ProRodeo Sports News - April 5, 2019

roping partner a handful of times the last six years. “It was cool to win with Trevor,” Opie said. “He’s a cowboy, and he can always fill in as a team roper. He’s confident and a winner, and he makes you want to win.” With his $2,443 victory in steer wrestling, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Knowles moved up to 23rd in the April 1 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $17,489. In the steer wrestling, Knowles was riding Smoke, 18, whom his cousin Blake Knowles has owned for a year. “We have been riding him all winter, and he worked good,” Trevor said. “I’ve just been flying back and forth all winter. I’m needing to be home a lot more than normal, and Blake has the horses.” LIFE HAPPENS After last making the Wrangler NFR in 2016, Knowles saw his streak snapped when he hyperextended his right knee in the middle of the 2017 season. A year ago, he came back, but acknowledged he wasn’t at full strength. “Last year, I only went to 40-some rodeos,” Knowles said. “I wasn’t very competitive, and I physically wasn’t able to compete HIGH DESERT STAMPEDE

always something you want, and a lot of times you have to do a lot of stuff you don’t want to do to get it, and I was just lucky enough to do something I really love to do and was good at to get it.” ADJUSTING RODEO PLANS With new responsibilities, Trevor knows he has to modify his rodeo schedule. “I love the sport of rodeo, and I just like to bulldog, and I like to compete,” Knowles said. “I have been doing this a long time. It’s to the point where, ‘How many more years should I have my family pick up all the slack around here for me?’ I’mmarried and dynamics change. I had never been home very much in 17 years, and when I got hurt, I got a taste of what normal was like, and it wasn’t that bad.” Knowles, who bought his PRCA card in December 2000, finished a career-best third in the 2010 world standings. If his 14th qualification is in reach this season, he will make a push. “If I’m in the hunt come August, then I will have to figure out something on my end to try and get there (to the NFR),” Knowles said. “Don’t count me out, but don’t plan on seeing me at 80 rodeos this year either. I’m not trying not to make it, but I just can’t commit to be all in to make it.” Blake knows Trevor can make the Wrangler NFR if he has time. “As far as talent, Trevor is tremendously blessed,” Blake said. “He’s going to have to walk that tightrope of trying to still have enough time to compete and be able to take on the work load of the ranch they have and to try and forge forward to the NFR. It’s going to be difficult, but most things that are worth having are difficult. If anybody can figure it out, he can.”

at the level I was used to, but I did win enough to get qualified for the winter rodeos. Now, I’m healthy and can go, but I don’t know how hard I can actually go anymore.” The one thing Knowles doesn’t have as much as he used to is time to rodeo. “I lost my dad (Jeff ) right before Christmas, and he took care of a lot of stuff around here that allowed me to be gone and compete,” Trevor said. “Now, I have to fill that void as much as I can. The days of me being gone months at a time are over. We have the cattle ranch in the John Day Valley (in Ore.), and I have a lot of irons in the fire and a lot of stuff to take care of. My brother, Drew (36), and I run everything. Shoot, if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t get to go to another rodeo, so I’m pretty lucky he’s around.” Jeff Knowles passed away Dec. 23, 2018. He was 67. Trevor Knowles and his wife, Jena, also were married May 13, 2017. “There has been a lot happening in a couple of years,” Knowles said. “Rodeo has created what I’m doing today. All the time I’ve been gone and all the money I’ve made and all the money I’ve saved and everything else, my brother and my family, we have a heck of a deal here with this ranch and these cows, and that’s all because I threw steers pretty good. I’ve been trying to get this put together for 12 years, and things are finally starting to come together. There’s

Saddle bronc rider Kolby Wanchuk had an 84-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Blue Backsplash to win the High Desert Stampede and earn a $2,902 check. Bob Click photo

Complete results on Page 55

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Kolby Wanchuk ...................... 84.5 pts. 2. Tucker Hill ........................................ 83 3. Ben Andersen ............................... 82.5 4. Cameron Messier ......................... 79.5

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Colton Campbell ..................... 8.6 sec. 2. Ryan Jarrett .................................... 9.1 3. Caleb McMillan ............................... 9.2 4. Two tied at ...................................... 9.5

BARREL RACING 1. (tie) Jessica Crouch ............ 15.84 sec. Cheyenne Allan ........................... 15.84 3. Lexie Goss .................................. 15.92 4. Hilary Imhof ............................... 15.93

BULL RIDING 1. Chase Dougherty ................... 89.5 pts. 2. Wyatt Covington ........................... 86.5 3. Jess Davison ................................... 82 4. Caleb McMillan ................................ 81

ProRodeo Sports News 4/5/2019

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