PRORODEO Sports News - July 26, 2024

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.

BY ALEX DODD

Partial retirement not stopping Guenthner

Maple Leaf Circuit steer wrestler Scott Guenthner has only competed in four rodeos this year but made the most of his opportunity at the NFR Open powered by RAM at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo. Guenthner mainly sticks to the circuit, to spend time with his family and work on his ranch in Canada. But he made exceptions for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, RodeoHouston, the Calgary Stampede and the NFR Open. Guenthner got the best bang for his buck during the championship round of the NFR Open with a 3.5-second run to win the rodeo and $13,000. “I just came down here because I qualified for this on the circuit,” Guenthner said. “I semi-retired to be home with my family and work on the ranch. So, I’ll be going home to the ranch and rodeoing in Canada the rest of the summer.” He pulled in $4,125 for his efforts in Pool C. He tied for third in the first round with a 5.0-second run. He won the second round with a 3.8-second time. The two times were enough to push him into the final with 8.8 seconds on two head. On Saturday, Guenthner had his work cut out for him after Gage Hesse opened with a 3.9-second run. “I was actually like, ‘Oh shucks, this just got really tough in a quick hurry.’ But I knew I had a good steer,” he recalled. “I knew he didn’t try really hard on the run in, so I knew I needed to get a good start, and it worked out, I guess. “They hadn’t done much on the steer, but from the tracks I’d seen, I thought I had a really good chance.” Guenthner’s haul this past weekend would’ve convinced a lot of cowboys to throw their hat back in the ring to chase a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification. But Guenthner already boasts four NFR appearances and prefers spending time with his family in Canada to life on the road. “I’d do 10 hours (on the road) in Canada, but it’s different when you don’t cross that border,” Guenthner said. “When you’re still in Canada, you feel like you could be home if you had to be, and it’s a lot nicer.”

Kristen Schurr photo Scott Guenthner made the most of his time in Colorado Springs, Colo. He wrapped up the steer wrestling win with a 3.5-second effort in the championship round.

ProRodeo Sports News 7/26/2024

ProRodeo.com

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