PRORODEO Sports News - November 22, 2024

ALL-AROUND COWBOY

Eyeing Gold

Mayfield making push toward first All-Around Championship

BY TANNER BARTH S had “Money” Mayfield has lived up to his name and then some in 2024. The Clovis, N.M., cowboy will head into his sixth National Finals Rodeo as the No. 1 ranked man in the world in the all-around and tie-down roping. It’s a position that Mayfield is both familiar and unfamiliar with. It will be the third time he’s entered the NFR as the season leader in tie-down roping, but his first in the all-around race. He’s earned $224,413 in the all-around this season, $34,012 ahead of three-time world champ Junior Nogueira in the No. 2 spot. 2024 marked the first year he’s made a dedicated effort to get qualified for the all-around. This season he competed in steer roping, team roping and of course tie down. It’s been a goal of Mayfield’s to compete in more events on the pro level, he made that happen this year. “Branching out in rodeo is something that I’ve always really wanted to do,” said Mayfield, the 2020 PRCA World Champion Tie-Down Roper. “I team roped all throughout junior high and high school. Then I just picked up the steer roping the last few years. “With as much money as I won during the wintertime I was sitting in a good spot, where I had a really good chance to have a good lead in the all-around as well. So, I started steer roping and won quite a bit there. Then I started doing a little team roping and won some money there as well. My plan has worked out pretty well.” He said it wouldn’t have been possible without a star studded horse underneath him. “That mare I ride, Lollipop, made a lot of things happen for me this year if I’m being honest.” Mayfield said. “She did a lot of the heavy lifting for me this year for sure. I’m excited to see what we can do in Vegas this year.” It has been anything but an easy season for Mayfield. He has been dealing with nagging hip injuries a majority of the 2024 season. He was diagnosed with a torn Labrum in both hips and Femoral Impingement after last year’s National Finals Rodeo. Instead of opting for surgery at that point, he decided to push through. “I like to fuel off of adversity. So, after hearing the stuff about my hip injuries it really made me try just that much harder and want it even more,” Mayfield said. “It’s been pretty tough at times, but I’ve been able to push through and have a record breaking season.”

2024 ALL-AROUND COWBOY STANDINGS

1. Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M. .................... $224,413 2. Junior Nogueira, Pres. Prudente, Brazil .... 190,401 3. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla. ...................185,703 4. Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla. ................. 167,953 5. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas ........................133,016 6. Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas ............... 107,547 7. Jake Clay, Sapulpa, Okla. ......................... 101,966 8. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz. ................ 99,769 9. Tyler Pearson, Atoka, Okla. ......................... 93,375 10. Bodie Mattson, Sturgis, S.D. .....................92,365 11. Brushton Minton, Witter Springs, Calif. .... 88,425 12. Zane Kilgus, Pryor, Okla. .......................... 79,161 13. Marcus Theriot, Lumberton, Miss. ............ 78,875 14. Chet Weitz, London, Texas ........................ 75,545 15. Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M. .................... 61,913

FROM THE CHAMP

“I took a lot of pride in winning the all-around last year especially with not really competing much at the Finals. It just goes to show that every rodeo big or small counts. I’ve had some really good regular seasons over the years and last year was

Tie-down roper Shad Mayfield, shown competing at the Cinch

Playoffs in September in Puyallup, Wash. Mayfield heads to the 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge as the leader in the all-around standings. Hailey Rae photo

Wright

no different. So, to actually not have a chance to win any money in Las Vegas and still find a way to win it is pretty awesome.” – Stetson Wright

QUOTABLE “I like to fuel off of adversity. So, after hearing the stuff about my hip injuries it really made me try just that much harder and want it even more.” – Shad Mayfield

ProRodeo Sports News 11/22/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 11/22/2024

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

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