232,817 to finish atop the 2018 PRCA | RAM World Standings. Cooper placed second with $205,268, while Brazile was third with $194,297. Smidt entered theWrangler NFR in eighth place, but zoomed past all his competitors, thanks to winning $142,846 in Las Vegas, the most of any tie-down roper. A large chunk of Smidt’s Vegas winnings – $67,269 – came from winning the average, which he also won in 2015.

“It has been a few years, but this one means a lot more to me than the first one,”he said.“The first one I was young, and I was just roping. (In 2018) I came out here to rope and do it for my family. To have another world championship and average championship is awesome.” Smidt won the average with an 83.7-second time on 10-head. He did that with consistent performances night in and night out. He placed in six rounds and won Round 1 with a 7.6-second run. This was Smidt’s fifth trip to the Wrangler NFR (2013, 2015-18) since he joined the PRCA in 2012. All the pressure to win a world championship was on Smidt in Round 10. A no-time would cost him both buckles. If he stopped the clock in 12.8 seconds or better, he could win the average, and he did it with an 8.1-second effort, splitting sixth place in the final round. “I wanted to do the same thing I’ve been doing all week,” Smidt said. “I got good starts and drew

some really good calves. I’m just glad to be right here right now.” Smidt was quick to credit his horse, Pockets, for fueling his success. “Pockets is 11 years old, and I’ve had him for four years,” he said. “I won the world on him in 2015. He’s awesome. I didn’t ride him all summer. I rode a couple calves on himbefore I came out here (to the Wrangler NFR). He made it easy enough for me, and now we’ve got two gold buckles.” Cooper praised Smidt for his ability. “Caleb is an amazing roper, and he did such a great job,” he said. “It has been a rough year for him. He’s overcome adversity, and he and his family have known what to focus on, which is the Lord.” – Tracy Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

Smidt entered the Wrangler NFR in eighth place, but zoomed past his competition after winning $142,846, the most of any tie-down roper.

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2018 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Bull Riding Sage Kimzey Kimzey wins record fifth title

Sage Kimzey continued to write PRCA history when he won his fifth consecutive world title with $415,263. He is the first bull rider to do so since the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo started 60 years ago. Only four bull riders have as many world titles as Kimzey, and all of them are ProRodeo Hall of Famers: Smokey Snyder (1931-32, 1935-37), Harry Tompkins (1948-50, 1952, 1960), Jim Shoulders (1951, 1954-59) and Don Gay (1974-77, 1979-81, 1984). Shoulders is the only other cowboy to win five straight titles in bull riding. His fifth came in 1959, the first year of the National Finals Rodeo. “Anytime your name is by Jim Shoulders, you are in a league you can’t put into words,” said Kimzey, 24. “He is one of the greatest cowboys of all time, and it means the world to me.” Earlier this season, Kimzey shattered the record he set in 2017 ($237,152) when he ended the 2018 regular season with $297,026, including ground money.

“Sometimes I question myself why I do this, but every time I get down in the dumps, I think back to the 6-year-old me who would kill for the opportunity to be a beacon of light in the world and spread some good,” Kimzey said. Kimzey entered theWrangler NFRwith $111,550 – the biggest lead of any event leader – separating him from Parker Breding. “This year was tough, it was just sheer grit and determination from the start of the year,”he said.“It startedwith a fractured pelvis, and it was a 365-day grind. Going in with a big lead, then getting hurt in the first round – it was a brutal 10 days. It was hard to get out of bed.” Despite bucking off four in a row, Kimzey’s position at the top of the world standings was untouchable until Round 10. “You hear about it being the toughest 10 days of the sport,”he said.“Before this year, I didn’t think that was true and never had an issue beforehand. But this year, in Round 1 on through, I was fighting tooth and nail for what I could get, but today was a proverbial cherry on top.” Kimzey pulled

2018 WORLD CHAMPIONS

out all the stops in the final round, nailing a 93-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Record Rack’s Shootin’Stars. “It was a dogfight to the end this year, and that’s when you learn the most about who you are as a competitor and as a person,” he said. “It was one of those things where I had several oppor- tunities to give up and never did, and that’s the biggest thing I took out of this week.” – Matt Naber

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Billie-Jean Duff

Kimzey earned his fifth straight bull ridingworld title at the 2018Wrangler NFR. He is the first bull rider to do so since theWrangler NFR inception in 1959.

2019 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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Steer Roping

Scott Snedecor Snedecor earns fourth world title

With a gold buckle at stake in the last round, Scott Snedecor shined. The Fredericksburg, Texas, cowboy earned his second-consecutive gold buckle by winning Round 10, with an impressive 9.0-second time at the 2018 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping in Mulvane, Kan. Snedecor, who also won world titles in 2005, 2008 and 2017, finishedwith $122,930 in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings to edge regular-season leader Tuf Cooper who placed second with $113,157. “This is awesome,” said Snedecor, 43. “(At my first NFSR) I just wanted to win a world title, and it didn’t matter whether I won another one or not. Now, I have a buckle for everybody in my family.” Snedecor and his wife Kelli have two children, son, Colton and daughter, Kallyn. When Snedecor backed into the box for Round 10, he trailed Cooper by $4,096. To clinch the title, Snedecor had to win Round 10 – which paid $9,155 – and earn a check in the

average race. If Snedecor did that, Cooper would be unable to catch him. That’s exactly how things unfolded. In addition to winning Round 10, Snedecor took home $13,202 for finishing fourth in the average with a 92.8-second time on eight head. Cody Lee won the average with a 132.0-second time on 10 head. “I don’t crunch numbers anymore, that’s not my deal,” Snedecor said. “I practiced and prepared for this. I focused on doing what I do and having fun.” For the second year in a row, Snedecor won the world championship riding Possum. “Possum is an outstanding equine athlete,” Snedecor said.“Stephen Stransky owns that horse. It doesn’t matter what circumstance you put that horse in, he’s great under any condition, long score and short score. He’s easy to rope on, and I’m lucky to have a buddy like that to let me take that horse when I need him.” Snedecor won Rounds 2 and 10 and split the win in Round 1. His round wins were the most of

any NFSR competitor. He earned $51,086 at the NFSR, the most of any cowboy. By winning Round 2 with a 10.9-second time, SnedecoralsowontheColby GoodwinAward.TheSecond Go-Round Award is given in honor of the late Goodwin, whopassedawayafterbeing injured in theninth roundof the 1999 NFSR. Snedecor joins steer roper Rocky Patterson with four gold buckles. Only legendary Guy Allen (18), Everett Shaw (6) andTrevor Brazile (6) have more steer roping gold buckles than Snedecor and Patterson. Snedecor has won a total of 26 rounds at the NFSR, which is the third best of all time, trailing Allen (48) and Brazile (35). – Tracy Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

Snedecor won his second straight steer roping gold buckle after an impressive Round 10-win at the 2018 NFSR.

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2018 WORLD CHAMPIONS