ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2019

BULL RIDING AVERAGE WINNER

Sage Kimzey’s multiple 90-point rides helped him secure the average title. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

Not your Average Record

Kimzey ties Finals bull riding record with third average title

BY MATT NABER S age Kimzey became the third cowboy in ProRodeo history to win the bull riding average three times at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, joining the ranks of Denny Flynn (1975, ’81-82) and Jim Sharp (1988-89, ’92). The Strong City, Okla., cowboy won his first Wrangler NFR average buckle his rookie year in 2014 and again in 2017. His third average title was earned by placing in all eight rounds that he covered his bull, with back-to-back wins in Rounds 7 and 8 to win the average with 709 points on eight head. “It’s been an incredible week, and it’s God’s blessings raining down in abundance,” Kimzey said. “It was just a grind. …There are times we are sore and tired and question why we do this, but the guys with the gold buckles can block that out, and that is what I really excel at.” Kimzey won Round 7 with a 90-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Smoke Wagon. “My mantra is ‘No noise,’” Kimzey said. “I just climb on and take care of business.” The following night he wowed the sellout crowd by winning Round 8 with a 94-point ride on Powder River Rodeo’s SweetPro’s Bruiser. Bruiser was voted bull of the night for the round and top bull of the Wrangler NFR. The bull was also the 2017 PRCA Bull of the Year and was second in 2018. Bruiser also was top bull of the Wrangler NFR in 2015 and 2017. “It’s just incredible,” Kimzey said of his ride on Bruiser. “Man, Bruiser

is one of the most incredible bulls of all time, and getting on him is a dream in itself. I’m speechless, honestly. Today, I kept telling myself not to let the moment be bigger than

you, and I feel like I was made for this moment.” Kimzey’s ride was a career best in terms of points and just missed breaking the Round 8 record of 95 points set by Colby Yates in 2002 aboard Big Bend Rodeo’s Unforgiven. “This is a personal best, and it’s special to have it at the NFR,” Kimzey said. “My previous best was a 93. If you’re that many points you’re never going to have a good seat, and it is toe-to-toe and us swapping blows. It’s pretty miraculous – it was pure bliss, it really was. Bruiser is a smooth bull and is a big pet really. I scratched him in the loading alley, and he looked at me like, ‘It’s you and me tonight, champ,’ and it really was.” Kimzey was trying to keep things in perspective before he climbed aboard SweetPro’s Bruiser. “I knew I had a big piece over me, and it was champ vs. champ and it was the storyline of the round,” he said. “Stetson (Wright) being 93.5 or not, it was all about me and Bruiser whether we got the win or not, it was us duking it out.” Kimzey won the average as the only cowboy to cover eight bulls. “It was tough from the get-go,” Kimzey said. “It can be the toughest 10 days in the sport and my body feels it now. It’s the toughest stock and toughest men and will never be easy, but it was fun and I rode pretty well.”

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2019

ProRodeo.com

56