ProRodeo Sports News - 2021 Year End Edition

STEER WRESTLING AVERAGE WINNER

Steer wrestler Will Lummus acknowledges the crowd after winning Round 8 with a time of 3.40 seconds at the 2021 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Roseanna Sales

Lummus Looms Large

Will Lummus wins first NFR average title in 2021

BY TANNER BARTH W ill Lummus came into the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge with one thing in mind and that was winning a gold buckle in his fourth trip to the NFR. At the end of the 10 days of competition he fell

Lummus finished the 2021 ProRodeo regular season second in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $248,168. The highest amount he’s earned in a single season during his 10-year PRCA career. He said going to the Finals makes everybody step up and push for fast times. “That’s the name of the game here because you

know nobody else is backing off that barrier,” Lummus said. “So, if you back off, you’re just putting yourself at a disadvantage. Sometimes it feels like it’s all or nothing here in Vegas. “You’ve got to run at it every night and I do think it probably did cost me some money this week, but again I’m stoked and couldn’t be happier to be going home the average champ.” Lummus was thrilled with his payday in Vegas but said this will impact much more than him when it’s all said and done. “My wife and I are building a house, so that’s going to come in really handy,” he said. “On the flip side of that I get to pay a great guy and friend that let me ride his horse all year. Clayton Haas wasn’t blessed to make the Finals this year, so I’m grateful to be able to bless him and family and kids with some of the money I made here in Vegas. This sport is truly a family affair.”

just short, finishing second behind now three-time PRCAWorld Champion Tyler Waguespack, but he secured the next best thing. The Byhaila, Miss., steer wrestler took home his first NFR average title, winning $169,152 in Las Vegas. “That’s the second best buckle you can win in rodeo,” said Lummus, 29. “I’m glad that I had a chance to win one this year. Man, I’m stoked.” Lummus placed is six out of the 10 rounds at the NFR with wins in Rounds 4 and 8. He said his mentality coming into the week was to push the barrier on every single run. He acknowledged that mindset may have hurt him at times, but he doesn’t have any regrets. “Being steady in this sport wins the race most of the time, but not always,” Lummus said. “There were dang sure some (steers) I probably should’ve done better on, and it would’ve given me a little bit of better chance to win the gold buckle, but you know honestly I couldn’t be happier with my performance, and I couldn’t be happier withWaguespack winning the gold buckle.”

ProRodeo Sports News 12/17/2021

ProRodeo.com

32