ProRodeo Sports News - Feb. 7, 2020

Denver Dedication No ordinary victory for Gray

ProRodeo Sports News 2/7/2020

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FOURCHAMPIONS.

Congratulations on your impressiveWrangler NFR victories.

WESLEY THORP

SAGE KIMZEY

CLAYTON BIGLOW

STETSON WRIGHT

CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 7, 2020 VOLUME 68, NO. 3

Ready for the Alamo & Rodeo, the 14-time PRCA Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year, has added a couple changes to this year’s edition of the historic event. 36 The San Antonio Stock Show

Rusty Wright, seen here Feb. 23, 2019, in San Antonio, earned $11,625 at the

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo last season.

Greg Westfall photo

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INSIDE 6 editor’s letter 8 hot takes 10 cowboy grille 12 brain teasers 14 he said-she said 16 time capsule 20 short round 40 results 48 prca notes

24 Denver, Colo. RODEOS

18 2020 prca world 44 2019 circuits STANDINGS

COVER

Vezain gets unexpected check Bareback rider J.R. Vezain, who continues to recover from a riding incident suffered in 2018, was surprised with a check from the state of Wyoming recently. Vezain also talks in depth with PSN about his injury rehabilitation. 32 PRCA ProRodeo photo by Ric Andersen Bareback rider J.R. Vezain, second from left, and bull rider Sage Kimzey, right, pose at the 2018 Wrangler NFR.

Denver Dedication Noordinary victory forGray

Adam Gray won the tie-down roping

ProRodeo Sports News

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Qualifiers, Wild Cards upping the ante for cowboys EDITOR’S LETTER SCOTT KANIEWSKI Y ou know when a rodeo like the historic San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo alters its format – even if just a little – there must be a good reason. San Antonio joined a growing number header Clay Smith is into the Fort Worth semifinals thanks to the wild card. It also paid off for Kimzey again after the six-time defending world champ won the round with an 88.5-point ride on J Bar J Rodeo’s Little Big Man. Tyson Durfey, the 2016 tie-down roping world champ,

of rodeos who have recently either added wild-card performances or qualifiers to add some excitement and more opportunity to a greater number of cowboys. In San Antonio’s case, the rodeo that routinely ranks second in committee purse in ProRodeo added both. Last year, we saw qualifiers at The American in Arlington, Texas, contribute directly to team ropers Coleman Proctor and Ryan Motes taking home their share of a $1 million bonus. (They each took home an extra $333,333.) It was the first timeThe American had been part of the PRCA. We also saw RodeoHouston, back in the PRCA fold for the first time since 2010, bring its wild-card performance. Bull rider Sage Kimzey, tie-down roper Tuf Cooper and team roping partners Jake Cooper (header) and Caleb

and 2014 Saddle Bronc RidingWorld Champion Spencer Wright won their respective wild-card rounds to get to the semifinals. Now they need to take advantage of an extra chance at the FortWorth title paying out $20,000 per winner. In San Antonio, while the wild-card competitors in the roughstock events will be semifinalists who didn’t make the finals, the timed-event wild-card competitors will come out of a first-time qualifying event in San Antonio. The qualifiers will be at the Expo Hall and will be three, one-day competitions for each timed event – steer wrestling Feb. 12, tie-down roping Feb. 13 and team roping Feb. 16. (You can read more about that on page 36). The wild-card performance Feb. 21 will add another day of action at the AT&T Center, making for 22 performances for the 14-time PRCA Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year. The fact is with qualifiers and wild-card events more cowboys are getting chances to win more money. If a wild-card winner in Houston can advance to win the championship shootout and have $50,000 count toward the world standings, all of a sudden, they are thick in the hunt

Scott Kaniewski has been the editor of ProRodeo Sports News since August 2017. He has nearly two decades of experience in sports journalism,

with the last several being consumed by ProRodeo.

Anderson (heeler) got into the wild card, won the wild-card round to work their way into the Houston championship round, won the championship round and ultimately got into the championship shootout round. Kimzey, Jake Cooper and Anderson each finished second in their respective events in the shootout to take home an additional $20,000. All three qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, as did Tuf Cooper. This season, the Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo added a wild-card performance. Two-time defending world champion team roping

for a Wrangler NFR berth. And more cowboys battling for a chance at the Wrangler NFR makes for better ProRodeo.

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Back on Track

“For me it was pretty cool because the opening night I won at the new (Dickies) arena. I missed Fort Worth last year because I was hurt, and that was bittersweet. To come back this year in the new building and win the first round of the opening night was historic.” – CORY SOLOMON

Tie-down roper Cory Solomon, a six-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier, is feeling good again. The 29-year-old Texan battled injuries and illnesses in 2019 and missed the Wrangler

NFR. Thats all behind him as he won the first round in Bracket 1 at Fort Worth and qualified for the semifinals.

NEXT ON TAP FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO When: Jan. 24-Feb. 8

Where: Fort Worth, Texas Coverage: The rodeo will air live throughout its duration on The Cowboy Channel at 8:30 p.m. (ET). SAN ANGELO RODEO When: Jan. 30- Feb. 14 Where: San Angelo, Texas Coverage: Catch the finals on The Cowboy Channel at 8:30 p.m. (ET), Feb. 14. SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW & RODEO When: Feb. 6-22 Where: San Antonio, Texas Coverage: Beginning Feb. 9, the rodeo will air on The Cowboy Channel. (The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Xtreme Bulls will air at 2 p.m., Feb. 22.) * Check out TheCowboyChannel.com for schedule.

HOT TAKES Consistently Quick Team roping header Dustin Egusquiza has been flying this season. Through the first weekend of February, the Florida cowboy had three times that ranked on the 2020 PRCA leaderboard. Dustin Egusquiza went 3.7 in San Angelo, Feb. 1.

Ric Andersen photo

Egusquiza, 24, has twice posted 3.7-second runs and opened the season with a 3.8-second run. On Feb. 1, Egusquiza and heeler Travis Graves clocked a 3.7-second run at the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo. Egusquiza made his other impressive runs with heeler Jake Long – 3.8 at the Waller County Fair & Rodeo in Hempstead, Texas, Oct. 4, and 3.7 at the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo in Waco, Oct. 12.

82 NUMBER OF PRCA-SANCTIONED RODEOS IN THE 2020 SEASON AS OF FEB. 6

$5,747,589

MONEY WON BY PRCA COWBOYS IN THE 2020 SEASON

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COWBOY GRILLE WITH TRACY RENCK

How did you get your start in rodeo? Ky: My dad used to ride saddle bronc horses and bulls in Australia. All my dad’s side of the family was into rodeo. I have cousins that rode and fought bulls, and my grandfather rode bareback horses and saddle bronc horses. When I was 12, I became interested and started riding steers. I always wanted to go to America to rodeo, and I did that for the first time when I made the Junior High School Finals in Des Moines, Iowa, when I was 15. Did you rodeo on your permit last year? Ky: Yes. I spoke with a lot of people I have in my corner and they told me I should get my PRCA card for the 2020 season, so I did. (Hamilton finished eighth in the 2019 PRCA | RAM Rodeo Permit Standings with $26,081). What has your rookie year been like? Ky: When the new season started at the end of last year, I had high expectations for myself to start things off good. I didn’t do as well as I should have. After the Christmas break, I got things sorted, and since the new (calendar) year has started, I’ve been happy with the way I’ve been going. Hopefully, I can just keep improving. I really enjoy it over here (in America). I have made contacts with a lot of people. Are you college rodeoing? Ky: Yes, at Sul Ross State University in Alpine (Texas). I rodeoed at Odessa (Texas) College for a year and then I Bull rider Ky Hamilton, 19, a native of Mackay, Queensland, Australia, is off to a great start in his rookie year in the PRCA. As of Feb. 3, he had earned $19,769, which placed him sixth in the 2020 PRCA | Resistol Rookie Standings. Hamilton, who is second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, is optimistic he can ride well enough to qualify for the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas.

KY HAMILTON

came to Sul Ross. The coach (C.J. Aragon) who recruited me to go to Odessa took a job (as the head rodeo coach) at Sul Ross, and (by then) it was too late for me to transfer. I did a year at Odessa and transferred to Sul Ross because that coach has done a lot for me and wants to see me succeed. What was it like placing second at the Division 1 Xtreme Bulls in Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 21-22?

Ky: That was cool. That was the second Xtreme Bulls event I had been at that had a short round. To get to ride there, it made me realize if I do my job at these bigger events they are going to pay more, and that’s going to help me in the standings. (Hamilton earned $10,366 at the event).

What’s the biggest difference between rodeoing in Australia and rodeoing in America in the PRCA? Ky: The amount of events. At home, if I was lucky, I would get to do two events on a weekend. Then, you might have a two-week break before there’s another event. Also, entering with the PRCA is a lot more different, you have to be on the ball all the time. That took a lot of getting used to, as well as the geography and knowing where everything is. Has your family been impacted by the Australian wildfires? Ky: My family got a bit of rain over Christmas. They are further north of the fires and are pretty lucky. What do you enjoy about bull riding? Ky: I like that you can take an animal that is so big and so intimidating and look effortless riding it. What’s your favorite movie? Ky: Tombstone . What’s your favorite restaurant? Ky: Chili’s. I get steak and vegetables. I try and drink water, but I like Coke. What’s your favorite candy? Ky: Peanut M&M’s. What was your favorite cartoon to watch? Ky: SpongeBob SquarePants . What’s been your favorite rodeo to compete at so far?

Ky: The Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up. Competing on the grass was cool. I want to go to Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days. Besides that, I want to go to the NFR in Las Vegas. To get to the Wrangler NFR I just need to make sure I do my job everywhere and the rest will take care of itself. What type of music do you listen to? Ky: (Rapper) Kevin Gates, and when I’m wanting to relax, I will listen to a bit of George Strait. What do you do in your spare time? Ky: I usually like to go to the gym or go do something fun, like in Denver, buddies and I rode scooters downtown. Back at home, I used to hunt a lot of hogs, but I have not done any hunting here in America.

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BRAIN TEASERS TAKE YOUR SHOT

ANSWERS ON PAGE 50

Fatherhood

Can you match these adorable kids’ photos with their father – all current PRCA contestants? Can you see a family resemblance?

1

2

3

4

5

A

B

C

D

E

Word Search Flipping for February

Find the winners from the 2019 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and the winners from the 2019 Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, Miss. Cowboys who won more than one event at both rodeos appear once for each win. Names may be forward, backward, horizontal, vertical or diagonal.

R T T P S P N H J T K S H D X K C P X S P N K I E W J B I S O U X H P R B C O L F K T U X Q R J G P A A R C T A Z O K A L U A H C C X E C B Y A A E W K R N N F X P E K A Y W A G K G R M W A K L E C E A H E S W Z K W T M P M A V R A G A N R H H H S H E B U B H K O O S L B P A I L Y M N A C E A U E Z Y R F B N R E L S O V B M E G N P S S G S E L K E T Q B I U E I P S M N C C Y S E A N X E I I K R M I N G D R U H Z U H Q O R W D T E F D G C Q T G L A N R V I B E Y R B R P O O S H H O P E X L A W U A Z U Y N H U E R B J T N N C N U B L O R R S H Q I D O J L M O Q I K U E B R P G Z W S E E W H N W M Y B L E S N I K Y E L I A H M E L D J H U P T M Q U L S Y Y H V Z C K K U E N Y A H W F N O S T A W E K A J G M V A B E O R T W E E A W Y A T T C O L E M U G G L I S T U T I X G C M I C H A E L T A S H D R R R X C A K Y U W K F K I L H D J R M V R C T B M P S B T B G U Y

1. San Antonio winners: BB: Orin Larsen SW: Tyler Waguespack TR: Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford SB: Wade Sundell TD: Shane Hanchey GB: Hailey Kinsel BR: J.W. Harris 2. Winners from Jackson: AA: Wyatt Cole Muggli BB: Clayton Biglow SW: Tyler Waguespack TR: Tucker Menz/Michael Tash SB: Jake Watson TD: Blake Ash GB: Ryann Pedone BR: Chase Dougherty BONUS QUESTIONS 1. Who won the Xtreme Bulls in San Antonio? 2. Who was the clown/barrelman in Jackson?

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10 QUESTIONS He Said – She Said Who knows saddle bronc rider Jesse Kruse better, his wife and barrel racer, Lindsay, or his traveling partner, Chase Brooks?

Jesse

Lindsay

Chase

CHASE

JESSE

LINDSAY

IS HE AN EARLY BIRD OR A NIGHT OWL?

Night owl

Night owl

Night owl

DOES HE PREFER TO TEXT OR CALL?

Call

Text

Text

WHAT IS HIS FAVORITE THING TO HUNT?

Anything

Anything that moves

Elk

WHAT IS HIS FAVORITE RODEO WIN?

Ellensburg

Ellensburg, Wash.

Ellensburg

WHAT IS HIS FAVORITE COLOR?

Blue

Blue

Blue

WHAT IS HIS FAVORITE NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE?

Coffee

Unsweetened tea

Coffee

WHAT WAS HIS FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL SUBJECT?

Ag

Math

Math

WHAT IS HIS FAVORITE BUCKING HORSE?

Spring Planting

Flying 5’s Spring Planting

Spring Planting

WHO WEARS THE PANTS IN THE FAMILY?

Lindsay

Lindsay

Me

14 WHO IS HIS RODEO IDOL?

Billy Etbauer

Billy Etbauer

– Courtesy of Ted Harbin Billy Etbauer

ProRodeo Sports News 11/7/2014

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OUT HERE, LEGENDS ARE MADE.

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TIME CAPSULE FORT WORTH

Gustafson photo Jim Willuweit (pictured on Bag Pipes) was up against some of the best competition in ProRodeo history at the 1974 Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas, as nearly all of the winners that year are now in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

BY MATT NABER N early all the winners from the 1974 Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas, were eventually inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, as were the cowboys with the highest- scored individual rides in bareback riding and saddle bronc riding. Phil Lyne, the 1974 Fort Worth all-around champion, won $1,929 in steer wrestling and tie-down roping. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979 after winning five world titles (all-around, 1971-72; tie-down roping, 1971-72; and steer roping 1990). He’s one of a handful of cowboys to qualify for the Finals in three events (bull riding, tie-down roping and steer roping). He also won four average titles at Finals events – tie-down roping (1971), bull riding (1972) and steer roping (1983 and 1986). He remains the only cowboy to win average titles in three events. Bareback rider Joe Alexander won Fort Worth with 213 points on three head during a hot streak that helped land him in the Hall of Fame in 1979. Alexander won five consecutive world titles (1971-75) and two regular-season championships (1976-77). The 1974 season was particularly good for the Wyoming cowboy. That’s when he made a ProRodeo record- setting 93-point ride that stood until 2002. Bruce Ford had the highest bareback riding score at the 1974 Fort Worth rodeo at 79 points. Ford went on to win five world titles (1979-80, 1982-83 and 1987) during his 18 trips to the NFR. He was inducted into Stuff of Legends

1974 Fort Worth rodeo had Hall of Fame feel

the Hall of Fame in 1993. Steer wrestler Tommy Puryear won Fort Worth with 14.9 seconds on three head and went on to win the 1974 world title. Puryear, who qualified for the NFR nine times (1971-78 and 1983), was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017. Saddle bronc rider John McBeth joined Puryear in the winner’s circle in Fort Worth and the winner’s circle at the NFR after winning the 1974 world title. McBeth won Fort Worth with 274 points on four head and went into the Hall of Fame in 2010 after 11 NFR qualifications (1965-74 and 1978) and 10 years as the Prairie Circuit Manager (1975-85). Saddle bronc riders McBeth, Doug Brown and Mel Hyland tied with the high score of 73 points. Brown and Hyland made the Hall of Fame, with Brown being inducted in 2019 (for bull riding) and Hyland in 1999. Brown was the 1969 bull riding world champion and made 13 trips to the NFR, five in bull riding and eight in saddle bronc riding. Hyland won two world titles (1972, 1976) and made 11 trips to the NFR. He was the first cowboy to win the Canadian and PRCA saddle bronc riding championships in the same year. His Canadian titles came in 1967, 1972, 1979 and 1982 for saddle bronc riding and in 1974 and 1975 in bareback riding. Although Fort Worth’s 1974 tie-down roping winner Jeff Copenhaver isn’t in the Hall of Fame, he did have a decorated ProRodeo career with a 1975 tie-down roping world title and six NFR qualifications (1971, 1973- 76 and 1978).

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ProRodeo Sports News December 2019

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2020 PRCA RAM WORLD STANDINGS

Unofficial as of Feb 6, 2020. For the 2020 season (Oct. 1, 2019-Sept. 30, 2020), official rodeo limits are as follows: all-around, 70; bareback riding, 100; steer wrestling, 85; team roping, 65; saddle bronc riding, 100; tie-down roping, 85; barrel racing, 100; and bull riding, no limit. Bull riders can count Xtreme Bulls events toward the PRCA World Standings, but not toward the all-around standings.

ALL-AROUND 1. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas........................... $16,656 2. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla........................ 12,061 BAREBACK RIDING 1. Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa....................... $17,885 2. Anthony Thomas, Houston, Texas.................. 11,877 3. Kody Lamb, Sherwood Park, Alberta.............. 11,812 4. Craig Wisehart, Kersey, Colo.......................... 11,109 5. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La............................... 10,379 6. Jake Brown, Cleveland, Texas........................ 10,220 7. Mason Clements, Draper, Utah......................... 9,919 8. Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas................. 8,881 9. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn........................ 8,862 10. Cole Reiner, Kaycee, Wyo................................. 8,586 11. Yance Day, Tahlequah, Okla.............................. 8,265 12. Logan Patterson, Kim, Colo............................. 6,992 13. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas................................. 6,874 14. Jamie Howlett, Rapid City, S.D......................... 6,688 15. Mike Fred, Wamego, Kan................................. 6,348 16. Chad Rutherford, Lake Charles, La................... 5,774 17. Paden Hurst, Huntsville, Texas......................... 5,669 18. Tanner Phipps, Dalton, Ga................................ 5,390 19. Zach Hibler, Wheeler, Texas.............................. 5,286 20. Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D................................... 4,835 STEER WRESTLING 1. Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, Idaho............ $10,677 2. Jacob Edler, State Center, Iowa...................... 10,015 3. Cade Goodman, Waelder, Texas....................... 9,721 4. Jesse Brown, Baker City, Ore........................... 8,341 5. Shayde Etherton, Borden, Ind.......................... 7,481 6. Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D............................ 6,689 7. Kalane Anders, Bayard, Neb............................. 6,652 8. Justin Kimsey, Kennewick, Wash..................... 6,462 9. Jake Nelson, Bozeman, Mont........................... 6,075 10. Shawn Downing, Saco, Mont........................... 6,054 11. Justice Johnson, Bismarck, N.D....................... 5,670 12. Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala............................. 5,445 13. Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Idaho.............................. 5,070 14. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif............................ 5,000 15. Mike McGinn, Haines, Ore................................ 4,996 16. Chisum Docheff, Mead, Colo............................ 4,838 17. Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D....................................... 4,713 18. Dylan Schroeder, Waller, Texas........................ 4,683 19. Payden McIntyre, Douglas, Wyo...................... 4,656 20. Cade Staton, Jonesboro, Texas........................ 4,417 TEAM ROPING (HEADER) 1. Cody Snow, Los Olivos, Calif........................ $11,731 2. Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla...................... 9,210 3. Andrew Ward, Edmond, Okla........................... 9,109 4. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont................................. 8,927 5. Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala............................... 7,241 6. Ty Blasingame, Casper, Wyo............................ 7,087 7. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla.......................... 6,918 8. Brenten Hall, Jay, Okla..................................... 6,599 9. Garrett Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas.................... 6,502 10. Paul David Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla.......... 6,170 11. Bradley Massey, Perry, Fla............................... 6,113 12. Garett Chick, Salado, Texas.............................. 6,076 13. Cyle Denison, Iowa, La..................................... 5,595 14. Kolton Schmidt, Barrhead, Alberta................... 5,371 15. Jr. Dees, Aurora, S.D........................................ 5,167 16. Cory Kidd V, Statesville, N.C............................. 4,538 17. Lathen Bryant, Stephenville, Texas................... 4,370 18. Pat Boyle, Shandon, Calif................................. 4,306 19. Spencer Mitchell, Orange Cove, Calif............... 4,205 20. Delon Parker, Worden, Mont............................ 4,011

TEAM ROPING (HEELER) 1. Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan.......................... $15,956 2. Buddy Hawkins II, Columbus, Kan................... 9,109 3. Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz.......................... 8,090 4. Levi Tyan, Wallace, Neb................................... 7,353 5. Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D..................................... 7,241 6. Colton Brittain, Rockwall, Texas....................... 7,180 7. Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev................................... 6,918 8. Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont............................... 6,599 9. Britt Bockius, Shady Grove, Fla........................ 6,532 10. Dustin Davis, Terrell, Texas.............................. 6,502 11. Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo................................. 6,472 12. Walt Woodard, Stephenville, Texas.................. 6,076 13. Lane Mitchell, Bolivar, Tenn.............................. 5,595 14. Hunter Koch, Vernon, Texas............................. 5,371 15. Lane Siggins, Eloy, Ariz.................................... 5,167 16. Cody Doescher, Webbers Falls, Okla................ 4,685 17. Jake Clay, Sapulpa, Okla................................... 4,538 18. Boogie Ray, Mabank, Texas.............................. 4,435 19. Jared Hixon, Bakersfield, Calif.......................... 4,306 20. Kasper Roy, Mossleigh, Alberta........................ 4,061 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Wyatt Casper, Pampa, Texas........................ $23,129 2. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo........................... 20,235 3. Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D..................... 15,269 4. Jake Finlay, Goondiwindi, Australia ............... 13,113 5. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D.................................. 12,870 6. Cort Scheer, Homedale, Idaho........................ 10,372 7. Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah........................... 10,371 8. Taygen Schuelke, Newell, S.D........................ 10,117 9. Sterling Crawley, Huntsville, Texas................. 10,057 10. Lefty Holman, Visalia, Calif............................... 8,406 11. Tegan Smith, Winterset, Iowa.......................... 8,322 12. Riggin Smith, Winterset, Iowa......................... 7,894 13. Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont..................... 7,373 14. Lane Schuelke, Newell, S.D.............................. 7,189 15. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas......................... 7,099 16. Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas........................ 6,980 17. Leon Fountain, Socorro, N.M........................... 6,529 18. Jade Blackwell, Rapid City, S.D........................ 6,110 19. Chet Johnson, Douglas, Wyo........................... 5,683 20. Bradley Harter, Loranger, La............................. 5,682 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M.......................... $29,531 2. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La........................... 13,647 3. Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas.......................... 13,157 4. Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb................................ 12,482 5. Blane Cox, Cameron, Texas............................ 12,408 6. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas................. 10,963 7. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas........................... 10,431 8. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas............................... 9,395 9. Catfish Brown, Collinsville, Texas..................... 9,378 10. Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont........................ 7,733 11. Chase Williams, Stephenville, Texas................. 7,299 12. Tyler Milligan, Pawhuska, Okla......................... 7,029 13. John Douch, Huntsville, Texas......................... 6,906 14. Ike Fontenot, Ville Platte, La............................. 6,814 15. Andrew Burks, Kiln, Miss................................. 6,811 16. Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas...................... 6,507 17. Randall Carlisle, Athens, La.............................. 6,186 18. Zack Jongbloed, Iowa, La................................. 6,021 19. Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif............................ 5,602 20. Colt Papy, Henrietta, Texas............................... 5,579

STEER ROPING 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas....................... $21,180 2. Billy Good, Wynnewood, Okla........................ 12,338 3. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D........................... 11,075 4. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas.............. 10,493 5. Cole Patterson, Pratt, Kan.............................. 10,261 6. Shay Good, Abilene, Texas............................... 9,456 7. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla........................... 7,852 8. Tony Reina, Wharton, Texas............................. 7,718 9. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas............................... 7,667 10. Jason Evans, Glen Rose, Texas........................ 7,572 11. Martin Poindexter, Comanche, Texas................ 7,515 12. Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla........................ 7,398 13. Corey Ross, Liberty Hill, Texas......................... 6,964 14. Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas............. 6,423 15. Trey Sheets, Pine Bluffs, Wyo.......................... 6,137 16. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla............................ 5,578 17. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla.......................... 5,143 18. Garrett Hale, Snyder, Texas.............................. 5,089 19. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas.............................. 5,053 20. Bryce Davis, Ovalo, Texas................................ 4,827 BULL RIDING 1. Dustin Boquet, Bourg, La............................. $29,086 2. Parker McCown, Montgomery, Texas............. 22,305 3. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla...................... 22,138 4. J.T. Moore, Alvin, Texas................................. 21,215 5. Laramie Mosley, Satanta, Kan........................ 20,317 6. Ky Hamilton, Mackay, Australia...................... 19,769 7. Braden Richardson, Jasper, Texas.................. 14,993 8. Hawk Whitt, Thermopolis, Wyo...................... 13,819 9. Brody Yeary, Morgan Mill, Texas.................... 12,888 10. Dallee Mason, Weiser, Idaho.......................... 11,607 11. Foster McCraw, Navasota, Texas.................... 11,337 12. Colten Fritzlan, Rifle, Colo.............................. 10,940 13. Coy Pollmeier, Fort Scott, Kan........................ 10,511 14. Boudreaux Campbell, Crockett, Texas............ 10,176 15. Cole Melancon, Paris, Texas............................. 8,978 16. Tyler Bingham, Honeyville, Utah....................... 8,867 17. Trevor Kastner, Roff, Okla................................ 8,710 18. Levi Gray, Dairy, Ore........................................ 8,395 19. Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas.................. 8,249 20. Clayton Sellars, Fruitland Park, Fla................... 8,193 *2020 BARREL RACING (Through Feb. 6, 2020) Barrel racing standings, provided by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), are unofficial, subject to audit and may change. Unofficial WPRA Standings are published by the PRCA as a courtesy. The PRCA is not responsible for the verification or updating of WPRA standings. 1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Victoria, Texas...........$17,896 2. Tillar Murray, Fort Worth, Texas......................16,609 3. Jimmie Smith, McDade, Texas........................13,826 4. Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Texas..........................12,939 5. Ivy Hurst, Springer, Okla.................................12,491 6. Taylor Langdon, Aubrey, Texas........................11,055 7. Shelley Morgan, Eustace, Texas......................10,110 8. Carly Taylor, Anderson, Tenn.............................9,844 9. Hailey Lockwood, Cotulla, Texas.......................9,611 10. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas.............................9,251 11. Alex Lang, Harper, Texas...................................8,717 12. Tiany Schuster, Krum, Texas.............................8,242 13. Margaret Poloncic, Gillette, Wyo.......................7,912 14. Abby Phillips, Marshall, Texas...........................7,833 15. Sissy Winn, Chapman Ranch, Texas..................6,936 16. Lisa Thornton, Plum, Texas...............................6,240 17. Alishea Broussard, Esthenwood, La..................5,909 18. Cassidy Champlin, Pilot Point, Texas.................5,849 19. Loni Kay, Lester, Plum, Texas............................5,654 20. Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, Texas............5,614

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RFD-TV Canada, Cowboy Channel Canada announce collaboration with Wild TV Media Mix SHORT ROUND

O n Feb. 3, the launch of RFD-TV Canada and The Cowboy Channel Canada was announced, bringing Rural Media Group’s TV Programming to a new audience in collaboration with Wild TV Network. Through RFD-TV Canada and The Cowboy Channel Canada, viewers can see live coverage of at least 18 ProRodeo Tour final performances plus a taped highlight show for encore airings on both The Cowboy Channel and RFD-TV. There also will be TV coverage of 10 PRCA Xtreme Bulls events, including the Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale with encore airings on both TCC and RFD-TV.

The two networks launch Canada-wide on Shaw Direct TODAY, with planned expansion to the rest of the cable and satellite compa- nies across Canada later in 2020.

Tribble sidelined with neck injury

Las Vegas Events is seeking a general manager for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The annual event, held each year at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, is scheduled for Dec. 3-12. Known as the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, the Wrangler NFR attracts the Top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team rop- ing, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding to compete for a share of the $10 million purse and the coveted gold buckle. In 2019, the event had a total attendance of 168,289 over the 10 days of competition and has sold out 330 consecutive performances. The general manager will work closely with LVE, the NFR Committee and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association on all aspects of rodeo production. For full details or to apply, visit https://bit.ly/31uOMsR. Wrangler NFR seeks manager “Everything went south, my heart rate dropped, blood pressure was crazy and my blood count was bad,” Sparks said. “I had developed numerous blood clots in both lungs and one in my right knee.” By Jan. 30 it was decided to put a filter into Donny’s aorta to bust up the blood clots as they circulate through. “I felt one moving this morning, it stopped right at my sternum,” Sparks said Feb. 4. He went home the next day and is walking around and keeping hydrated. Sparks recovers from surgery and clots An injury from 1996 came back to bite former bullfighter Donny Sparks in early 2020 as a knee replacement surgery was followed with finding multiple blood clots in his lungs. Sparks originally injured his knee just before the 1996 Wrangler NFR when he fell about 20 feet from a tree while hunting. In January 2020 he went in for a knee replacement. Just when he thought everything was fine, Sparks was rushed by ambulance in the night to Eminent Medical Center in the Plano, Texas, area.

Bull rider Garrett

Tribble, a two-time qualifier for the Wran- gler National Finals Rodeo, will be out at least six weeks after fracturing his neck Feb. 1. Tribble, who made the Finals in 2016 and 2018, suffered the in-

Tribble

jury when he was bucked off Rafter H Rodeo’s Left Lane at the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo. “I had a chip in my C1 in my vertebrae in my neck and a concussion,” said Tribble, 22. “I can walk around and everything, I never lost any movement.” Tribble, who is wearing a neck brace, was treated at a San Angelo hospital and released early in the morning Feb. 2. The C1 and C2 vertebrae are the first two vertebrae at the top of the cervical spine. Together they form the atlantoaxial joint, which is a pivot joint. The C1 sits atop and rotates around the C2. More of the head’s rotational range of mo- tion comes from C1-C2 than any other cervical joint.

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ONLINE: For more ProRodeo events and full results, go online at www.prorodeo.com ONLINE: For more Pr Rod o vents and full re ults, go to w .pro deo.com

BY THE NUMBERS $572K The payout – $572,742 – for the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo in Denver, which concluded Jan. 26 at the Denver Coliseum. That payout was an increase of nearly 20% of the total payout in Denver in 2019. $1M The expected total combined payout – $1,018,302 – for the SWELS – Division 1 Xtreme Bulls in Fort Worth, Texas ($61,335), Jan. 21-22, and the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo ($956,967), which began Jan. 24 and concludes Feb. 8. $250M As reported in a Trinity University study, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo produces an economic impact for San Antonio of more than $250 million. The 2020 Stock Show & Rodeo, which runs Feb. 6-23 at the AT&T Center, will air on The Cowboy Channel beginning Feb. 9.

Kimzey, NFL player compare careers on Bleacher Report Bleacher Report photo Sage Kimzey and NFL receiver Danny Amendola compared aspects of rodeo and pro football.

Rodeo and football collided in Miami when bull rider Sage Kimzey, the reigning six-time PRCA world champion, sat down with Super Bowl-winning receiver Danny Amendola for an installment titled “Breaking Boundaries” that streamed online at BleacherReport.com, Feb. 5. To view the installment, go to https://bit. ly/2updNJD. Kimzey and Amendola were brought together through Wrangler, tying together its rich heritage in rodeo, football and music around Super Bowl LIV when the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Will Lowe, a three-time PRCA world champion bareback rider – 2003, 2005-06 – and a 15-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier, will be sidelined for a month after suffering facial fractures and a facial laceration following his 77-point ride on award-winning horse C5 Rodeo’s Virgil during the Veteran bullfighter Robert “Blue” Jeanes, who has had his PRCA card since 1996, is calling it a career from bullfighting after the 2020 season. “I’m hitting some milestones at a lot of the good rodeos I’ve worked,” Jeanes said. “I’m 20 years at Arcadia (Fla.), 20 years at Pasadena (Texas), 15 years

Francisco 49ers, 31-20, in Miami, Feb. 2. The first installment, “Comparing Scars,” featured Kimzey and Amendola, who plays for the Detroit Lions. In the segment, the two swap stories about their craziest injuries and closest calls and discuss the thrill of competing at the championship events of their respective sports. “It’s cool to get an insight on how other sports work,” Kimzey told ProRodeo Sports News . “There are definitely a lot of differences between rodeo and professional football, but there are definitely some similarities as well.” short round at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver. Lowe had surgery Jan. 27 to repair the orbital bone in his right eye. Lowe also broke his nose and received more than 20 stitches where Virgil’s hoof split open Lowe’s lip and sliced into his cheek. at Corpus Christi (Texas) and 15 years at Beaumont (Texas).” Throughout his career, Jeanes has worked for Frontier Rodeo, the PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year the last five years. Jeanes works as a crane operator when he’s not fighting bulls.

Will Lowe out a month after injury in Denver

Bullfighter “Blue” Jeanes planning to retire

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SNAPSHOT Everything’s O-Kay Saddle bronc rider Christian Kay falls to the ground after getting bucked off Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s 4101 at the Stampede at the Ike in West Monroe, La., Jan. 25. The 23-year-old Texas cowboy is rodeoing on his permit. – Robby Freeman photo

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NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW & RODEO

Mile High Moola

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DENVER

Team ropers Cody Snow, right, and Paul Eaves posted a time of 4.2 seconds in the final round in Denver. Ric Andersen photo

The National Western Stock Show and Rodeo upped its game in 2020, altering its format and increasing its payout to more than $500,000.

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NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW & RODEO

Gray’s win honors recently deceased friend For Kelsey BY MATT NABER T ie-down roper AdamGray is changing his buckle for the first time in 13 years. Gray dedicated his win at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver to Kelsey Garrison the day after Garrison, 34, died of colon cancer.

TOP SCORES

ALL-AROUND COWBOY Trell Etbauer, steer wrestling and tie-down roping, $2,639 BAREBACK RIDING

The pair were college roommates and travel partners during their rookie year in 2008. While Garrison opted for a silage cutting business, Gray made the decision to rodeo full time after winning the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Ariz., while on his permit in 2007. “To this day, I’ve worn my Prescott buckle because every time I look at it it reminds me that if I hadn’t won Prescott I wouldn’t have won any more buckles,” Gray said. That single win sent Gray down a path worth more than $1 million in ProRodeo career earnings and five qualifications to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2009, 2011-12, 2014, 2019). Garrison was cheering on Gray from the stands at the 2019Wrangler NFR. One month later, Garrison lost his battle with colon cancer. “It was heartbreaking,” Gray said. “He was the most fun-loving guy you could imagine. His personality was larger than life.” Garrison sold his horse to Blair Burk after his rookie year, but Garrison returned to ProRodeo competition as his work schedule allowed. His final ProRodeo tie-down roping win was the 2016 Pioneer Days Rodeo in Clovis, N.M. “We entered Denver together in 2018, and he still went to the rodeos he could

Etbauer

1. Mason Clements .................. 89.5 pts. 2. (Tie) Tim O’Connell .................... 88.5 Tanner Aus ................................. 88.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Stetson Jorgensen ................ 4.0 sec. 2. Jesse Brown ................................. 4.1 3. Chisum Docheff ........................... 4.3 TEAM ROPING 1. C. Snow/P. Eaves* ................ 4.2 sec. C. Tryan/J. Long ........................... 4.2 3. G. Tonozzi/D. Davis ...................... 4.7 *Snow/Eaves win on average times. SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. (Tie) Rusty Wright* ................ 91 pts. Brody Cress .................................. 91 3. Hardy Braden ................................ 90 *Wright wins on average scores. TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Adam Gray ............................ 7.2 sec. 2. (Tie) Tyler Milligan ....................... 7.9 Shad Mayfield .............................. 7.9 BARREL RACING 1. Carly Taylor ....................... 14.99 sec. 2. Jimmie Smith ........................... 15.07 3. Tillar Murray ............................. 15.11 BULL RIDING 1. Brody Yeary ......................... 83.5 pts. 2. Sage Kimzey ............................... 80.5 No other qualified rides

during his down time,” Gray said. “He found out one year ago he had colon cancer and died at 34.” Gray recovered from hip surgery in 2017 and made his fifthWrangler NFR qualification in 2019. “So, to be the old guy and win (Denver) makes me feel good,” the 36-year-old cowboy laughed. Gray’s first Denver win was in 2015, but this year featured a tournament format. “The tournament is sudden death, so it’s do or die and it’s not like you carry other times forward, so it takes safety-ing up out of the equation,” Gray said. Gray won the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo with a 7.2-second run in the final round and took home a $6,368 check. For Gray, the buckle might be more valuable. “I was just honored,” Gray said. “When I won it, I knew they would interview me (in the arena on camera), and all I could think of

Adam Gray (inset photo right) dedicated his tie- down roping win at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver to his recently deceased friend, Kelsey Garrison.

was Kelsey and I wanted to share what I had been feeling all morning. No matter what we do in life, it doesn’t matter because the day comes when we are called home. It’s what we did, not who we are, and I wanted to share with everyone there. Now I’ll take my Prescott buckle off and wear the Denver one because it’ll remind me of him.”

Complete results/Page 40

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DENVER

Ric Andersen photo

39 Among the competitors to win money in Denver, 39 of them were ties.

$94,416 Denver’s payout increased by $94,416 in one year, going from $478,326 in 2019 to $572,742 in 2020.

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NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW & RODEO Yeary wins Denver two straight years

B ull rider Brody Rodeo in Denver but suffered an injury a couple months later that hampered his season. Yeary returned to Denver in 2020 and came away as a repeat champion Jan. 26, this time winning under the new tournament format. “It was a little different,” Yeary said. “There were some things I liked and some I didn’t like, but the format is the new thing and I was glad to win it.” After his 2019 win in Denver, Yeary suffered an injury to his knee and hamstring that kept him out of competition fromApril until the middle of August. In 2019, after being injured, the Texas cowboy finished the season ranked 40th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $34,269. The 22-year-old is starting the 2020 season strong after winning one of the first major rodeos of the year. “It’s cool to win either way,” Yeary said. “It’s always good to be healthy and it’s always good to win. Those injuries are behind me and never cross my mind anymore.” Yeary looked plenty healthy when he posted an 83.5-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Rawhide to win the final round and his second consecutive Denver title. “It doesn’t change your approach if they ride every bull before me,” Yeary said. “It’s been my goal to up my consistency.” Consistency is nice, but Yeary won the 2019 National Western Stock Show and

Ric Andersen photo Brody Yeary won the Denver rodeo for the second year in a row, this time with an 83.5-point ride on Cervi Rodeo’s Rawhide in the final round as the 2020 rodeo featured a tournament format.

ProRodeo Tour Standings. “Every win feels good and gets your momentum going,” Yeary said. “I talked about going to fewer rodeos and making the most of the ones I go to, but I’ve been at a bunch, so we’ll see where we end up.” Yeary’s 2020 Denver win pushed him to ninth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $12,766. “January isn’t over yet,” Yeary said. “I’m going directly to Fort Worth next.” –Matt Naber

when the slate is wiped clean for each round getting a good draw can be just as important. Yeary knew Toby Collins won Round 2 with a 90-point ride on Rawhide, so Yeary was excited for the final round. With high stakes and rank bulls, the final round featured just two qualified rides with Yeary’s as the top score. “It was a great set of bulls they had today, and you have to rise to the occasion,” Yeary said. Yeary’s 2020 Denver win was worth $7,860 and a jumpstart in the

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NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW & RODEO New duo

wins Denver team roping Only three rodeos into their newly formed partnership, team ropers Cody Snow and Paul Eaves won the Denver rodeo as the follow-up to their successful 2019 seasons. “Paul is super solid, and it’s awesome roping with a world champ,” Snow said. “He knows when to be aggressive and when to rope smart, and I feed off his energy.” Although they weren’t in the money for most of the Denver rodeo, their average time from the first two rounds turned out to be the deciding factor in Snow and Eaves being named the Denver champions after tying with Clay Tryan and Jake Long in the final round with 4.2-second runs. “We were the last ones out and just had to catch without any mistakes, and tonight we didn’t have to think and just went with reaction,” said Eaves, the 2018 team roping heeling world champion. “You can strategize a bit more.” The duo earned $6,471 each in Denver and a healthy jumpstart in the ProRodeo Tour standings. “It’s a rodeo you’ll always remember winning,” Snow said. “Not everyone wins these big rodeos.” In Eaves’ case, it was his second time winning Denver, the first coming in 2016. “To me, the header is the quarterback,” Eaves said. “That’s the hardest job, to set it up for me.” Snow narrowly missed winning his first world title in 2019 during his fourth consecutive trip to the Wrangler NFR. He finished the season with $256,938, $11,882 shy of a world title. Eaves finished seventh in the 2019 world standings for team roping heelers with $186,600 after his eighth consecutive Wrangler NFR. One month later, they’re off to a running start in 2020. “When you name the rodeos of the year, this is one of them that’s on a pedestal, so to win a major rodeo like this gives you more confidence,” Snow said.

Saddle bronc rider Rusty Wright has been too busy setting records in Denver two years in a row to notice he was the one to beat. Having won Denver’s short round twice, first as a rookie in 2014 and again in 2019, the Utah cowboy had done everything but win the title at Denver’s rodeo. Last year, he joined the ranks of Dan Mortensen and Cody DeMoss in sharing Denver’s saddle bronc riding record of 90 points. One year later he topped it. Wright posted a record-breaking ride in the finals with his 91-point ride onThe Cervi Brothers’ Ricky Bobby. Brody Cress equaled that score with a 91-point effort onThe Cervi Brothers’ Avenger. So, while Wright and Cress shared the title of Denver record-holder, Wright claimed the rodeo title because of his average score from the first two rounds. “It makes me feel like I can ride these buckers,” Wright said. Wright’s Denver trip was worth $7,815. “It’s awesome and takes some stress off you,” Wright said. “This will put me up there and get the ball rolling. It’s a big time of year … if you go to all the winter rodeos you could darn near make the Finals in the winter run.” Drawing Ricky Bobby was a chance for retribution after the bronc bucked him off in Round 8 of the 2019Wrangler NFR. “He made me look pretty stupid, and I didn’t ride like I wanted to there,” Wright said, adding that he analyzed video of that ride before their rematch in Denver. “I want to ride every horse as well as I can, and it’s sweet to ride like I know I should have (at the Finals). Today, I had my head right.” The new tournament format didn’t faze the four-time qualifier for the Wrangler NFR (2015-16, 2018-19). “It’s no different really,” Wright said. “I knew I had to ride the best I could, and I was lucky enough to draw the right ones.” Rusty Wright wins with record-breaker Ric Andersen photo In 2019, Rusty Wright matched Denver’s saddle bronc riding record with a 90-point ride, while this year he broke it with 91 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Ricky Bobby.

ProRodeo Sports News 2/7/2020

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