ProRodeo Sports News - June 15, 2018

rodeo trail. But that’s not his immediate goal. The Odessa (Texas) College graduate finished school in 2017 with an associate degree in business communications and public relations. He’s since found a job with Los Alamos National Laboratory in a division that handles the lab’s telecommunications. With school behind him and a career in front of him, Trujillo has more time to rodeo. He can get to all his circuit rodeos instead of a narrow window in the summer, as was the case during his college days, when school and college rodeo took precedence. “This year I have more of an opportunity to go to the ones I want to,” Trujillo said. “I thought it would be a good time to get it.” He has another reason, too. His horse is Bandito. His traveling partner, Cody Moore, owns Captain. Trujillo rides both and hazes for Moore. After horse problems in the past, Bandito and Captain have made the game easier. “He (Bandito) just fits me,” Trujillo said. “He works really good. … I like his pattern and he tries hard. We’ve got some good horses in the trailer this year.” With such a good start in the circuit, Trujillo can’t afford to slow down. “Ultimately, the goal is to go full time,” he said. “But right now, mainly my goal is the Rookie of the Year. Also, I’ve

and it all started from there,” Trujillo said. “I was a little kid, and the chute dogging was always big, grown men. I loved it. I got dragged around but I loved it.” He must have been good at it, too, because his dad offered some advice. “My dad said, ‘If that’s something you want to do, we’re going to make sure you learn the right way,’” Trujillo said. “I owe it all to him because he made sure I learned from the right people. I was always around who I thought were the best – the best teachers, the best people to be around whenever I was learning. I think that’s what helped me more than anything in my career is I was around some of the best in the world when I was up and coming.” In Trujillo’s eyes, that includes his dad. “My dad is one of my biggest mental coaches, and I think I have that luxury over a lot of people,” Trujillo said. “He was a winner. He went with some of the best guys in the world and he won. … I have him to keep me in check. He keeps everyone’s mind right.” That mental game is apparent to Moore, the 2010 Rookie of the Year. “He’s been put in some tough situations and he never waivers,” Moore said. “Whatever he’s faced with he’ll bear down and make the best of the opportunity. It’s as far as Jake wants to go. He can win Rookie of the Year. … “His best asset is his head. His mental game is tough and he’s not going to beat himself.”

ABOUT JAKE AGE: 23 HOMETOWN: Los Alamos, N.M.

CIRCUIT: Turquoise EVENT: Steer Wrestling

WINS IN 2018: Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo in Cortez,

Colo.; Pioneer Days Rodeo in Clovis, N.M.

got to keep getting after them in the circuit. I’m winning the circuit, so I have a shot to go to the RAMNational Circuit Finals.” Moore, 37, and Trujillo have known each other several years. This is the first year they’ve traveled together. “He’s a hard worker, has a good head on his shoulders and puts himself in the right positions,” Moore said. “He scores well and knows bulldogging well. Just being around the competition drives Trujillo. “I think what I like about the sport so much is how hard you have to work,” he said. “You’re competing against the best in the world every week. You have to work hard. You have to be on your game. “You have to keep horses sharp, you have to keep yourself sharp. This is professional rodeo. Everyone is a professional when you back in the corner. You don’t have time to stub your toe or slack off, because if you do, someone else is going to beat you.” His father was a PRCA bull rider. His uncle, Tanner Trujillo, also rode PRCA bulls. But as Trujillo grew, Tanner asked him to try something different. “When I was in sixth grade, my uncle talked me into chute dogging at a day rodeo, FAMILYTIES Trujillo comes from a family of rodeo.

Steer wrestler Jake Trujillo (second from left) poses with his sister, Casey, mom, Shannon, and dad, Patrick. Photo courtesy Jake Trujillo

ProRodeo Sports News 6/15/2018

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