ProRodeo Sports News - June 21, 2024

WOODWARD, OKLA.

Strong start has Young eyeing buckle One Goal WOODWARD ELKS RODEO

BY BRADY RENCK, Special to ProRodeo Sports News T he results this season will never get old for Creek Young. At 23, Young boasts a resume with three National Finals Rodeo berths and a pair of top six finishes on the sport’s biggest stage. The success reinforced his talent and accelerated his growth this season. Approaching the second week of June, Young sat first in the bull riding PRCA | RAM World Standings. He continued his run of excellence at the Woodward (Okla.) Elks Rodeo, posting an 87-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Aces High. “It was a good young bull. I kind of got lucky there. He kind of pulled down, and I was able to hang on,” said Young, who edged out Fulton Rutland (86) and Trey Kimzey (85.5) for the top prize. “We were outside on Saturday night. The weather was good, and the arena had dried out. I wasn’t sure if my score would hold up. There were a tough set of bulls and not many had been ridden, so it was tough to tell what would happen.” It worked for Young, who put the field on notice with his start over the winter. Houston, we no longer have a problem. Young pocketed $55,500 in winnings at RodeoHouston. It included a $50,000 ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Preacher for 87 points. The work at the premiere event provided rocket fuel for his 2024 campaign. “It kind of started everything. I had trouble with those bigger rodeos in the winter during my career. So, this year I switched it up, entered less and just went to the big ones, focusing on those. It was a risk because if I didn’t win, I was going to have to rodeo my butt off this summer,” Young admitted. “It happened to where it all kind of came together.” Young recognizes what is possible. Of course, he aims to secure his fourth straight NFR berth. But the idea of winning a gold buckle is now flickering in his mind. “I do think about it. It is the main driving force. We are always grateful when we make those yellow bucking chutes,” said Young, who is from Rogersville, Mo. “But I am also driving for something bigger. I have learned from the NFR that there is more money available there than during the entire season. As long as you can get in, it is a good deal, but to finish No. 1 you have to have a good NFR.” Motivation comes easily for Young, who collected a career-high $253,205 in season earnings in 2023, $96,919 of which came in Las Vegas. When he is driving to events, putting in the long hours, it never feels like work. “I just love the sport of rodeo in general. I have done it forever,” Young said. “And with my event, it’s me and the bull and nobody else. The timed events you have to worry about the horse. In my case, it’s me and the stock. I really like that individual part of it.”

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY EARNER Tony Reina ($6,241, steer roping) BAREBACK RIDING

Reina

1. Rocker Steiner ....................... 89 pts. 2. Waylon Bourgeois ......................... 86 3. Cole Franks ................................... 82 STEER WRESTLING 1. Jarek VanPetten .................... 3.6 sec. 2. Don Payne ................................... 3.8 3. Logan Mullin ................................ 3.9 TEAM ROPING 1. J. Clay/T. Yates ...................... 4.6 sec. 2. C. Smith/C. Payne ........................ 4.8 3. C. Bauer/B. Levell ........................ 5.1 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Keene Justesen ...................... 86 pts. 2. Ryder Sanford ........................... 84.5 3. Wyatt Casper ................................ 83 (Tie) Ean Price .............................. 83 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Tanner Green ........................ 8.3 sec. 2. Ryan Jarrett ................................. 8.9 3. Haven Meged ............................... 9.4 STEER ROPING 1. Tony Reina .................. 34.4 sec. on 3 2. Vin Fisher Jr. .............................. 37.7 3. Slade Wood ............................... 39.4 BULL RIDING 1. Creek Young .......................... 87 pts. 2. Fulton Rutland .............................. 86 3. Trey Kimzey ............................... 85.5

Complete results/Page 57

Phillip Kitts photo

Creek Young captured the bull riding title at the Woodward Elks Rodeo with an 87-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Aces High.

ProRodeo Sports News 6/21/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 6/21/2024

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