ProRodeo Sports News - April 26, 2024

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS

SAN ANGELO STOCK SHOW & RODEO

BY TANNER BARTH & TRACY RENCK

Carroll/ Helton capture team roping Shay Dixon Carroll has been on the biggest stage of rodeo – qualifying as a team roping heeler three times to the Wrangler NFR in 2014, 2016 and 2020. Carroll also has worked as a team roping header in his PRCA career, which began in 2010. Well, he proved he can rope with the best team roping headers around as he and heeler Jace Helton won the title at the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo with a 13.9-second time on three head. Carroll/Helton topped a star studded field, including reigning world champions – Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, who finished second in the average with 14.2 seconds. What’s incredible about Carroll/Helton accomplishing this feat is how little they have roped together. The duo only roped two times together before the San Angelo Rodeo and San Angelo was their first PRCA-sanctioned rodeo competing as a team. “Jace and I had only roped a couple of times recently (before the San Angelo Rodeo),” said Carroll, 33. “He has come over for help in the heeling because I heeled forever. We got to know each other through a horse named HK that I made the NFR on a long time ago. We developed a friendship from that and he’s quite a bit younger than me (Helton is 21).” Carroll would love to join the select group of ropers who have qualified for the NFR in both heading and heeling. “Most of my success has been in the heeling, but I have been working at the heading for a long time,” Carroll said. “I enjoy it and I hope that I can make the NFR, but if I don’t it has been enjoyable to work at it.” After the San Angelo win, it begs the question whether the duo will keep going down the PRCA trail this season. “It always fun when you’re winning, but who knows what’s going to happen,” Carroll said.

The list of saddle bronc riders competing in the short round at the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo was loaded with talent. Nine of the 12 contestants had qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Sage Newman and Tanner Butner were the two cowboys standing at the top once the dust settled inside the Foster Communications Coliseum, April 19. The duo posted identical scores in the average with 174 points on two head. “It was pretty dang Newman and Tanner Butner share victory

cool to split the win there,” said Butner. “Sage and I are actually traveling partners. This win will help out a lot. We have all of our spring events starting to roll and then we will be getting into summer. So, it’s always nice to pick up a check and get ready for that.” Butner reached the San Angelo mountain top by putting together an 88.5-point trip on J Bar J’s In The Lu in the finals, while Newman accomplished the feat by registering an 86.5-point ride on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Little Bill. Newman had little intel on the horse before climbing over the bucking chutes.

Team roping heeler Jace Helton, left, swings his rope as he watches his partner/ header Shay Dixon Carroll make a catch. The unlikely duo won the average with a 13.9-second time on three head. Ric Andersen photo

Newman

Scott Wells grew up dreaming of competing on rodeo’s biggest stage. As an Australian teenager he was around the sport in Queensland, but always had the dream of taking his talents to the next level. Then came along Western Texas College rodeo coach Greg Rhodes. Wells and Rhodes hatched out a plan for him to come to the United States to compete at the school. Two years later he’s not only making his name known in the college ranks but as a professional. “I got in touch with Greg when I was probably 19 years old or so and got it started for me to come over here,” said Wells, 21. “He gave me an opportunity to come here and compete. It’s been really good so far.” He added a line to his resume at the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo, April 19. Wells was the only cowboy to cover his bull during the 12-man short round. He put together an 85.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Twilight Zone. The eight-second ride put $5,000 in his pocket and also secured him the average title with 171.5 point on two head. “This is definitely the biggest win of my rodeo career so far,” Wells said. “It’s always good to win big money and do it riding bulls.” In total, Wells added $12,217 to his docket in 2024 from his performance in San Angelo. The win bumped him inside the top 40 of the PRCA | RAM World Standings. He has his eyes set on making his first trip to Las Vegas this December. “Me and my traveling partner Cooper Jacobs are going to go out there and hit the road hard this summer,” he said. “My goal is to try and make the NFR this year. I’m going to try my best out there.” Scott Wells captures career defining win

Butner

“I had never been on that horse before,” said Newman, 26. “I had seen some people get on him before. Damian Brennan got on him at the Finals, so I asked him about the horse. He told me that he was a pretty good horse and where the rein needed to be. He worked out good here and I was lucky to have him.” Newman has captured many rodeo victories throughout his eight-year ProRodeo career but a win in San Angelo had always evaded him. “It was one of my goals to win this rodeo,” Newman said. “I have made it back to the finals a few times and never had got it done. So, that was my main goal to come back here in the short round and get the title finally.” A shot at the coveted gold buckle is what keeps the Melstone, Mont., cowboy motivated. “The hunger is what keeps me going. My drive to win a gold buckle is what keeps me going,” Newman said. “I’ve gone into the Finals with the lead before, but in this sport, you can be on top one day and be nothing the next. That’s what I love about it. I love the sport and I love the atmosphere. I don’t want any other job, I’m blessed this is what I get to do.”

Ric Andersen photo Scott Wells, a 21-year-old Australian, turned heads by capturing the title at the San Angelo Rodeo and earning $12,217. He clinched the win, above, with his 85.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Twilight Zone.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/26/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 4/26/2024

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

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