ProRodeo Sports News - April 28, 2023

Jay Williamson gets biggest career win BY TANNER BARTH & TRACY RENCK SAN ANGELO, TEXAS

Jay Williamson has spent much of his six-year career competing in the Texas Circuit, venturing out of the friendly confines from time to time to hit the rodeo trail. Luckily for Williamson, he didn’t have to go too far to pick up the biggest and best win of his ProRodeo career to date. In front of a crowd of more than 5,000, the Weatherford, Texas, steer wrestler capped off a fantastic 2023 San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo. Headed into the finals, Williamson knew he would have to be fast to best the likes of NFR qualifiers Will Lummus, Ty Erickson, and Dakota Eldridge. He proceeded to bring the crowd to their feet with a 3.7-second run, which secured the average title for Williamson with 12.1 seconds on three head. “This really feels amazing man,” said Williamson, 28. “I can’t thank God enough for giving me the opportunity to be out here doing what I love.” Saying it’s the biggest win of Williamson’s life may be an understatement. Leading up to the Texas Rodeo, he had won $16,780 in his entire ProRodeo career. He went on to earn $15,530 alone in San Angelo. He said when times are tough it’s important to keep your head down and get back to work. That mentality seemed to pay off for him on one of the sport’s biggest stages. “The love I have for this sport really kept me chasing this dream,” he said. “I’ve learned throughout the years you just have to keep working hard at it and keep going. After a win like this, I might have to go rodeo a little harder than I thought this summer.”

Ric Andersen photo Steer wrestler Jay Williamson clocked a 3.7-second run in the finals at the San Angelo Rodeo, which vaulted him to the two-head average win.

Bull rider Deklan Garland will likely remember the 2023 San Angelo Rodeo for a long time. That’s because the cowboy got the biggest win of his career, winning the average with 174.5 points on two head. Garland clinched the win with an 86-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Pendleton Punchline in the finals. “My dad always taught me to keep it simple and that’s what I did,” said Garland, 23. “The judges know what they are doing, and my job is to ride the bull. I knew I was coming into it (the finals) in the top spot and unless the bull didn’t something wrong, I would get a good score.” Although Garland had a victorious ride on the Pickett Pro Rodeo’s stock, he didn’t have a book on the bull when he climbed aboard. “I didn’t know anything about him,” Garland said. “I tried to look him up and I couldn’t find him, and my dad told me don’t even worry about it, just go ride him jump for jump. When I got back here, I saw Josh Frost, and I asked him ‘What bull did you ride in the long round?’ He said it was the bull (Punchline) I had drawn. I said perfect. Josh said that bull will ride really good, just ride him jump for jump.” Frost had an 88-point trip on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Pendleton Punchline on April 13 at the San Angelo Rodeo. Garland, who also split the win in the first round with an 88.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Smokin Again, won more than $14,000. “As far as the PRCA, this is the biggest win of my career, and hopefully it is the first of many,” Garland said. “The money is good and that’s why we do this for a living, and we love the sport, and we love riding at these events.” Deklan Garland gets big bull riding win

Ric Andersen photo Bull rider Deklan Garland had an 88.5-point trip on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Smokin Again on April 6 on the way to winning the two-head average.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/28/2023

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