ProRodeo Sports News - April 6, 2018

RODEO AUSTIN

Team ropers Marcus Theriot, right, and Cody Doescher won $10,846 each at Rodeo Austin, which bumped them up to 29th and 30th in the world standings, respectively. Kirt Steinke photo

“This winter was terrible,” Doescher said. “Until Austin, we had won hardly anything at all.” Theriot agreed. “It bothers you with the long drives,” the Mississippi cowboy said. “It gets old, and I think it messes with us, mentally.” Now, the tide has turned in their favor. “Getting it turned around, that helps us,” Theriot said. “We have confidence now and we are back to rolling.” Of course, prize money is what keeps the wheels turning on the rodeo road. “Before then, we had no money won and needed to win,” Theriot said. “When you need to win, it makes it that much harder to win. But this puts us up there with the rest of them and makes it a lot easier.” “It makes it easier on our pocketbooks,” Doescher said. “The ultimate goal is to make the Finals and get the gold buckles, it (winning Austin) makes it easier to pay the bills.” Theriot and Doescher didn’t let the stiff competition faze them. “We compete against those guys every day, so we tried to stick to our

game,” Doescher said. “My partner is more of a fast-style header, and that fits him in that arena.” “They are the best in the world and people I’ve looked up to since I was little bitty,” saidTheriot, whose father, Herbert, was the 1994 PRCA Tie- down Roping World Champion. Theriot and Doescher ranked 19th and 20th, respectively, in the heading and heeling world standings in 2017. They’re aiming to make the jump into the Top 15 to qualify for their first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “I had a late start last year and wasn’t sure if I would even rodeo,” Theriot said, noting summer went well enough that he came close to qualifying for the NFR. “We almost pulled it off, but we didn’t. There were some things I learned last year that will help me make the Finals this year, like not to panic. There are plenty of rodeos left and you don’t have to win every rodeo.” Theriot’s been competing in ProRodeo since 2015, and Doescher’s been in the race since 2008. “It actually makes us want to rodeo this summer,” Doescher said. “This gave us a reason to rodeo all summer and try to make the Finals.”

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Tyson Durfey .......................... 9.4 sec. 2. Sterling Smith ................................ 9.8 3. Seth Cooke ................................... 18.5 4. Marcos Costa ............................... 22.7

BARREL RACING 1. Lisa Lockhart ...................... 14.97 sec. 2. Jessi Fish .................................... 15.08 3. Carman Pozzobon ...................... 15.13 4. Kathy Petska ............................... 15.31

BULL RIDING 1. Sage Kimzey ............................. 90 pts. 2. Tyler Bingham ................................. 82 (No other qualified rides)

Complete results on Page 38

ProRodeo Sports News 4/6/18

ProRodeo.com

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