ProRodeo Sports News July 9, 2021

COWBOY CHRISTMAS

Confidence boost gives Pope edge On Top BY TANNER BARTH J ess Pope’s four-year PRCA bareback riding career has seen him go from being an unranked rider in 2018 to third in the world a year ago. His climb up the leaderboard has continued this season.

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY WINNER Tuf Cooper (tie- down roping, $8,037) BAREBACK RIDING

Cooper

1. Jess Pope................................ 89 pts. 2. Three tied at.................................... 87 STEER WRESTLING 1. Dirk Tavenner..........................3.3 sec. 2. Tyler Pearson................................. 3.5 3. Clayton Hass.................................. 3.6 TEAM ROPING 1. D. Egusquiza/T. Graves...........3.3 sec. 2. D. Begay/C. Petska. ....................... 3.6 3. L. Aguilera/S. Carroll...................... 3.7 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Stetson Wright......................... 89 pts. 2. Spencer Wright............................... 88 3. Wyatt Casper............................... 87.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Tuf Cooper..............................7.2 sec. 2. Justin Smith. ................................. 7.3 (Tie) Cody Huber. .......................... 7.3 BULL RIDING 1. J.C. Mortensen. .................... 87.5 pts. 2. Trey Kimzey.................................... 87 3. Creek Young. ............................... 85.5 BARREL RACING 1. Sarah Rose Waguespack. ...17.24 sec. 2. Terri Wood Gates....................... 17.32 3. Carly Taylor................................ 17.42 ALL-AROUND COWBOY Stetson Wright ($4,286, saddle bronc riding and bull riding)

The Waverly, Kan., cowboy again finds himself back inside the Top 15, sitting ninth in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $43,476. A big chunk of that money ($4,547) was won at the Oakley Independence Day Rodeo in Oakley City, Utah, where Pope posted an 89-point ride on Bar T Rodeo’s Outlaw to take first. “My draw was a big reason why I had the success I did in Oakley City,” said Pope, 22. “I went through a spurt there where I wasn’t drawing the best, it was a bit difficult in that aspect to win rodeos. Your luck with that generally turns around in a couple weeks, and it turned around on the right week for me.” Leading up to the Cowboy Christmas run, Pope had struggled, placing in just three of the eight rodeos he competed in June 6-25. He admits the rough stretch impacted him in more ways than one. “It’s definitely hard on a guy when you’re not winning and not having things go your way,” Pope said. “We still have the best job in the world, but I’m not making money if I’m not winning anything. So, it did get frustrating, but I found a way to stay positive. It’s such a short career you might as well enjoy it, I try to smile about it every time I get a chance to.” He had plenty to smile about over Cowboy Christmas. Pope got on a hot streak, placing in 10 straight rodeos. That run has earned him $22,875 in the span of nine days. “It helps a bunch and builds a guy’s confidence, especially when you’re not drawing the best,” Pope said. “Having a great Fourth of July run sets you up for everything. Confidence is key and you just have to believe in yourself and let the rest take care of itself.” Pope is setting himself up to make back-to-backWrangler National Finals Rodeos, but he has bigger aspirations than simply qualifying. He hopes a Nevada gold rush is in his future in what would be his first trip to theThomas &Mack Center in Las Vegas. “I’m super excited, to be honest with you, it’s been a goal of mine since I was a little kid to be a world champion, and that’s what I’m shooting for,” said Pope, who won the NFR average in Arlington, Texas, last year. “Every time I get on that’s my goal, to get a step closer to a gold buckle. The NFR was in Texas last year and it was awesome, but I really am excited to see what it’s like in Vegas.”

Complete results Page 83

ProRodeo Sports News 7/9/2021

ProRodeo.com

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