ProRodeo Sports News - July 8, 2022

CROOKED RIVER ROUNDUP PRINEVILLE, ORE. Up-and-comer Thiessen beats the best Big Victory BY BRADY RENCK, Special to ProRodeo Sports News C hanceThiessen knew what he was going to be when he grew up before he grew up. He began competing in roping at the age of 6, falling in love with a sport that he has never left. Fourteen years later, Thiessen is starting to make a name for himself as a tie-down roper. A recent run of success has lifted him to 26th in the world rankings, a nod to experience and improvement.

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TOP MONEY WINNER Derek Kolbaba ($5,262, bull riding) BAREBACK RIDING

“Last year was my first year out here. I grew up in Texas in the jackpots and indoor buildings. So, it was an adjustment in how you run your calves,” Thiessen said. “I have been mainly drawing good, not beating myself and doing what I have always done.” The patience and discipline are paying off. Thiessen placed fourth in round one at the Greeley (Colo.) Stampede last week, clocking in at 7.8 seconds to earn $2,551. “It was a big slack, 120 guys. I was fifth out. I didn’t know how fast I needed to be. The key was letting the calf run out,” Thiessen said. The Elk City, Okla., resident arrived in Colorado with momentum. He placed second in round one of the Crooked River Roundup in Prineville, Ore. “That one they had a lane, and that was the first time I had ever been in that kind of set up,” Thiessen explained. “I didn’t get out as fast. And I went through my basics, and it worked out.” In tie-down roping, Thiessen has found a home after beginning his youth career in team roping. He was drawn to tie-down, but needed to put on weight and become stronger. As that happened, he fell in love with the sport. “It’s definitely the competition of it. In my opinion, it’s an athletic sport,” Thiessen said. “You have to be in shape, you have to work out and you have to have the mental fortitude to keep striving to be the best.” For Thiessen, rodeo was always a way of life. His father Kent trains rope horses. However, there was a moment the sport nearly took his life. As a 16-year-old competing in a team-roping competition in Las Vegas, his horse fell on him. As the horse tried to recover, it stepped onThiessen’s head. Thiessen, then a high school junior, was hospitalized with a serious concussion. “I wasn’t worried that I would come back. I didn’t remember much. I got out of the hospital, and I was competing right away. But it took a couple of months go to get back on track,” Thiessen said. “It does change your perspective, though. It showed me how fast it could all be taken away.” Thiessen competes with passion, and finds easy inspiration. His 16-year- old brother Brody has cerebral palsy, leaving him unable to rodeo. “He goes through phases where he wants to compete. And that hurts because I am physically able and he’s not,” Thiessen said. “But he supports me and that helps a lot.” Though only 20, Thiessen has been around rodeos forever. Now, he’s traveling the country – he will participate in tie-down in Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona and Oregon over the next few weeks – and starting to gain traction as a professional. “I grew up going to the junior rodeos and competing,” Thiessen said. “That competition is what drives me every day.”

Kolbaba

1. Austin Foss........................... 84.5 pts. 2. Bronc Marriott.............................80.5 (Tie) Clay Stone...........................80.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Dalton Massey..............11.6 sec. on 2 2. Cody Cabral.................................12.4 3. Trell Etabuer.................................13.2 TEAM ROPING 1. Q. Kesler/C. Hendrix ... 13.0 sec. on 2 2. B. Schmidt/A. Carlson..................13.8 3. B. Beers/D. Braman IV ............... 14.7 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Jack Bentz. .............................. 84 pts. 2. Brody Wells.................................81.5 3. Two tied at .....................................80 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Chance Thiessen.......... 20.0 sec. on 2 2. Cooper Mills................................20.7 3. Reese Riemer ............................ 20.8 STEER ROPING 1. Clay Long. ....................29.9 sec. on 2 2. Taylor Santos...............................35.3 3. Tom Sorey...................................12.3 BULL RIDING 1. Derek Kolbaba. ........................ 80 pts. 2. Justin Lane Rowell. ........................75 No other qualified rides

Complete results/Page 72

Bill Lawless photo

Chance Thiessen made the most of his trip to Prineville, Ore., winning the rodeo with a 20.0-second time on two head.

ProRodeo Sports News 7/8/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 7/8/2022

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