ProRodeo Sports News - April 1, 2022

knows what he’s talking about,” Erickson said. “He knows what body parts we use in steer wrestling and what strains you might be getting from every run. He understands what muscles groups are being used and how best to help you. He has definitely helped me. “Will is one of the best-hearted guys I know. He’s truly on your team and I love traveling with him.” Hass, a four-time NFR qualifier, concurred with Erickson. “Will knows what he’s doing,” Hass said. “He can do the suction cups, work out knots, tape you up, he can do it all,” Hass said. “That’s pretty nice because it is like traveling with a SportsMed guy.” Tyler Waguespack, a three PRCAWorld Champion Steer Wrestler (2016, 2018, 2021), pinpointed a time last season where Lummus helped him get things right where he could successfully compete. “All of us out here want our buddies to win just as much as we want to win.” Waguespack said. “Will is always one who will be willing to lend a hand. Last year, I had problems with my (right) shoulder in the Northwest and for about three weeks straight before every run, Will would work on it for me. He had different exercises we could use, and he used cupping deals on me. What he did, allowed me to compete for those runs and helped get me through it. No telling what it would have taken if I would had to go through therapy with SportsMed because they are not at every rodeo, but Will is. It is great having him there. It is great he has the degrees behind him, and all of us trust him because our friend.” Waguespack, who is fromGonzales, La., has been friends with Lummus since junior high. “We have been great buddies forever,” Waguespack said. “We grew up together going to junior rodeos. His family and my entire family are great friends. I love the fact that Will is a steer wrestler because he knows what muscles are going to strained and how much they will strained. It is extremely handy to have him at your disposal and the best thing about Will is he will go

out of his way to help anybody. That’s what makes Will such a great person, bulldogger, what have you, is that he’s willing to do anything to help anybody else out there.” Lummus acknowledge his physical approach to steer wrestling is simple. “A lot of guys go to the gym and work out and do all kinds of things and I don’t really do much of that,” Lummus said. “I just fix what is hurt or broken or whatever and then I let my body do what it is supposed to do. That’s how I have always done things.” Some people grow up and align themselves on a career path but that wasn’t the case for Lummus when it came to his education. “I really don’t know why I followed that direction,” Lummus said. “I was in college, and I enjoyed the classes I was taking and decided to keep going further with it.” Lummus, a four-time NFR qualifier, who finished a career-best second in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings in 2021, is glad to have his degrees in his pocket, especially when it comes to his post rodeo career. “One day I would like (to use those degrees) once I get some stuff paid off and get set up,” Lummus said. In addition to his rodeoing, Lummus, who is married to his wife Jenna since 2017, also has his own fencing company -- Diamond L Services LLC in Byhalia, Miss. “I started the fencing company at the end of 2020 during COVID,” Lummus said. “I had bills to pay and stuff to pay off. I build any kind of steel fence you can think of, and I build a lot of gates, hang a lot of gates, and do a lot of entrances. I have one guy who helps me, one of my best buddies I grew up with. He shoes horses and when he’s not shoeing horses he comes and helps me. It works out good.” Lummus also loves lending his hand to his aching competitors, “A lot still don’t really know about it (his physical therapy background),” Lummus said. “If a guy comes over, I help them.”

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee Will Lummus competes in Round 1 of the Wrangler NFR presented by Teton Ridge in Las Vegas. Lummus finished a career-best second in the world standings in 2021.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/1/2022

ProRodeo.com

45