ProRodeo Sports News - February 8, 2019

GRILLE COWBOY

TREY KIMZEY, 20, of Strong City, Okla., is the younger brother of reigning five-time Bull Riding World Champion Sage Kimzey. Trey has shown star ability of his own. He spent the past two years on his PRCA permit, and in 2018 he earned a PRCA permit member record for one-year earnings in one event with $51,270, breaking Sage’s record of $47,726 set in 2013. Trey has higher expectations for the 2019 season, starting with qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

WITH TRACY RENCK PSN

How young were you when you started getting into bull riding? Trey: I won my first saddle when I was 6 in the mutton bustin’ and probably when I was 14 years old and I rode a good one at a youth bull riding event, from that day on I wanted to be a bull rider. I’ve done other stuff. I was a (tie-down roper) and was a trick rider and a trick roper with my sister (Dusta), but from that point on I was set on bull riding. I’m still a pretty good trick roper though. When you were coming up through the ranks what was it like to see your brother Sage succeeding?

Trey: I saw how much success a guy coming from the same place as I was having great success, and it helped let me know what I could do. Sage has helped me out a bunch as well. I’m proud of Sage and what he has accomplished, and he is one of the best bull riders in the world. I just set my goals and he set his goals, and we both try and help each other achieve them. What was it like having a record-breaking permit season in 2018? Trey: I wanted to break Sage’s record, but last year I wasn’t doing good until the Fourth of July run. That’s when everything turned around for me, and I ended up having a great season. What are your expectations for 2019?

Trey: I for sure want to go to the NFR, and if you ride all 10 bulls at the NFR more than likely you will win the world. That’s my plan. I’ve been there for 10 days just sitting in the seats and I got pumped up, so I don’t know what it would be like to compete at the NFR, but I know it would be cool if I could get there. What does 8 seconds feel like to you? Trey: It’s about adrenaline and a battle. It’s straight man vs. beast. There’s nothing else like it.

When you climb aboard a bull in the chute what’s going through your mind? Trey: Hours before I ride, I visualize what I’m going to do. Then, when I get in the chute, I just let my training and everything I have done up to that moment take care of things. It is all muscle memory. If I know a little bit about a bull I might move my rope an inch one way or another, but it doesn’t matter to me if I know a lot about a bull before I ride. Is there one bull you want to ride that’s at the top of your bucket list? Trey: Probably everybody’s favorite is SweetPro’s Bruiser, and I would like to put my name on there too. He’s one of the rankest bulls in the world and he’s just so honest about it. Some bulls are dirty, and he’s so honest and he still throws people off, and that’s a tip of the hat to him.

What would be your walk-up song to the chute? Trey: My favorite right now would be “Natural” by Imagine Dragons. The song is slow in the beginning and then it picks up, so you have to get it in the right spot. What’s your favorite type of food to eat? Trey: Mexican food. I usually get street tacos. My favorite dessert to eat is a skillet chocolate chip cookie from Chili’s. What TV show do you binge watch? Trey: The Blacklist. Raymond “Red” Reddington is a bad man. Is there a non-rodeo athlete you look up to?

Trey: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints quarterback). He got turned down by one team and then went to the Saints and won a Super Bowl. His story is pretty cool. What do you do to pass the time when you’re not rodeoing? Trey: Go golfing and hanging out with my buddies. I’m not that good at golf, but during the end of summer I get half decent and then at the first

of the year I’m no good again. It’s frustrating. What was your favorite cartoon as a kid? Trey: Tom and Jerry for sure.

Did you play any other sports growing up? Trey: I played basketball in high school, but I never claim it.

TREY KIMZEY

ProRodeo Sports News 2/8/2019

ProRodeo.com

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