ProRodeo Sports News - August 5, 2022

CHEYENNE FRONTIER DAYS CHEYENNE, WYO. Etbauer, Shaffer

split steer wrestling Trell Etbauer and Justin Shaffer came to Cheyenne, Wyo., with the same goal, find a way to keep their 2022 season alive with a major boost at the Daddy of ‘emAll. The duo accomplished that and then some by splitting the steer wrestling title with a pair of 5.4-second runs at the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo. Shaffer admits this is the biggest win of his ProRodeo career and nerves played a factor. “I think here more so than ever I have to push my emotions down,” said Shaffer, 28. “I definitely had jitters backing into the box, but I think those are a blessing because it tells you that you’re alive. I think it’s a dream come true for me, and I think it is for every little cowboy in a diaper growing up.” And it will allow him to keep going down the rodeo road with eight weeks left in the regular season. “Any win like this will give a guy confidence, but right now the money was the most important just to make it feasible for me to keep rodeoing,” he said. “So, if we can build on the momentum and keep the wins coming, we’ll keep going.” The win for Etbauer was just as crucial as he chases his first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2022. The 37-year-old currently sits 23rd in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $42,124. He said this win accomplishes one goal, but he has bigger plans. “I had a goal this year that I wanted to try and win at least one major rodeo,” said Etbauer, 37. “I’ve got that goal knocked out of the way, I guess it’s on to one of the next ones.” Down the stretch of the season, he says nothing will change. It’ll be about doing his job and letting the chips fall where they may. “I just going to try to keep the ball rolling,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what you draw you just have to go make the best run you can and see how everything plays out after that.”

Jason Suntych photo Steer wrestler Trell Etbauer, above, had a 5.4-second run in the finals to tie Justin Shaffer for the victory at the Daddy of ‘em All.

Jackie Jensen photo

ProRodeo Sports News 8/5/2022

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