ProRodeo Sports News - Sept. 3, 2021

RODEO COACHING

Roy Lee photo

Missouri Valley College creating a star-studded rodeo pipeline B areback U. Missouri Valley College rodeo coach Ken Mason, left, works with a member of his team on riding techniques on campus.

BY TANNER BARTH M issouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo., has established a rodeo

“I decided if I was going to continue my education, I was going to get an education in bareback riding as well, it

was just a no-brainer for me to be honest with you,” said O’Connell, a 2014 MVC graduate. “If you want to be a bareback rider at the top level and you’re trying to learn how to really sharpen your tools and your craft this is the place to be.” There is a common theme among all these athletes and why they decided Missouri Valley would be the place for them, and that was Mason. Pope said he established a connection with Mason while he was still in high school, and that relationship continues to grow. “I met Coach Mason when I was in high school, and I knew that’s

tradition. It has become a school known for producing some of the best bareback riders in ProRodeo. Cowboys like three-time PRCAWorld Champion TimO’Connell, 2021Wrangler National Finals Rodeo average winner Jess Pope, five-time NFR qualifier Tanner Aus, and now Cole Franks have walked through the halls of Missouri Valley. O’Connell is one of many athletes who said enrolling at the college was a simple choice and rodeoing under longtime MVC head coach Ken Mason made the decision much easier.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/3/2021

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