ProRodeo Sports News - December 16, 2022

TIE-DOWN ROPING AVERAGE WINNER

Caleb Smidt points to the crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center after winning his fourth career world

championship and fourth NFR average crown. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

The Grand Slam

Smidt wins fourth career average crown

BY DAGIN RENCK, Special to ProRodeo Sports News T he title seems incongruous. The average title? Caleb Smidt doesn’t do anything ordinary in rodeo. But dig deeper, and it makes sense. Smidt winning his fourth average title and his fourth gold buckle remains a testament to his steady hand and personality. Nothing seems to rattle Smidt, a man defined by faith and family. The 33-year-old won the average with a time of 82.5 seconds on 10 head, 11 seconds better than his nearest competitor. Smidt made it clear he was on the toll road to back-to-back gold buckles with the first two rounds. In the opener, Smidt posted a 7.5-second time to the delight of the loud crowd at Thomas & Mack Center. Smidt also won world and average titles in 2015, 2018, 2021-22. Smidt is tied with tie-down ropers Olin Young (1959, 1962-63, 1971); Roy Cooper (1976, 1979, 1983, 1995); and FredWhitfield (1991, 1997, 1999, 2002) for most NFR average wins. “It felt really good to get this win and start off the NFR this way,” Smidt said. It was a pattern. Smidt followed it up in Round 2 with a blistering time of 7.2 seconds. It became obvious that he was going to be tough to beat as he began closing the gap on Shad Mayfield. Smidt reached the pay window in his

first eight runs. “There’s truly no words to describe it, there’s no other feeling like it,” said Smidt, who won $74,150 for the overall average. “It’s about doing my job and trying not to think too much.” There is no chance of paralysis by analysis with his horse. Pockets, who Smidt has ridden for all his NFR crowns, defines consistency. While other competitors were switching out rides, looking for the perfect combination, Smidt knew he hit the jackpot in Las Vegas with Pockets again. “I don’t even think I would have a gold buckle without him. That’s how good he is,” said Smidt, who collected $225,221 in the 10 nights of competition. “Man, Pockets is just so solid. He doesn’t do anything wrong. He scores really good, that’s probably his best attribute. He just runs, stops and pulls every single time. Everything I have won I have won on him. I have made the NFR on him every year since 2015. I rode him in every rodeo pretty much. Won lots of jackpots on him. He’s a great horse.” It wasn’t that Smidt was just consistent. He is dominant. He raises eyebrows when he doesn’t post a time beginning with a 7. For Smidt, a true cowboy who loves to ranch, this title is special. “I just kept having fun and kept it simple,” Smidt said. “I am happy for my family. They supported me all week. I do it for them, for the fans and I give all the glory to the God.”

ProRodeo Sports News 12/16/2022

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