ProRodeo Sports News - November 17, 2023

DAVIE, FLA.

SOUTHEASTERN CIRCUIT FINALS

Mooningham wins RAM Southeastern Circuit Finals Chart Topper TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY EARNER

BY JULIANNA MORGAN Special to ProRodeo Sports News L ucas Mooningham came into the Southeastern Circuit Finals with a good lead in the bull riding. However, after the first round, he knew he had to ride his last two bulls to have a chance at winning it all. Mooningham didn’t ride his bull in the first round of the finals. This first round didn’t set him back too much. He made sure to make up for it in the next two rounds. He placed second in the second round with a score of 82. He then rode his third bull and got a score of 77, placing second again. It was after these two rides Mooningham knew he had done what he set out to do. “I came to the rodeo to win it,” Mooningham said. “I could have won the Southeastern Finals before but came up short.” His chance to capture the bull riding title from the beginning is what gave him the motivation to keep pushing and get the bulls ridden. His favorite ride of the weekend was his second-round bull. He had a feeling the ride would turn out in his favor when he saw the draw. “I got a good bull,” Mooningham said. He rode Harper & Morgan Rodeo Company’s Silver Dollar. “I like drawing their stock,” Mooningham said about Harper & Morgan Rodeo Company. “You always know you are going have a good bull and a chance to win the round with their bulls.” Mooningham had a great year competing in the circuit. He placed first at the NE Mississippi Championship Rodeo and continued to place at several rodeos throughout his 2023 run. Even with a steady year of competing there were some ups and downs he had to fight through to make it to the circuit finals. Although there was some tough moments Mooningham kept pressing forward. “I never gave up and it all worked out,” he said. Lucas didn’t just win the Southeastern Circuit bull riding title. He also tied with Lija Gore to win the aggregate of the finals with a total score of 159 points. It was Mooningham’s consistency throughout the year and during the finals that lead him to claim circuit glory.

Parker Kempfer ($12,201, saddle bronc riding) BAREBACK RIDING

Kempfer

1. Taylor Broussard........249.5 pts. on 2 2. Waylon Bourgeois....................246.5 3. Kade Sonnier............................244.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Will Lummus...............12.9 sec. on 3 2. Kamry Dymmek..........................14.3 3. Juan Alcazar Jr...........................14.4 TEAM ROPING 1. B. Brunson/C. Green....18.0 sec. on 3 2. D. Green/A. Pyler........................29.4 3. S. Overby/T. Brown.....................31.6 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Parker Kempfer...........254.5 pts. on 3 2. Treyson Antonick.........................243 3. Kody Rinehart...........................241.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1.Cole Walker..................23.5 sec. on 3 (Tie) Booker McCutchen..............23.5 3. Two tied at..................................24.8 BARREL RACING 1. Chloe Gray.................43.59 sec. on 3 2. Taylor Craver............................44.07 3. Erin Wetzel................................44.89 BULL RIDING 1. Lucas Mooningham.......159 pts. on 2 (Tie) Lija Gore..............................159 3. Jace Trosclair...............................147

David Rosenfield photo Bull rider Lucas Mooningham had a 77-point ride on JC Kitaif Pro Rodeo’s Hico at the RAM Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo in Davie, Fla. He split the average win with 159 points on two head.

Complete results/Page 99

ProRodeo Sports News 11/17/2023

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