ProRodeo Sports News - February 23, 2018

Steer wrestler Cody Sullivan competes during the Dixie National Rodeo. The Mississippi cowboy won the average with an 8.7-second time on two head. He earned $6,447 for his performance, which was the biggest payday in the 30-year-old’s career. Robby Freeman photo

Home Cookin’

BY TRACY RENCK G rowing up, the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, Miss., always held a special place in Cody Sullivan’s mind. “Everybody comes to watch the Dixie National,” said Sullivan, who was born and raised in Crystal Springs, a half hour from Jackson. “They all want to know what you’re doing and how you’re doing. This rodeo is a big deal around here.” Sullivan’s friends and family didn’t have to search long to find Sullivan’s name at the latest Dixie National Rodeo. Mississippi native Sullivan wins steer wrestling average

The Mississippi native captured the biggest win of his career, clocking an 8.7-second time to win the two-head average. “This win really means a lot to me,” said Sullivan, 30. The march for victory began for Sullivan when he registered a 3.7-second run, which won the first round. Round two wasn’t as fruitful for Sullivan, as he came in at 5.0 seconds, but it was enough for him to claim the average title by one-tenth of a second over Jesse Brown, Scott Guenthner and Clayton Haas. “My first steer, I didn’t know how good he was, but I caught him and won the round,” said the 5-foot-11, 230-pound Sullivan. “My second steer, I drew a good one and I didn’t really have a plan, so I just decided to go at him. It could’ve been a little bit better run, but it got the job done.” Sullivan made his runs Feb. 7 and Feb. 11 and then had to wait to see where he would finish when the rodeo concluded Feb. 14. “I really tried not to keep looking at the results and thinking about it,” he said. It didn’t take Sullivan long to find out about the final results.

TOPS AT JACKSON — Feb. 8-14

ALL-AROUND COWBOY Shane Proctor $1,461 Saddle bronc riding and bull riding

BAREBACK RIDING 1. Austin Foss ............................... 89 pts. 2. Shane O’Connell ........................... 87.5 3. Orin Larsen ................................... 85.5 4. Caleb Bennett .................................. 85

STEER WRESTLING 1. Cody Sullivan ............... 8.7 sec. on two 2. (tie) Jesse Brown ........................... 8.8 Scott Guenthner ............................. 8.8 Clayton Hass .................................. 8.8

TEAM ROPING 1. T. Wade/T. Yates ........ 11.4 sec. on two 2. B. Webb/K. VonAhn ...................... 11.7 3. L. Karney/L. Mitchell ..................... 11.8 4. T. Kirchenschlager/T. Worley ........ 12.5

ProRodeo Sports News 2/23/18

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