ProRodeo Sports News - Nov.20, 2020

TIE-DOWN ROPING

Big Money Cashes Mayfield ropes in winnings throughout season

BY TRACY RENCK T he 2020 PRCA regular season was one for the history books because its start, stop, start, and finish because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite all the uncertainty there was one constant throughout the season – tie-down roper Shad Mayfield winning rodeos. Mayfield finished atop the 2020 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings in the regular season with $156,668. Tuf Cooper is second $89,479 behind Mayfield. “Going in No. 1 is the most pressure of any other spot, but it is also a good thing because you have the advantage to try and stay that way,” said Mayfield, 20. “I have a pretty good lead, so I want to go in No. 1 and go out No. 1.” As a rookie last year, Mayfield qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in the No. 13 spot, but had a disappointing performance, finishing 12th in the world standings after only winning $36,654 at the NFR. Mayfield placed in just two rounds, splitting third in Round 2 and Round 3. “I learned a lot from last year’s NFR, especially from having a bad NFR,” he said. “Going into the winter of the 2020 season it really pushed me to be better and that’s what I tried to do. I got a lot won from feeding frommy bad NFR. Last year I was on the bubble all year long and that’s somewhere you really don’t want to be because it’s hard on you. " I told myself that I wanted to try and be in the top five for as long as I’m rodeoing. If you stay in the top five all year long, you’re good to go to the NFR. That’s my game plan from now on.” This season, Mayfield earned $603,000 at The American March 8 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas – $53,000 that counted toward the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. He also earned $24,500 from winning the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Feb. 22. “I could have never imagined I would have this type of (regular) season or COVID happening,” Mayfield said. “Right before COVID hit (in mid- March) I think I had like $130,000 won and that was crazy. After the NFR last year I only won $127,000. The start of this year, and all the rodeos that were shutdown (because of COVID-19) I had more money won than I did last year. That’s a good feeling.” Mayfield said his exponential improvement has many layers. “I started working harder and I got a new horse October (of 2019) Wichita, he’s a big part of everything,” Mayfield said. “He made it so easy for me and I trusted him so much that I just had to worry about myself. I knew he would do his job.” Wichita is 12, and Mayfield purchased the horse fromWyatt Imus. “Wichita is the same every time,” Mayfield said. “One of the things he does the best is scoring and getting across the line so fast where I get a set-up throw right out front and I can be faster than anybody else.” Mayfield also is taking Rampage, 11, and Jag, 11 to the 2020Wrangler NFR in Globe Life Field. “I have a good lineup of horses this year,” Mayfield said. “I feel like Globe Life Field is going to be somewhat likeThe American with more people. I feel like it is going to be loud atmosphere and I know that feel is going to be big and it dang sure is going to be a little different than theThomas &Mack (Center in Las Vegas), but is nothing we will not be prepared for.” In this COVID-19 marred rodeo season, Mayfield is thankful he has the opportunity to win a gold buckle.

2020 TIE-DOWN ROPING STANDINGS

1. Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M.................... $156,668 2. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas......................... 67,189 3. Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont.................. 66,748 4. Tyler Milligan, Pawhuska, Okla................... 60,919 5. Westyn Hughes, Caldwell, Texas................ 60,391 6. Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas...................... 58,414 7. Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas................ 56,168 8. Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas....................... 54,595 9. Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas..................... 53,168 10. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La.. ................... 52,299 11. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla................... 52,080 12. Tyson Durfey, Brock, Texas....................... 47,293 13. Caddo Lewallen, Morrison, Okla.. ............. 47,141 14. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas...................... 46,851 15. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla...................... 46,049 QUOTABLE “Going in No. 1 is the most pressure of any other spot, but it is also a good thing because you have the advantage. I have a pretty good lead, so I want to go in No. 1 and go out No. 1.” –Shad Mayfield HEAR IT FROM THE CHAMP Haven Meged 2019 PRCA Tie-down Roping World Champion “It’s a blessing to get

to go back to the NFR for a second trip. My plan is to go back and defend my title. Shad (Mayfield) obviously had a great year,

but it isn’t over until the tenth calf so I’m going to go out there and try and do what I can to defend my title.” Meged

“After the winter I had and everything started shutting down I was really concerned that there wasn’t going to be an NFR and we did all that for nothing,” he said. “The PRCA and everyone else, we are extremely blessed that they were able to go out there and do that for us because we know it wasn’t easy.”

ProRodeo Sports News 11/20/2020

WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

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