ProRodeo Sports News - June 12, 2020

COWBOYS & ADVERSITY

Matt Cohen photo Bull rider Aaron Williams, above, won the Marysville (Calif.) Stampede aboard Flying U Rodeo’s No. 833/6 on Sept. 14. Unfortunately, Williams broke his left arm following the ride.

Forward LOOKING Back GIVING Williams battles through

BY TRACY RENCK W ith a covetedWrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification in his grasp, bull rider AaronWilliams was sabotaged by injury. And after a win no less. The Apple Valley, Calif., bull rider won the Marysville (Calif.) Stampede aboard Flying U Rodeo’s No. 833/6 on Sept. 14. He earned $1,634 to creep into the Top 15 in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings in search of his first NFR berth. Instead of celebrating, Williams’ joy ended moments after the eight-second whistle. “I won the rodeo and just had a bad get off,” said Williams, 23. “I ended up getting run over, stepped on and breaking my free (left) arm by my shoulder.” By the time the regular season concluded, Williams had dropped to 26th in the world standings with $76,547. “It was pretty tough (missing the NFR),” Williams said. “I went to Puyallup (Wash.) and from there I was supposed to go to Albuquerque. I had a really good bull drawn in Albuquerque, but my van’s transmission went out in the middle of nowhere in Utah. I ended up not making Albuquerque and a couple other rodeos.”

tough times, puts on bull riding schools

A SERIES OF CRAZY EVENTS

That was only part of the story, however. Nowhere, Utah, was actually Price, Utah, andWilliams took his van to Supreme Complete Car Care. Without transportation, Williams and his dog, Cowboy, 10, hitched a ride with one of Supreme Complete Car Care’s parts and delivery drivers who was headed to Spanish Fork, Utah. In Spanish Fork, Williams met up with bullfighter Joe Butler, who is Williams’ fiancée Brigette Mickels’ brother-in-law.

ProRodeo Sports News 6/12/2020

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