ProRodeo Sports News - February 2, 2024

DENVER, COLO.

BY TANNER BARTH & TRACY RENCK

Pearson takes charge in Denver Tyler Pearson is no stranger to making big time runs when it matters most. The 2017 PRCA World Champion put that winning pedigree on full display for the fans at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver. “With the way this short round pays, you better win first if you want to win any money out of here,” said Pearson, 38. “So, we just had to max the barrier out and make a good run.” That’s exactly what the five-time Wrangler NFR qualifier did. Fellow steer wrestler Justin Shaffer started off the short round by laying down a 3.8-second run that would be hard to top, but Pearson knew he was up for the challenge with the calf he had drawn. He followed it up with a 3.3-second time, by far the fastest run of the rodeo. “I knew I had a good steer coming in. Trell Etbauer was 3.8 (seconds) on him earlier in the week and Darcy (Kersh) came back and was 4.0 on him,” Pearson said. “So, I knew I had a chance, I just needed to hit the barrier.” Pearson’s trip to Denver earned him $7,997 toward the PRCA | RAM World Standings, bumping him up to fourth as of Jan. 30. The Atoka, Okla., cowboy is hoping to make a push for his first Wrangler NFR since 2021, but he knows there will be obstacles along the way. “I sure hope this gives me some momentum. The last couple of years have been pretty slow,” Pearson said. “It would be great to go out there and have a fun year. In this sport, you just have to find a way to keep the balling rolling in your direction. “The goal is obviously to get back there (the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo). I wouldn’t be out here doing this if I wasn’t trying to go there. That’s the main goal.”

Greg Westfall photo Steer wrestler Tyler Pearson, the 2017 PRCA World Champion, was in top form in Denver, winning the short round with a 3.3-second run.

Green finishes atop tie-down roping battle

When tie-down roper Tanner Green backed into the box for the finals of the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo – he knew exactly what to expect. “I ran that calf in the semifinals to get to the finals and he did the same thing,” said Green, 25. “I didn’t know what he was going to do (in the semifinals), but I knew what he was going to do in the finals. I had a gameplan and it went a lot better than (the semifinals). I just kind of got by him in the semis (9.4 seconds), but I made a pretty good run on him in the finals.” That he did. Green clocked a 7.3-second run on Jan. 21 to claim the rodeo victory at the Denver Coliseum. “I felt like with the calf I had drawn I had something to prove,” Green said. “It kind of fired me up. I was either going to go out trying to win first or I was going to win first.” Green, who is the grandson of ProRodeo Hall of Famer Phil Lyne, is still searching for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo bid, and he is hopeful this winter momentum will carry over. “This gives me all the confidence in the world,” Green said. “We just have to keep the ball rolling and I have to keep doing my job.” In Denver, Green was aboard Voodoo. He left the Mile-High city after earning $7,435. “I got him a couple of years ago and he’s my No. 1,” Green said. “He did great (in the finals). He got left and pulled perfect. He just did a great job for me.”

Greg Westfall photo Tie-down roper Tanner Green’s quest to make his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo received a boost when he won Denver with a 7.3-second run.

ProRodeo Sports News 2/2/2024

ProRodeo.com

33