ProRodeo Sports News - February 19, 2021

Kraupie throws down personal best Fast Times RODEO RAPID CITY RAPID CITY, S.D.

BY MATT NABER I n less than four seconds, Jake Kraupie can tally up thousands of dollars as an auctioneer or by winning a steer wrestling competition. He pulled it off in the steer wrestling recently when he made a 3.5-second run to win Rodeo Rapid City (S.D.). On Feb. 2, he made his run during Rapid City’s slack, but the rodeo didn’t end until Feb. 6 so he had to wait four days to see if it held up. It did, earning him the biggest win of his ProRodeo career, which began in 2012. “I was like, ‘Well, it’s a good run and I hope it holds up,’” Kraupie said. “I was just waiting to see what happened. I knew the guys up later had the ability and the talent to be faster than that, but it worked out in my favor.” Rodeo and auctioneering are a family affair. When not on the rodeo road, Kraupie works with his family’s auction company, Kraupie’s Real Estate &Auctioneers in Bridgeport, Neb. Kraupie’s brother, Del, also steer wrestled and their dad, Darrell, competed in roughstock events. Grandpa Harold used to compete, too. “I just like a challenge and an adrenaline rush,” Kraupie said about rodeo. “I also like the camaraderie and being around the people – when you go to a rodeo and see a lot of friends and then have the competitive edge of it. In bulldogging, everyone who enters has a chance and you don’t know what’ll happen. I just like rodeo, it’s in my blood you could say.” The friendships he made were the key to his Rapid City success, as Cameron Morman was his hazer and the owner of the horse Kraupie rode. “Kenneth (Morman’s horse) is just easy and scores really good,” Kraupie said. “He stands good in the box, tries hard and gives you a good go for how I bulldog. I’m not real tall (about 5-10 or 5-11) and he runs closer to them and more up their back, so I get a good shot at them.” Kraupie had his best season in 2019 when he started traveling with Morman, Sterling Lambert and Taz Olson. That season, Kraupie earned $16,834. “It’s awesome, we all help each other out the best we can,” Kraupie said. “Whatever anyone needs, we’ll do our best, and if it helps them win, we will do it. We like to joke around and don’t get too serious, but when we pull into a rodeo, we dang sure try to win first.” His Rapid City win was worth $4,644, which launched him from 42nd to fourth in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings, a significant boost as he hit the ProRodeo road with full force for the first time. “You always want to get the year started off as fast as you can,” Kraupie said. “In the past, I was slow on getting started, but this win is exciting and hopefully it keeps going for the rest of the season.”

TOP SCORES

ALL-AROUND AND TOP MONEY WINNER Zack Jongbloed ($6,729, tie- down roping and steer wrestling) BAREBACK RIDING Jongbloed

1. Jayco Roper ........................ 89.5 pts. (Tie) Jess Pope .......................... 89.5 3. Tanner Aus .................................... 89 STEER WRESTLING 1. Jake Kraupie ......................... 3.5 sec. 2. Sterling Lambert .......................... 3.7 (Tie) Gabe Burrows ...................... 3.7 TEAM ROPING 1. J. Gaona/T. Nowlin ................ 4.1 sec. 2. B. Hall/C. Tryan ............................ 4.2 (Tie) H. Smith/J. Davis ................. 4.2 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Cody DeMoss ......................... 91 pts. 2. Chase Brooks ................................ 89 3. Two tied at ................................. 88.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shad Mayfield ....................... 8.0 sec. 2. Zack Jongbloed ............................ 8.2 3. Three tied at ................................. 8.3 BARREL RACING 1. Randee Prindle ................. 11.80 sec. 2. Keyla Polizello Costa ................ 11.91 3. Kathy Grimes ........................... 12.05 BULL RIDING 1. J.R. Stratford ...................... 93.5 pts. 2. Parker Breding ........................... 90.5 3. T.J. Gray ..................................... 89.5

IN BRIEF THREE RECORDS

The number of records broken at Rodeo Rapid City: saddle bronc riding (91 points, Cody DeM- oss), barrel racing (11.8 seconds, Randee Prindle) and bull riding (93.5 points, JR Stratford)

Complete results/Page 44

Jackie Jensen photo

ProRodeo Sports News 2/19/2021

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