PRORODEO Sports News - November 22, 2024

STEER WRESTLING Back Again Steer wrestler Dalton Massey returns to Vegas as season leader, eyes gold buckle

BY BRADY RENCK, Special to ProRodeo Sports News I nfrequent as they were, Dalton Massey had moments that made him wonder if it was all worth it. He had been bulldogging since he was 14 years old. His grandparents competed in circuit rodeo and his mom Shawn and dad Kurt competed in the arena. As did his wife Hilary, a barrel racer. When Massey married in the fall of 2022, he reached an inflection point. After coming tantalizingly near the Top 15 steer wrestlers, could he break through and reach his National Finals Rodeo, turning his passion into a more financially stable career? Not only did Massey accomplish his goal in 2023, he showed it was no fluke in 2024, ending the as the season leader with $199,262 in earnings – single-season earnings mark in his event for the second year in a row. Massey, 31, cannot wait to apply his experience during his second chance at the Thomas & Mack Center. He finished second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings in 2023 with $283,993 seeing the gold buckle slip through his grasp. “Last year was my first NFR. I had a few hiccups. I got over that. And I set another goal to get back there again. I have the opportunity to do that now. And I am going to be ready when I get out to Vegas,” said Massey, whose ramped-up workout routine helped him take his performance to the next level. “I got to ride great horses this year and drew good steers at great rodeos. Fortunately, I was able to capitalize on them.” Massey began his march back to the desert with a strong performance in Texas. Proving his 2023 season was a standard, not an outlier, Massey captured the top prize at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. He won $13,173 at the event, including $9,460 for his victorious finals run of 3.7 seconds. It put the field on notice Massey was a threat. He won several events from Reno to Alberta the last several months. It only narrowed his focus to improve on his 2023 NFR showing. Massey placed second in the world standings after finishing sixth in the average with 68.6 seconds on 10 head. He won Round 1 with a time of 3.5 seconds. Getting this close to his first gold buckle has only left him more motivated. “You have to give yourself a chance. I had an opportunity to take first with a first or second in that last go. I went at him like I do every steer and left it all out there on the table like I always do,” Massey said. “Hopefully this year I won’t have to win the round, and I won’t be in that position. And if I do, I dang sure will get out of that barrier first.”

2024 STEER WRESTLING STANDINGS 1. Dalton Massey, Hermiston, Ore. ............. $199,263 2. Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. ....................... 169,401 3. Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, Idaho ........ 153,752 4. Will Lummus, Byhalia, Miss. .................... 148,837 5. J.D. Struxness, Milan, Minn. .................... 147,266 6. Jesse Brown, Baker City, Ore. ................... 135,266 7. Don Payne, Stephenville, Texas ................ 119,939 8. Cash Robb, Altamont, Utah ...................... 110,557 9. Rowdy Parrott, Mamou, La. ...................... 108,611 10. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. ....................... 99,657 11. Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas ................. 96,382 12. Tyler Pearson, Atoka, Okla. ....................... 94,575 13. Tucker Allen, Ventura, Calif. ...................... 93,437 14. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La. ............. 92,656 15. Scott Guenthner, Consort, Alberta ............ 91,348 FROM THE CHAMP “I’m excited to be back. Looking at how this year was about halfway

through the summer I was worried about being able to get back to the Thomas & Mack. Thankfully we were able to get it pulled off in those last two months of the year. I know

Steer wrestler Dalton Massey, shown competing at the Clovis (Calif.) Rodeo, had another great regular season as he set the single season earnings mark in his event – before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge – with $199,263. Stu Hagen photo photo

Waguespack

I’m coming in 14th, but I think it is anybody’s ballgame with the amount of money we can win at the NFR.” – Tyler Waguespack

QUOTABLE “Last year was my first NFR. I had a few hiccups. I got over that. And I set another goal to get back there again. I have the opportunity to do that now. And I am going to be ready when I get out to Vegas.” – Dalton Massey

ProRodeo Sports News 11/22/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 11/22/2024

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

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