ProRodeo Sports News - May 31, 2019

Switzer survives elements to take steer wrestling title Holding On BY TRACY RENCK S teer wrestler Rudy Switzer was plenty efficient in winning the average at the Redding (Calif.) Rodeo. The Morro Bay, Calif., cowboy, posted a two-head time of 8.8 seconds at the ProRodeo Tour stop. “I’ve placed there once in a while, but this is my first-ever big PRCA win, so that was pretty cool,” said Switzer, 29. “Any rodeo is cool to win, but to win one that big was really cool.” ALL-AROUND COWBOY Rhett Kennedy, TOP SCORES

$1,566, steer wrestling and team roping BAREBACK RIDING

When Switzer’s name was listed as the winner of the event it read Miles Switzer. Miles is his first name, but he’s gone by the nickname “Rudy” since he was a baby. “Rod Lyman (a 16-time National Finals Rodeo steer wrestling qualifier) gave me the nickname,” Switzer said. “He was a family friend of ours, and my parents were at the NFR one year. I wasn’t even a year old, and Rod said that I looked like a ‘Rudy,’ so everybody started calling me Rudy ever since. It is the name I grew up with.” Switzer was the second-to-last cowboy to go out. He clinched the victory when Scott Guenthner clocked a 5.5-second run and placed second in the average. Guenthner hazed for Switzer, who was riding Bridger Chambers’ horse, Rooster, 12. Switzer left Redding after earning $4,136 and praised the way the Redding Rodeo committee handled the three days of rain. “I have to hand it to the committee because they took very good care of that ground, and it wasn’t treacherous at all,” Switzer said. “The boxes were good, and they did a dang-good job with the conditions.” Switzer set the tone in the first round with his 4.3-second run, which was good for second place. In the second round, Switzer wasn’t watching the clock, but rather concentrating on making a solid run – which he did, stopping the clock in 4.5 seconds. “I knew my second steer was good because I watched Scott (Guenthner) run him in the slack, and he won the first round on him (with a 3.9-second run),” Switzer said. “I just went into my second run thinking I need to get a good start, set my run up and just do my job. When I saw the scoreboard, it was unlike anything else I’ve ever felt.”

Kennedy

1. Richmond Champion ............... 88 pts. 2. Connor Hamilton ............................ 87 3. Tilden Hooper .............................. 86.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Rudy Switzer .................. 8.8 sec. on 2 2. Scott Guenthner ............................. 9.4 3. Trevor Knowles .............................. 9.9 TEAM ROPING 1. T. Baldwin/N. Garza ...... 12.1 sec. on 2 2. C. Mora/J. Johe ........................... 12.2 3. J. Dees/L. Siggins ........................ 12.4 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Jake Watson ............................ 88 pts. 2. Samuel Kelts ................................ 83.5 3. Mitch Pollock .................................. 83 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Taylor Santos ................ 18.8 sec. on 2 2. Cody Craig ................................... 19.3 3. Colton Farquer ............................. 20.0 BARREL RACING 1. Jackie Ganter ...................... 17.53 sec. 2. Destri Devenport ........................ 18.02 3. Miranda Emmert ........................ 18.03 BULL RIDING 1. Parker McCown ....................... 87 pts. 2. (Tie) Parker Breding ........................ 85 Trey Kimzey .................................... 85

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ProRodeo Sports News 5/31/2019

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