ProRodeo Sports News - May 27, 2022

Steer wrestler Dalton Massey gets key Redding Rodeo win Rewarding BY PATRICK EVERSON Special to ProRodeo Sports News S everal years ago, when Dalton Massey was in his early 20s, he came to Las Vegas during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, just to check it out from the stands. REDDING RODEO REDDING, CALIF.

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TOP MONEY WINNER Haven Meged ($7,107, tie down roping) BAREBACK RIDING

He hasn’t been back since. And he has his reasons. “I’ve been to Vegas a few times, but it’s been eight or nine years,” said Massey, 29. “I’ve just been saying I’m gonna go back when I make it.” And by “make it,” he means qualifying for the Wrangler NFR. If Massey can keep having days like he had at the Redding Rodeo on May 19, he won’t be waiting much longer. Competing on the first day in Redding, the steer wrestler clocked a time of 4.1 seconds on his first steer. He came back that night with a 4.4-second run. However, Redding runs for three days; since he competed onThursday, opening day, he then had to play the waiting game. “I was nervous. There were two more sets of guys to go, 15 Friday and 15 Saturday,” he said. “I was up in the first set, so you’ve just got to wait it out a couple of days. We went to Hayward (Calif ). We took off as soon as we got doneThursday night.” When the arena dust settled May 21, Massey’s first-round 4.1 stood up for first place and $1,668. And his 4.4 was good for second in the second round, and another $1,450. That’s $3,118 total, not a bad day’s work. But it got better. His two-round 8.5-second total won the Redding average, good for another $2,500. So Massey netted more than $5,600 in Redding, which was a stop on the NFR Playoff Series presented by PendletonWhisky. The Redding payday put Massey at $35,302 for the season, seventh in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. That marks continued progress from Massey’s previously best-ever 2021 campaign, when the bulldogger finished 19th in the world, just four slots shy of NFR qualification. Massey said he’s aiming to keep it simple, rodeo by rodeo. Having $35K in winnings certainly helps. “I think it’s a good start. I’m just feeling confident and ready to go rodeoing this summer. My horses have been working good,” Massey said, while noting what it will take to keep rolling. “Get a little lucky, I guess. I just need to win every chance I get and do my job. Nothing crazy.”

Meged

1. Jess Pope ............................... 86 pts. 2. Austin Foss.................................. 85.5 3. Leighton Berry............................. 84.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Dalton Massey................ 8.5 sec. on 2 2. Cody Cabral................................... 9.1 3. Trell Etabuer................................... 9.7 TEAM ROPING 1. Kilgus/Edwards ........... 12.1 sec. on 2 2. J. Tucker/W. Cox ........................ 12.6 (Tie) B. Hirdes/W. Hansen............. 12.6 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Kade Bruno.............................. 85 pts. 2. Wade Sundell............................... 84.5 3. Two tied at .................................... 84 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Haven Meged................ 16.4 sec. on 2 2. Colton Farquer ............................ 17.2 (Tie) Chance Thiesen ..................... 17.2 BARREL RACING 1. Jennifer Kalafatic................ 17.38 sec. 2. Megan Champion....................... 17.39 3. Steely Steiner. ........................... 17.46 BULL RIDING 1. Jake Gardner. ....................... 87.5 pts. 2. Riker Carter. ................................... 86 3. Clayton Savage............................ 85.5

Crystal Amen photo

Complete results/Page 48

ProRodeo Sports News 5/27/2022

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