ProRodeo Sports News - Feb. 17, 2023

FORT WORTH, TEXAS

FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO

BY TANNER BARTH & TRACY RENCK

The 2023 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo was a special one for the team roping duo of AndrewWard and Buddy Hawkins II. As one of the final teams out in the short round, Ward/Hawkins II stopped the clock in 3.9-seconds to clinch their first title at the historic rodeo. They said after coming up short in the finals a year ago this time around it was about putting the pedal to the metal. “We made it to the short round here last year and we went 4.8 (seconds),” saidWard, a three-time NFR qualifier. “We were early in the go last year, and they beat us to fourth and we won $4,000. “We talked about our plan this year and we just wanted to go as fast as we could without making a mistake. We heated them up and it worked out tonight. We were definitely trying to push the pack a little bit.” Over the course of four runs, Ward/Hawkins II each pocketed $26,200, rocketing the duo up the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. As of Feb. 13, both sit No. 1 in the world in heading and heeling. “Everyone wants to start the year off on a heater and try to win as much as they can,” said Hawkins II, 36. “So, it’s really important for us to get off to a good start. When you look at the statistics, tonight alone you can win 25 percent of what it takes to get to the NFR. So, that’s a big deal.” And to top off the win, Hawkins II said the night before the finals he and his wife found out there will be an addition to their family. “We are going to have a brand-new rodeo fan at Fort Worth next year,” he said. “We just found out this week we are expecting another child. We didn’t know how to break it to the family. So, I told Tori I’ll just try to win the rodeo and announce it on national TV.” Ward, Hawkins II claim buckles in team roping

James Phifer photo Heeler Buddy Hawkins II gets ready to throw his rope after header Andrew Ward threw his head shot in the finals in Fort Worth. The duo won the rodeo with a 3.9-second time.

Hay, Wright share saddle bronc title

Westyn Hughes ties down first Fort Worth event title Westyn Hughes has never backed down from a challenge during his eight-year ProRodeo career. Hughes qualified for back-to-backWrangler National Finals Rodeos from 2020 2021. A hip injury at the end of the 2021 season forced Hughes to undergo surgery in early February and caused him to miss nearly five months of action. He returned to competition in July, but just missed out on making the NFR, finishing 18th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. He said injuries happen in every sport it’s about how you respond to the adversity. “This is what I do for a living. Injuries are a part of sports you just have to keep coming back and going down the road,” said Hughes, 25. He announced his return to one of the sport’s biggest stages in grand fashion at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Hughes put together a blistering fast 7.4-second run to capture the win, which was the fastest run of the entire rodeo. He said an aggressive mindset pushed him to success. “I was trying to lay the barrier back and get her tied as fast as I could. Everything went to plan for me,” he said. Hughes said it’s the biggest win of his career and just so happens to be only a couple hours away from his hometown of Caldwell, Texas.

The finals of the saddle bronc riding at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo brought out the best of the best. Seven out of the eight finalists had made a trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, when the dust settled at Dickies Arena on Feb. 4 it was two young guns stealing the show. Seven-time PRCAWorld Champion StetsonWright and three-time NFR qualifier Dawson Hay split the win with a pair of 90.5-point rides. For Wright, the short round presented a rematch with Calgary Stampede’s Xena Warrior. “I was pretty excited to get on her that night,” said Wright, 23. “I had ridden her before and placed like fourth and it pissed me off ever since because I knew that I could win on her. So, coming back and being able to have a rematch I felt like I had something to prove.” The circumstances were flipped for Hay. Hailing from Wildwood, Alberta, he’s more than familiar with the Calgary Stampede’s stock. Even with that being the case, he had never climbed aboard Tokyo Bubbles. It’s a matchup he’s had circled. “It was a horse I had watched in all of the short rounds and one I’ve just dodged for the last few years,” said Hay, 24. “When I made it back, I remember thinking, I hope I get to match up with Tokyo finally. All the cards lined up and it was just an awesome performance by her.”

James Phifer photo Westyn Hughes, who has overcome his share of setbacks, was rewarded with the Fort Worth victory.

James Phifer photo Saddle bronc riders Stetson Wright and Dawson Hay share a laugh after they tied for the win in Fort Worth at Dickies Arena.

ProRodeo Sports News 2/17/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 2/17/2023

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

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