ProRodeo Sports News - Feb. 4, 2022

DENVER

NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW & RODEO

Kyle Lucas nabs tie-down roping title in Denver Dealing BY TANNER BARTH T he 2021 ProRodeo season saw Kyle Lucas fall just short of making his first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. The tie-down roper finished 17th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings, right on the doorstep of Las Vegas. The Carstairs, Alberta, cowboy is on a mission as TOP MONEY WINNER Cole Franks ($11,290, bareback riding) BAREBACK RIDING 1. Rocker Steiner ................... 87.5 pts.* (Tie) Cole Franks ........................ 87.5 3. Leighton Berry ........................... 85.5 *Steiner won based on his semifinal score. STEER WRESTLING TOP SCORES Franks

1. Mike McGinn ......................... 3.6 sec. 2. Tristan Martin ............................... 4.1 3. Rowdy Parrott .............................. 4.2 (Tie) Tyler Waguespack ................ 4.2 TEAM ROPING 1. C. Rahlmann/D. Rich ............. 4.4 sec. 2. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler ....... 4.7 3. Garrett Rogers/Justin Davis ......... 5.4 (Tie) C. Thompson/T. Thompson .. 5.4 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Kolby Wanchuk ...................... 89 pts. 2. Kade Bruno ................................ 87.5 3. Dawson Hay .................................. 87 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Kyle Lucas ............................ 7.5 sec. 2. Michael Otero ............................... 7.7 3. Clint Graves .................................. 8.1 BARREL RACING 1. Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi ....... 14.89 sec. 2. Bradi Whiteside ........................ 15.06 (Tie) Emma Charleston ............. 15.06 BULL RIDING 1. Josh Frost .............................. 92 pts. 2. Bubba Greig .................................. 89 3. Stetson Wright ........................... 86.5

the new rodeo season heats up. His year picked up major steam in Denver, Jan. 23. He won the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo with a 7.5-second run in the finals, which was his fastest time so far this season. “Honestly I hadn’t had a very good run leading up to the final round,” said Lucas, 27. “I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older or what but now, I feel like if I have a small mistake, I can fix it and get everything going good again. I’m glad I was able to lay down a good run in Denver and get things headed in the right direction.” The win in Denver earned Lucas $6,402, which bumped him up to 22nd in the latest PRCA | RAM World Standings. He said it’s a sign the things he’s been working on are starting to pay off in the arena. “This is truly awesome for me,” Lucas said. “I’ve never really won a large rodeo before. This is my first and biggest. So, to do it this early in the year is just amazing. I had a good winter last year and just barely missed the Finals. We are doing a lot of changes this year and I’m just happy to get the 2022 season kicked off like this.” He said his marathon rodeo run a year ago has him in a position to chase for the NFR again this season while being better prepared. “I think I ended up barely top 40 one year and I had a decent year then,” Lucas said. “I was pretty young though, unexperienced, and didn’t really know what I was doing. “So, last year I didn’t really get my feet wet I just jumped all the way in. I definitely made some mistakes along the way, but I think that gave me the opportunity to learn what I need to do and be better at for this season.” He hopes this win gets the ball rolling for a successful winter run. “I just kind of use it for motivation, in this sport you have to take those wins and build on them,” Lucas said. “I’m excited to get back home and get back to practicing again. We have a lot of the season ahead of us and I’m more than ready for it.”

Complete results/Page 44

Ric Andersen photo

Kyle Lucas secured his first National Western Stock Show and Rodeo title in Denver with a 7.5-second run in the finals.

ProRodeo Sports News 2/4/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 2/4/2022

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