ProRodeo Sports News - February 23, 2018

SANANGELO RODEO

and he just had to scratch it.” Competing in college rodeo was a life-changing experience for Corbett. Now, he’s out to give that same experience to students and aspiring ProRodeo athletes. “My rodeo coach shaped my future,” Corbett said. “If it weren’t for him there’s a good chance I’d be in jail or dead. That four- or five-year period of college really sets the trajectory for the rest of your life.” He and his wife, Lacey, work with college-aged students while raising their infant daughter, Conlee. “My patience is tested on a daily basis,” Corbett said. “I see kids with more talent than anyone I’ve ever seen, but they won’t work at it and won’t progress. It’s similar to parents saying, ‘Don’t do that,’ but they know better. And that’s how I was in college, I was talented, but I didn’t work at it.” Now, Corbett’s coaching by example, not only in the arena but also in the gym. “I’ve worked out with Tim (O’Connell) and he pushes himself to dangerous places in the gym, so my workouts are stemmed from things I did with him,” Corbett said. “I’m in better shape now at 29 than I was at 19, so having those young guys around all the time pushes me to better myself.” Corbett’s efforts paid off at San Angelo where he won the first round with an 87-point ride on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s BlackWidow. Corbett’s second bronc was one he was familiar with, having seen Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket buck at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “I was like, ‘Man, you don’t want to be the guy that messes that up when you have an opportunity to get 90-plus,’” Corbett said. “I was anxious all day, but I knew what she was going to do and would have a good mark out and be a lot of fun … but I tried not to think about it.” Corbett tied for second with an 89-point ride and won the average for $9,287. Before winning San Angelo, Corbett wasn’t even in the Top 15 of the 2018 PRCAWorld Standings. The win propelled the cowboy to 13th with $13,379. Last year, he won $34,913 to rank third in the rookie standings. “One thing I’m working on this year is anyone can win on Dirty Jacket, but it’s taking the horses that are less desirable and being able to place on them,” Corbett said. “You might not win every time, but you might place second or third. It’s just consistently placing and using what you draw, regardless if they are what you want or not, and getting some money has been a big change in my mental game.” O’Connell has seen the success coming. “He’s really turned a corner in his life,” O’Connell said. “He’s a totally different rider than he was in 2012, and even from last year on his rookie card, his mindset is completely different. He’s riding with confidence and conviction, he knows what he can do on a bucking horse and it’s showing.” “A win like this lets me know I’m on track and we are still learning and developing, but I’m definitely on par to make the Finals,” Corbett said. “We know that not only am I able to financially do this, but I can hold my own against those guys. You want to believe it, but it’s nice to see some physical evidence. … It really skyrockets your confidence, those past positive experiences. You back those into your subconscious and having those positive experiences helps, not only financially but also mentally for the rest of the season.” Winning San Angelo ranks right up there with how the 2017 season ended for Corbett. He celebrated his 29th birthday with the Southern New

Mexico Rodeo State Fair in his hometown of Las Cruces. The fair hosted a college rodeo and a ProRodeo competition – allowing Corbett to showcase his skills as a coach and as a bareback rider. Corbett landed a 92-point ride on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Wilson Sanchez, tying O’Connell for the highest scored bareback ride of the season. “Being the two high scores of the year and it being my birthday in my hometown, it was an awesome culmination of the whole year – coaching and winning, you couldn’t ask for a more fairy-tale ending of the season,” Corbett said. That home-run ending to the season gave Corbett a boost of confidence going into 2018. He went on to win the Laredo (Texas) PRCA Pro Rodeo on Nov. 5 and the Brawley (Calif.) Cattle Call Rodeo, Nov. 12. “It just takes time, and we are getting there,” Corbett said. “What it takes is that investment of your time and money. You have to expose yourself and let the judges see you ride and then it gets on a roll. Then it takes a bit of time and you have to draw well, that’s a huge part of the deal in our event.” O’Connell expects big things from his traveling partner. “Logan is a force to be reckoned with that’s just now getting noticed,” O’Connell said. “Logan’s late to the party as far as age, but he’s going to be part of the party – he’s mature enough and fit enough and has the attitude to do it. This won’t be the last time you see Logan’s name winning rodeos.”

Trey Benton III rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Jay Z for 90 points to win the final round and the average at the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo, Feb. 16. Ric Andersen photo

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Blane Cox ............... 23.7 sec. on three 2. Scott Kormos ............................... 24.7 3. D.J. Parker .................................... 25.2 4. Marcus Theriot ............................. 25.6

BARREL RACING 1. Amberleigh Moore . 44.15 sec. on three 2. Lisa Lockhart .............................. 44.40 3. (tie) Hailey Kinsel ....................... 44.53 Christine Laughlin ...................... 44.53

BULL RIDING 1. Trey Benton III ......... 180.5 pts. on two 2. Jordan Spears ............................ 176.5 3. J.W. Harris .................................. 175.5 4. Sage Kimzey .................................. 174

Complete results on Page 43

ProRodeo Sports News 2/23/18

ProRodeo.com

23