PRORODEO Sports News - August 9, 2024

CHEYENNE, WYO. BY ALEX DODD & TANNER BARTH Jorgenson ups the ante

Clay Jorgenson had just over $40,000 on his ledger when he made his debut at the Cheyenne Frontier Days short round. The 28-year-old bareback rider paired up with Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail for a 90-point trip to earn the biggest win of his career. “This is huge. This is a legendary rodeo, the Daddy of ‘Em All,” Jorgenson said. “To get my name up there with a bunch of great guys who have won this rodeo before, it hasn’t really processed yet. It’s an unbelievable feeling, and I’m so blessed.” Since joining PRORODEO in 2020, Jorgenson battled injuries while trying to make a name for himself. “This is by far the biggest win I’ve had in my career,” he said. “It’s been an injury riddled couple of years. So, to come out on top of this, I feel on top of the world.” Orin Larsen and Wacey Schalla tied for second with a pair of 89-point rides. Larsen rode Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls’ Land of Fancy, and Schalla made his push aboard Stace Smith Rodeos’ Risky Business. Jorgenson knew he had a shot at big money when he drew Game Trail, a three-time NFR bucking horse. “It felt like it was going to be pretty big,” he said. “That horse was electric and bailing in the air. You can kind of tell when you’re on a horse like that if you do your job, which it felt like I did, that it should be good.” Jorgenson bumped up to 25th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings after picking up $11,734 during his trip to Cheyenne. He hopes a solid July proves a shot in the arm down the back stretch of the season.

Laura Storey photo Clay Jorgenson captured the biggest win of his career by defeating a star-studded field with his 90-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail in Cheyenne. Gray hangs tight to win bull riding T.J. Gray continued a stellar stretch at Cheyenne Frontier Days. The 23-year-old from Dairy, Ore., entered the event fresh off wins at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, and the Utah Days of ‘47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City. He kept the good times rolling at the ‘Daddy of ‘Em All’. Gray held on for a 90-point ride on Dakota Rodeo’s No Dose to win the bull riding at Frontier Park and further cement his place in the Top 15 of the PRCA | RAM World Standings. “It’s absolutely awesome,” Gray said of his win. “This is a legendary rodeo, and just being here for the first time was awesome. And being able to come out with a win is just incredible.” Ky Hamilton finished second with an 88-point trip on Stace Smith Rodeos’ Trump Train. Wacey Schalla finished third with an 83-point ride on Dakota Rodeo’s Big Time. “That was a handful,” Gray said. “I was in my fingertips in my bull rope from the first jump. And it was a lot of grit. That was about it. I didn’t have too much going through my mind other than trying to make it another go.” Gray finished fourth in the third performance with an 82.5-point trip and second in the fourth performance with an 83.5-point ride to earn $2,380. His final go brought in an additional $8,247. He sat sixth in the world standings on Aug. 8 and looks poised to make his first trip to the NFR. “I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries and stuff (in the past), so this year I tried to take it a little slower through the wintertime,” Gray said. “Being able to stay healthy for a longer period of time, you can get in a better grove…and (now) I’m expecting myself to be the winner.”

Laura Storey photo Bull rider T.J. Gray continued his scorching hot summer by claiming the victory at Cheyenne with a 90-point ride on Dakota Rodeo’s No Dose in the finals.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/9/2024

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