ProRodeo Sports News - January 11, 2019

the average title, but he recorded a 5.2-second run, crowning Payne the average champ. “In the third round, I knew I had to go for it,” Payne said. “I didn’t know what Matt was going to do. I knew I had to do the best I could do.” DEALINGWITHADVERSITY Payne bought his PRCA card in December 2015, but his rodeo career didn’t go according to plan. “In 2016, my good horse, Coty, who was 9, died when he jumped over a fence and hit his head,” Payne said. “Then in October of 2017, I broke my left leg rodeoing. I came back from that. This past year, I broke my left hand.” Before 2019, Payne earned $2,032 in 2016, RAM TEXAS CIRCUIT FINALS

days and pushed steers for him,” Grady said. “It was wild. He won the first round, and he had no clue that if he won the average he would get to go to Kissimmee. It was a fairy-tale deal. I can’t explain the emotions I felt when he won the average. It was crazy, and it was a blessing for him. I know neither one of us thought that would happen. He has a lot of talent. We plan on going a lot together this year and hope we can both get something rolling.” LATE INTRODUCTIONTO STEERWRESTLING In high school, Payne, a Texas native, rode bareback and saddle bronc horses. Not until his senior year of high school did Payne begin steer wrestling. “I tried bucking horses because my grandpa (Grady) did it some, and I was OK at it,” Payne said. “Then, my wife’s dad (Tim Burgess) was a steer wrestler, and I thought I would try it. I liked it, and there was less chance for me to get hurt.” Payne, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 210 pounds, is happy he switched events. “Steer wrestling is a better choice for me,” Payne said. “I want to see how far I can take things.”

$2,338 in 2017 and $8,089 in 2018 on the rodeo trail. Prospects for Payne having a banner season in 2019 didn’t look promising as he searched for horsepower. That search stopped when J.J. Miller – the uncle of Payne’s wife, Shaina – allowed Payne and his younger brother and fellow PRCA steer wrestler, Grady, to ride his horse, Keechi. Miller, who hazed for Don inWaco, also plans to ride the horse this season. The 19-year-old horse has been a blessing for Payne. “He’s a good horse, and having good horsepower is everything,” he said. “I think he could be one of the top horses out here, and he could really get me somewhere. That horse is getting a little older, so I want to go as hard as I can as long as that horse will let me and see what I can get done.” Grady, 22, witnessed Don’s victory firsthand in Waco. “I was there all three

Saddle bronc rider Isaac Diaz, above, won the RAM Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo with 258 points on three head. This was the third time he won the average at the RAM Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo, with the others coming in 2007 and 2015. James Phifer photo

Complete results on Page 42

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Isaac Diaz ................. 258 pts. on three 2. Jacobs Crawley ............................. 247 3. Wyatt Casper .............................. 245.5 4. Sterling Crawley ......................... 241.5

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Ty Harris ................. 27.9 sec. on three 2. Scott Kormos ............................... 30.2 3. Cooper Mathews .......................... 35.1 4. Cimarron Boardman ......... 18.7 on two

STEER ROPING 1. Vin Fisher Jr. ........... 34.4 sec. on three 2. Shay Good .................................... 35.5 3. J. Tom Fisher ................................ 35.8 4. Scott Snedecor ............................. 39.9

BULL RIDING 1. Cole Melancon ............ 178 pts. on two 2. Jesse Petri .................... 89 pts. on one 3. Brody Yeary ..................................... 86 4. Reid Barker ................................... 84.5

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