ProRodeo Sports News - July 27, 2018

The performance by Lewis might have caught some off guard, but not Shane Hanchey, the 2013 Tie-down Roping World Champ andWrangler National Finals Rodeo average winner. “There’s a reason Monty has won that rodeo (Salinas) more than once,” Hanchey said. “His attention to detail is unlike most of the guys out here. He’s probably the smartest guy I know that rodeos. Salinas is just his setup. Monty always scores great and never gets in a bad position riding and roping the neck. Salinas is a special rodeo, and it takes a lot of patience in our event, unlike most of the year.” Thanks to Jag’s help, Lewis departed Salinas after earning $10,555. That placed Lewis 37th in the July 25 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $25,622. “I wish I wasn’t so far behind because ( Jag) is a really good summertime horse, and I feel like I’m roping good enough to go make the Finals,” Lewis said. “I’m entered up starting in Lovington, N.M. (Aug. 8-11), and I’m headed to the Northwest. That’s a good little horse, and he’s figured it out.” Although Lewis is trying to climb the world standings, he’s in good shape in the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Standings through 14 events, sitting 14th with 345 points. “I know how to win, it’s just a matter of having the right circumstances, and this is a good horse I have,” Lewis said. “I know I would like to qualify for Puyallup for the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour (finale).” The Wrangler Tour consists of 22 of the PRCA’s biggest rodeos and culminates with the Justin Finale in Puyallup, Wash., Sept. 6-9. The Top 24 competitors in the Tour standings in each event will earn a spot at the Justin Finale, as cowboys make a final push toward the all-important Top 15 in the world standings. TOUGH COUPLE OF SEASONS After placing fifth in the 2015 world standings, Lewis had his 2016 season cut short when he injured his left knee at Logandale, Nev. “I tore my knee

“I like to rope,” he said. “It (tie-down roping) has changed a lot. The calves are smaller, the set-ups are shorter, and the barriers are shorter. You can compare eras, and guys rope good in all eras. I guess the style has evolved and it changes the way you rope. “I rope a lot differently now than I did back then, because the environment makes it necessary. It keeps you young trying to keep up with those kids. Every time these kids come up they do some things a little differently, and they bring it up to here. Roping is tough right now.” Lewis tries to use his experience to his advantage. “There’s no situation I haven’t seen,” he said. “When you get to this age, it’s not like you have to put quite as much work in the practice pen because you’re not trying to figure out how to rope,” Lewis said. “It’s more about keeping your body in shape, and when you do that you can go for a long time. I go to the gym regularly, and I think you have to at my point. I still feel good and I can move.” TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE Every cowboy who competes in the PRCA has gold buckle dreams, and Lewis has found memories of his 2004 championship season. Then a relatively unknown 23-year-old, Lewis knocked legends Fred Whitfield and Cody Ohl off the mountain top. Ohl andWhitfield had won the previous nine world championships. Lewis stopped their reign when he edged Stran Smith by less than $2,000 for the 2004 title. “You realize how hard it is to do, and I’m real thankful it happened for me,” Lewis said. “I wish I would have got more than one, but one is a big deal. If I had not won the average I would not have won the world. They went hand in hand.” Lewis was quick to credit his horse, Ned, for his success in Salinas 13 years earlier. Ned was voted PRCA/AQHA Tie-down Roping Horse of the Year in 2004. “I made the Finals on that horse a few times and won the world on him,” Lewis said. “He was like stealing out there. I won on him every year I went.”

up pretty good,” said Lewis, who keeps busy when he’s not rodeoing by working in his family’s cattle business. In 2017, Lewis’ horse suffered a season- ending injury in Reno, Nev., again cutting Lewis’ season short. Despite his tough luck, Lewis never lost his passion to compete. In 2004, Lewis doubled up, winning the Wrangler NFR average title on the way to capturing his world championship. He has qualified for the Wrangler NFR six times – 2004-06, 2009, 2012 and 2015.

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Complete results on Page 66

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Ryder Wright ...............172 pts. on two 2. Sterling Crawley .............................162 3. Shorty Garrett ..............................161.5 4. J.J. Elshere .....................................161

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Monty Lewis ............ 35.1 sec. on three 2. Blake Ash .......................................37.2 3. Tuf Cooper .....................................37.3 4. Caleb Smidt ...................................37.9

BARREL RACING 1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi ..65.03 sec. on four 2. Kris Gadbois ................................65.55 3. Ivy Conrado .................................65.57 4. Sammi Bessert ............................65.90

BULL RIDING 1. Chase Dougherty ......171.5 pts. on two 2. Cole Melancon ................................169 3. Sage Kimzey ................................163.5 4. Boudreaux Campbell .....86 pts. on one

ProRodeo Sports News 7/27/2018

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