ProRodeo Sports News - Feb. 18, 2022

RODEO RAPID CITY RAPID CITY, S.D. Blake Knowles gets first win of the season Hot Start BY DAGIN RENCK, Special to ProRodeo Sports News I t did not take long for steer wrestler Blake Knowles to put a stamp on his 2022 season. In only his third stop of the season, Knowles captured a win at Rodeo Rapid City (S.D.), Feb. 5, with a 3.8-second run, earning the $4,577 first- place prize. The Heppner, Ore., cowboy knew early in the week he would have a chance to be successful.

TOP MONEY WINNER Riley Wakefield TOP SCORES

“This one (Rapid City) was clear on paper that I had a big-time chance to do good. When I went and saw what number I had and started doing some homework on him, I realized that he was off the NFR herd from last December,” Knowles said. “On the draw side, I’d done really well so the ball was in my court to make something happen and take advantage of it.” The win at this NFR Playoff Series presented by Pendleton stop marks Knowles’ first of the 2022 season. As a five-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier, he knows as well as anyone what a victory can do for a cowboy. “It helps big time, you know. Rodeo is an athletic sport just like the rest of them, right,” Knowles said. “You need to get some momentum, get something going in your favor to build off and I hadn’t had that yet between Denver and Fort Worth, so I was needing to get something going. Get that confidence back, get that momentum going, and coming into San Antonio (Texas) later in the week (Feb. 10), that’s what a guy needs. He needs that confidence back.” Knowles’ winning run in Rapid City came on one of fellow cowboy Eli Lord’s horses. He plans to continue using other people horses for portions of the season. However, Knowles’ also intends to ride one of his own, King. King was raised on the family ranch in Northern Oregon and comes from his parents’ stud, Frenchman’s Falcon. For him, the plan brings on a new set of challenges and extra motivation to be successful. “I think he’s ready to move up to that varsity-type string and my A-string,” Knowles said. “It gives extra motivation because I get so excited to see how he’s going to do or what’s going to happen there that gives you a twist of variables there to worry about. Good with the bad, we’ll see.” While embracing the new challenge, Knowles understands the importance of not wasting opportunities throughout the season. “You can’t afford to drop the ball at these big rodeos or not win when you have a chance to win due to a horse,” Knowles said. Together, the pair hopes to find success across the country. The Oregon native will shift his attention towards the stops that have priority. “The (Playoff Series) stops will definitely have priority. Those always mean something for me. My whole career for the last 20 years now, if there’s one thing that is consistent is that doing well in the (Playoff Series) always matters,” Knowles said. “At the end of the year, if you need a big bump up or a chance to go to a big rodeo that pays big money, it’s always the (Playoff Series). So, I’ll probably try and get to as many of those as I can. Then from there, we’ll see.” Knowles, 39, enters the year in his 20th season of ProRodeo. The steer wrestler has built an impressive resume with career earnings north of a million dollars and NFR qualifications dating back as early as 2009. Now with a wife, Whitney, and two kids, Lydia and Trell, it is fair to wonder why he continues to rodeo fulltime. For Knowles, the answer is simple. “Man, I still love to compete. I love rodeo. I know that the end of my career is a lot closer than the beginning of my career at this point,” Knowles said. “But I still feel very capable and very competitive. As long as I have the opportunity to compete a big rodeos like Rapid City or upcoming San Antonio… I still crave it and love it and look forward to the opportunities.”

($1,698, tie- down roping, steer wrestling and team roping) BAREBACK RIDING

Wakefield

1. Garrett Shadbolt. ..................... 89 pts. 2. Orin Larsen.................................. 88.5 3. Caleb Bennett. ................................ 86 STEER WRESTLING 1. Blake Knowles. ....................... 3.8 sec. 2. Laine Herl...................................... 4.0 (Tie) Cameron Morman ................ 4.0 TEAM ROPING 1. J. Cooper/S. Sporer .............. 4.2 sec. 2. J. Dees/L. Lord............................. 4.4 (Tie) J. Peterson/T. Smith ............. 4.4 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Shorty Garrett....................... 85.5 pts. (Tie) Riggin Smith. ...................... 85.5 3. Jake Watson................................... 84 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Dallen McIntire. ...................... 8.1 sec. 2. Michael Otero. ............................... 8.2 3. Clint Kindred.................................. 8.5 BARREL RACING 1. Ari-Anna Flynn.................... 13.05 sec. 2. Jamie Olsen............................... 13.22 3. Jessie Telford............................. 13.29 BULL RIDING 1. Tristan O’Neal ......................... 87 pts. (Tie) JR Stratford............................ 87 3. Tim Bingham.................................. 85

Complete results/Page 45

Clay Guardipee photo

Steer wrestler Blake Knowles stopped the clock in 3.8 seconds to win Rodeo Rapid City, S.D. The victory earned him $4,577.

ProRodeo Sports News 2/18/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 2/18/2022

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

32

33