PRORODEO Sports News - February 21, 2025

ON FIRE MACON MURPHY EARNS BIG WIN AT DIXIE NATIONAL

By Lexi Gieck W hile he's been pursuing gold buckle dreams since his first appearance at the National Finals Rodeo in 2022, Macon Murphy has been on a hot streak thus far in the 2025 PRORODEO season. Leading into the Dixie National Rodeo, Murphy cashed checks in Fort Worth and San Antonio that got his momentum going – momentum he's been waiting on for quite some time. While his first calf in Jackson, Miss., wasn't an ideal draw, everything came together for the 25-year-old tie-down roper as he progressed through the rounds. Murphy went on to win the average at 16.7 seconds on two head. "My first-round calf wasn't the greatest," Murphy said. “It was a fuller, stronger calf that didn't have a good track record before or after me, but it all worked out." While his opening run at 8.1 seconds (fourth in the round) solidified his spot to keep roping, it meant more to Murphy than most know. "That was my first weekend back on a good horse, Wes, and he leveled the playing field for me with cattle," Murphy said. “He took care of me."

Murphy strung together an 8.6-second run to place fifth in the second round and ultimately earn the average title, besting Zack Jongbloed’s time of 17.3 seconds on two head. "It was a good feeling for me. It counted for a lot of things and allowed me to check a few boxes in one rodeo," Murphy said. "This win counted towards the world standings. I earned points and it was in my circuit." As the winter run continues to heat up, Murphy feels confident. And now he has both of his favorite hors es in the trailer. "My go-to is my bay, Julian, he gets about 15 or 20 rodeos a year," Murphy said. "But Wes takes the heat of Julian. He's a huge part of my career and my success." As a calf roper, having horses you can trust to do their job plays a vital role in your success. "The last thing you want to do is get in the box and worry about if your horse is going to work," Murphy said. "It's a huge weight off my shoulders knowing that my horses are going to work every time. It's nice not having to worry."

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