ProRodeo Sports News - April 3, 2020

RETIRING 1-0 IN HIS MMA CAREER Jesse Williams’ crazy workout routine led him to want to try his hand at a mixed martial arts fight in 2016. He fought at welterweight, weighing in at 170 pounds, and knocked out his opponent in 14 seconds. “I trained for about eight years, but I only fought one time,” Williams said. “That was just a bucket-list deal. I was really hoping I would win because I didn’t want to do it again. I wasn’t trying to make a career out of it.”

VIDEO

RAMNCFR – which he was thrilled to accomplish. “I set that as my goal when my season started,” he said. “I didn’t really think it was possible, but as I went through the season it got closer and it came down to my last horse in the last round at the (RAMCalifornia Circuit Finals Rodeo) to decide who was going to win the year-end title.” Williams delivered. Williams, who lives in Paso Robles, Calif., won the third round with an 80-point ride on Four Star Rodeo’s Lil’ Warrior. Williams earned $5,540 at the RAMCCFR in Lancaster, Oct. 6 to secure the year-end top honor. “He deserved that win,” said Joaquin Real, a fellow California Circuit saddle bronc rider andWilliams’ friend. “They don’t come with a harder work ethic than what Jesse has. He had some saddle problems there for a while. I think he has a good one now and he’s riding great. I think he’s in better shape than he ever was. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jesse was still getting on horses when he’s 50. He craves it. He’s a great guy.” George Veater, who captured the 2001 California Circuit year-end crown in saddle bronc riding, agreed with Real. “He has a super-positive attitude and

deal, it would be pretty hard not to hit the ground running and make a run for the NFR.” LONG RODEO JOURNEY WhenWilliams was a boy, he loved to rope, but that changed one year while attending his hometown rodeo in Paso Robles. “I was at the ProRodeo and one of the saddle bronc riders was carrying his saddle,” Williams said. “They parked him as far away from the rodeo as they could, and he had to carry his saddle and gear bag to the chutes. I was there for the junior rodeo and I put a saddle on my horse, packed his stuff and took it to the rodeo for him. He told me to come back during the rodeo and he would sneak me in. I think I was 8 years old, and he snuck me behind the chutes and let me hang out with the guys. From that moment on I didn’t want to be a roper anymore, I wanted to be a bronc rider.” Williams climbed the rodeo ladder, rodeoing two years at Lassen Community College in Susanville, Calif., and two years at Sul Ross State

University in Alpine, Texas. He qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo twice – once at Lassen and once at Sul Ross. “I graduated from Sul Ross and was the rodeo coach at Lassen College for four years right out of school,” Williams said. “Teaching in the classroom was not my deal, so I went back to shoeing horses, which is what I did to pay for school in the first place.” Williams doesn’t need to look far for rodeo inspiration. His wife of 13 years, Krista, 38, is a rookie barrel racer. “She was one of my biggest supporters,” Williams said. “She sparked me to push things forward. I didn’t know if I wanted to do that much traveling and go to that many rodeos, but she really encouraged me and told me to go for it.” Krista is a longtime barrel racer, and the last five years she and Jesse have improved on the quality of horses she has. “Now, she has four or five really good ones,” Jesse said. “As I have kind of transitioned out of it, we are trying to transition her into it.” FAMILY AFFAIR

puts a lot into riding broncs,” Veater said about Williams, one of his best friends. “He trains like crazy and keeps in excellent shape. I think what motivates him is his love of competition, and he still has the drive to better himself. He has paid the price physically to be able to continue to get better at his age. I think the sky’s the limit for him. He can do whatever he has the desire to do.” Williams is no stranger to the RAM NCFR. He won the California Circuit year-end crown in 2011 and qualified for the RAMNCFR in Oklahoma City. Williams bought his PRCA card in January 1999. “There were one or two years I tried to go (hard), but things just didn’t work out,” Williams said. “Rodeoing as long as I have and not going to the NFR, the next biggest thing would be to try and win the (RAM) National Circuit Finals. That would be the icing on the cake. It would be awesome to walk away on top. But at the same time, with things going as good as they are and feeling as good as I am, it would be hard to walk away. If I won that

Photo courtesy Jesse Williams Williams and his wife of 13 years, Krista, share a light moment. Krista is a barrel racer and his biggest supporter.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/3/2020

ProRodeo.com

37