ProRodeo Sports News - August 2, 2019

STEER WRESTLER

PRCA ProRodeo file photo

Dean Gorsuch Circuit cowboy developed into two-time world champ BY MATT NABER W hile spending five years as a pipeline welder and a weekend circuit contender, Dean Gorsuch probably didn’t realize how far his jump into full- time ProRodeo would take him. The Nebraska steer wrestler won two world titles, world title in 2006. He went on to qualify again every year from 2008 through 2013, picking up his second world title in 2010. Gorsuch competed at the RAMNCFR in 2005 and 2010 and was named Tour champion in 2006 and 2008. Gorsuch suffered an injury that kept him out of the

2007 season, but he came back strong to finish second in the world in 2008. His 2010 title came on the back of his gray horse Pump Jack. Pump Jack came in second in the AQHA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year race that year. Looking back at his accomplishments, being able to enjoy rodeo with his family by his side was the most important. It was a family decision for him to quit his job and rodeo full time, and they did the same when they decided it was time for him to retire, he said. “We prayed and prayed when I quit my job to go rodeo, and we prayed when it was time to be done,” Gorsuch said. “It’s dang sure a God thing. I couldn’t have done it without my faith.” Now, he can add Hall of Famer to the long list of victories he can share with his family. “I started crying,” Gorsuch said about finding out about his induction. “To be in there with the people I looked up to so much like Steve Duhon, Ote Berry and Roy Duvall, it’s so amazing. I dang sure don’t put myself with them. “I’m still beside myself and I still can’t believe it. It’s very humbling and amazing.”

made eight qualifications to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, won two Tour titles and earned $1.3 million in prize money, paving the way for his induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2019. “Ever since I was little, I’d always dreamed of rodeoing for a living, making the Finals and being a world champ,” Gorsuch told ProRodeo Sports News in 2007. “My dream has always been to make the Finals, but the best thing was to walk into that building with my little boy and my wife. I’ve always wanted to do that as a family. It was fun to have (Taydon) there and to share it with them. It was pretty cool.” Gorsuch, a third-generation steer wrestler, grew up in the cattle country of northwestern Nebraska. He competed in college rodeo while studying welding at EasternWyoming College and bought his PRCA permit in 2002. Sticking mostly to circuit rodeos, he won the Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo steer wrestling average in 2005 and attended his first RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo that year. He rapidly rose to ProRodeo stardom as he made his first Wrangler NFR qualification in 2005 and won his first

QUICK FACTS • World Cham- pion Steer Wres- tler 2006 and 2010 • Eight Wrangler NFR Qualifica- tions: 2005-06, 2008-13 • $1.3 million in career earnings

ProRodeo.com PRORODEO HALL OF FAME 36 ProRodeo Sports News 8/2/2019