ProRodeo Sports News - March 19, 2021

THE AMERICAN ARLINGTON, TEXAS

Rogers, Bray cash in once again The grass turned out to be just as green across the street for team ropers Erich Rogers and Paden Bray. After winning the average at the

2020Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Dec. 12, the duo cashed in for $100,000 apiece next door at AT&T Stadium during RFD-TV’s The American, March 7. Rogers and Bray clocked a 5.05-second time to win the four-team Shoot-Out for the first time. “When I got the opportunity to rope with Erich (last year) I knew I just had to focus on my job and just do me,” said Bray, 22. “A guy who ropes as good as he does is just going to give a young guy like me a lot of opportunities. He’s the quarterback. I’m the receiver. The amount of money we’ve won together has been absolutely outstanding.” Rogers had a simple approach in the Shoot-Out. “The mindset was just go catch

Lisa Duty photo Team ropers Eric Rogers, right, and Paden Bray won the Shoot-Out at RFD-TV’s The American with a 5.05-second time. Between The American and the 2020 Wrangler NFR, Rogers and Bray earned $222,962 each.

and do the best we could on the stock they drew us,” said Rogers, 34. “Shoot, that steer was one of the best in the herd for today and we made use of him and did what we had to do. It was a great feeling to be back in the spotlight like this in a big stadium and win.” Rogers and Bray advanced to the Shoot-Out by winning the eight- team semifinals with a 5.17-second run. Rogers enteredThe American seventh in the world standings with $10,282 and rocketed to first place with $60,282. Bray was fifth among

heelers but also jumped to first in his event with the same amount of money. Last season, Rogers and Bray placed third and second in their respective world standings with $175,503 each. They earned an event-best $122,962 at the 2020 NFR. They won Round 1 at the 2020 NFR in 4.8 seconds and placed in five total rounds.

Hooper wins aboard streaking Gun Fire

WinningThe American with a 90.5-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire launched bareback rider Tilden Hooper from 25th to first in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $55,000. Hooper is a seven-time qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo (2008-09, 2011, 2014, 2018-20) with 15 years of ProRodeo competition under his belt, but he’s yet to win a gold buckle. That could change this season thanks to the $50,000 boost in the world standings he earnedMarch 7. Hooper earned $100,000 for the win, with $50,000 counting toward the standings. While nothing is guaranteed, it’s a safe bet that Hooper will be in the yellow chutes at the Wrangler NFR in December. “Fifty-thousand dollars in the world standings this early is great, and $100,000 for myself and my family is life-changing money and it’s much appreciated, and we thank everyone involved for making this happen,” said Hooper, 33. “Every time you win a big, prestigious rodeo like this it’s really hard to describe, but it doesn’t compare to anything and none

of them ever do. It’s one of the best feelings in my life and it’s just awesome.” Hooper kicked offThe American with an 86.25-point ride onThe Cervi Brothers’ Ain’t No Angel on March 6 to advance to Sunday’s eight-man semifinals. March 7 started with a third-place, 85.5-point ride on C5 Rodeo’s Black Eye to advance to the four-man Shoot-Out with TimO’Connell, Cole Reiner and Kaycee Feild. Hooper knew he was in for a good ride when he drew Gun Fire for the Shoot-Out, having posted an 89-point ride on her at Rodeo Corpus Christi (Texas) in 2017. A week beforeThe American, Clayton Biglow won his first San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo title with a San Antonio record-tying ride of 93 points on Gun Fire. “God puts opportunities in front of us, and whenever he puts an opportunity in front of you like this, I feel like it’s my job to take advantage of it, and that’s dang sure what I was trying to do,” Hooper said.

Jake Link photo Tilden Hooper smiles as he looks into the eyes of his 2-month-old son, Tell McClain, after winning RFD-TV’s The American for the first time.

ProRodeo Sports News 3/19/2021

ProRodeo.com

34