ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2019

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

Steer wrestler Ty Erickson competed during the 2019 Wrangler NFR. The Montana cowboy finally secured his first world championship after coming in as the season leader three of the last four years. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Steve Gray

“I was just focused on my job and what I wanted to do,” Erickson said. “I wanted to get a good start and just go make a good run. After I saw what I had drawn, I knew I had a good, honest steer and would be able to do what I wanted. “I was just outside (the money) in the round, but that was OK because I made the run I wanted, and everything worked out.” Erickson clocked a 4.4-second run in Round 10 that helped him finish fifth in the average. Erickson acknowledged his world title was a group effort. He was handed the gold buckle by his aunt Judy Wagner of Montana Silversmiths. “This means everything,” Erickson said. “This is all we’ve been working for the last seven years. Every morning, this is what we get up and work toward, so now that it’s actually come true and we’ve accomplished that, it couldn’t mean any more to me. My aunt being the one to hand me the buckle made it even more special.

“This makes all the all-night drives, not doing well at a rodeo, all the tears, sweat and blood all worth it now.” Erickson’s world championship feat was even more impressive considering the six-time Wrangler NFR qualifier was riding Crush, a horse that had never competed at theThomas &Mack Center. “My horse worked great,” he said. Erickson placed second in Round 4 (3.7 seconds), split third in Round 7 (3.9 seconds) and had a huge win in Round 9 with a 3.6-second run that earned him $26,231. “Anytime you can get a round win at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, it’s exciting,” Erickson said after Round 9. “I’m so happy I was able to get a go-round win, especially with the week I’ve been having. “It’s been a little slow, and I knew when I drew the steer I had, I had a chance. I just tried to go back to fundamentals and make the best run I could, and it worked out.”

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2019

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