ProRodeo Sports News - April 3, 2020

RAM CIRCUIT SPOTLIGHT CALIFORNIA

Defying the Odds At 41, saddle bronc rider Williams still getting it done Andrea Kaus photo Jesse Williams had a winning ride on All In Pro Rodeos’ Class Dismissed at the Jurupa Valley (Calif.) Pro Rodeo in June 2019.

ABOUT JESSE AGE: 41 HOMETOWN: Paso Robles, Calif. EVENT: Saddle bronc riding CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Qualified for the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo twice as the California Circuit year-end champion

BY TRACY RENCK S addle bronc rider Jesse Williams relishes mixing it up with rodeo’s young guns. At 41 years old, he is not only competing against cowboys half his age, he’s also winning. In October, Williams clinched the California Circuit year- end title in saddle bronc riding to qualify for the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., which was scheduled for April 2-4 but postponed because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus)

pandemic. “I have a passion for (rodeo),” saidWilliams when asked what drives him to still compete. “I backed off a few times, and I just felt like I wasn’t finished, I had to keep going. I enjoy going up against the young guys. That’s one of the things that made me go back at it. I turned 40 and I didn’t want to go out the way I was going out. I wanted to go out on a winning streak, so I hit the gym, got back in the game and pushed myself harder. It was pretty awesome to be 41 and beating guys in their 20s.” Williams’ primary mission in 2019 was qualifying for the

ProRodeo Sports News 4/3/2020

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