PRORODEO Sports News - July 26, 2024

SHERIDAN, WYO.

SHERIDAN WYO RODEO

Finding a Way

Borrowed horses help lead steer wrestler Jang to win BY ALEX RILEY, Special to ProRodeo Sports News J ust before the ProRodeo summer schedule started, steer wrestler Kodie Jang faced a tough decision. Jang and his wife are working to build a home, leaving the couple with the need to secure as much financing as possible for the project. They made the difficult choice to sell Jang’s primary horse and use the money to help with construction. That left the Queensland, Australia, product without his own ride moving forward. Fortunately, Jang has a network of supportive friends willing to help – they just so happen to also be his competitors. Over the last few weeks, Jang has used other cowboys’ horses at rodeos to make his runs, resulting in some positive outcomes. The biggest came in Mid-July when Jang captured the Sheridan WYO Rodeo steer wrestling average title after finishing his two runs in a combined 8.1 seconds, resulting in a $6,945 payday. “I’ve got quite a few friends that like to help me out whenever I’ve sold a horse before and been bumming around on horses. They know when I sell a horse, they’re like, ‘All right, he’s going to call here before too long,’” Jang said with a laugh. At Sheridan, it was Walt Arnold’s horse that Jang borrowed to get the win. A week before, he asked Austin Eller for help at the Rooftop Rodeo in Estes Park, Colo., which also resulted in a championship and more than $3,600 in earnings. Both victories were significant for Jang as he jockeys for position in the Mountain States Circuit Rodeo standings. With about $21,000 in earnings prior to the win at Sheridan, Jang now believes he’s all but assured himself of a spot in his circuit finals, which could set him up for a chance to run at the NFR Open next summer. But he has no intention of slowing down now. “I’ve been chipping away, winning here and there,” Jang said. “I got the win at Estes Park and now the win at Sheridan, so I think I have my circuit finals made now and hopefully I can keep going along and hopefully just keep chipping away and making money.” While Jang already has a loaner horse from Brian Anderson lined up for his upcoming runs at the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo, he’s taking a moment to savor the win at Sheridan. Last year, he finished fourth at the event, a career-high that left him wanting to come back and compete again. While he might have needed to borrow a horse to get the job done, he now has a coveted prize many cowboys are proud to wear. Jang feels blessed to join the group of Sheridan jacket owners, thanks largely to help from some great friends. “It was a really good feeling to do good there. I’ve done good there a couple times, but never got the win at Sheridan,” Jang said. “A lot of people I rodeo with and look up to and stuff like that, they’ve always worn their championship jacket around and it’s always something I’ve wanted to win. So, I was pretty happy to get it done.”

W. Bray

P. Bray

TOP MONEY EARNER Wyatt Bray/Paden Bray ($9,985, team roping) BAREBACK RIDING TOP SCORES

1. R.C. Landingham ................... 88 pts. 2. Waylon Bourgeois ........................ 87 3. Jaceklane Frost ............................. 86 STEER WRESTLING 1. Kodie Jang .................... 8.1 sec. on 2 2. Landris White ............................. 8.4 3. Dirk Tavenner ............................... 8.6 TEAM ROPING 1. W. Bray/P. Bray ........... 10.8 sec. on 2 2. B. Mattson/T. Smith ................... 11.8 3. N. Wyatt/J. Torres ...................... 11.9 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Zachary Dallas ..................... 91.5 pts. 2. Tanner Butner ............................... 87 3. Chase Brooks ............................. 86.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Lucas Potter ............... 17.4 sec. on 2 2. Garrett Jacobs ........................... 18.4 (Tie) Dylan Hancock ................... 18.4 STEER ROPING 1. Ryan Willberg ............. 60.0 sec. on 4 2. Jake Clay .................................... 60.7 3. Seth Schafer .............................. 65.5 BULL RIDING 1. Lukasey Morris ...................... 89 pts. 2. Tipton Wilson ................................ 83 3. Tyler Taylor ................................ 81.5

Eva Scofield photo Kodie Jang won the Sheridan WYO Rodeo average title after finishing his two runs in a combined 8.1 seconds, earning a $6,945 payday.

Complete results/Page 89

ProRodeo Sports News 7/26/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 7/26/2024

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