PRORODEO Sports News - February 7, 2025

SOILEAU’S EARLY RUN HOLDS STEADY IN STEER WRESTLING

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avin Soileau finished the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo the same way he started it.

at 4.5 seconds. Soileau credited his horsepower for putting him in position for a big win in the Mile High City. “Winston McGraw brought his good horse Swamper up here,” he said. “He makes it so easy. He backs into the corner and stands there like a rock. When we started out of there, they did a great job hazing, and I had a good steer.” Soileau was the third guy out of the box when he moved to the top of the leaderboard and had to wait for nine more cowboys to make their runs. But he wasn’t fazed by the wait and preferred to make an early run without pressure. “I like going first,” Soileau said. “I don’t like going at the end. I just like doing my job and seeing what happens.”

The 25-year-old steer wrestler from Bunkie, La., capped a dominant stretch at the Denver Coliseum with a 4.0-second run in the finals to earn a buckle and keep his season moving in the right direction. “This is awesome,” Soileau said. “It’s my first rodeo back this year since the fall, so it’s always good to get the momentum rolling.” Soileau hit the ground running in the opening performance of Bracket 1, tying Tristan Martin for the round win at 3.9 seconds. In the second round, Soileau finished third with a 4.3-second run to clinch a spot in the semifinals. In Semifinal 1, Soileau secured a spot in the short round by tying Levi Rudd for third place

Gavin Soileau digs in during the steer wrestling final at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo. PRCA Photo by Ric Andersen

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