ProRodeo Sports News - November 19, 2021

BULL RIDING Back at the Top

Spanish Fork (Utah) Fiesta Days Xtreme Bulls, July 20, Kimzey

Sage Kimzey will look to make history in 2021. With six world titles under his belt only Don Gay and Jim Shoulders have won more PRCA bull riding world championships. theThomas &Mack means to rodeo cowboys,” Kimzey said. “TheThomas &Mack there’s so much history there. It is a special place to ride for a lot of reasons. The energy, the fans, you name it Vegas has it. Texas was a great host, but there’s no replacing Vegas. It’s a place like unlike any other.” became the all-time leader in PRCA Xtreme Bulls Division 1 victories with nine. “Besides the big wins I had what I remember the most about this year is how all the rodeos fought hard to get rodeos back in their communities and allow us the opportunity to come compete,” Kimzey said. PRCA bull riders can go to unlimited rodeos during the regular season and is something a lot of riders don’t take advantage of, but Kimzey does. “The biggest thing is if I’m not riding, I’m not getting paid,” Kimzey said. “I try to go to a bunch of rodeos and obviously try to do well at everyone I go to. It’s my job at the end of the day and something I love to do. If I’m not riding, I’m not getting paid, so I try and ride as much as possible.” Only Don Gay (eight) and Jim Shoulders (seven) have won more PRCA bull riding world titles than Kimzey. “It’s always cool, the more stuff you can win the better,” Kimzey said. “It’s always something I look forward to. Every year I set out with new goals and a vision for that year and this year (2021) was no exception. I’m just really happy to have had a successful regular season.” Kimzey is looking forward to returning to theThomas &Mack Center in Las Vegas – the site of all his world championships. “It is hard to put into words what

Kimzey returns to Vegas atop the leaderboard BY TRACY RENCK S age Kimzey saw his reign as PRCA’s six- time Bull Riding World Champion come to an end in 2020 when he finished fifth in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. The 2021 PRCA regular wasn’t a revenge tour When the Sept. 30 regular season concluded Kimzey once again was atop the world standings with $264,739. Being the season leader heading into the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo doesn’t win a cowboy a gold buckle, but it is something Kimzey relishes in accomplishing. “It is a big deal for sure to be leading the standings,” Kimzey said. “Anything can happen when you get out to Las Vegas, but to be the season leader obviously you were the best for an extended period, and I definitely take a lot of pride in that. " It is one of those things where I attend a lot of rodeos and I ride a lot of bulls throughout the year and anybody who has earned the title as season leader has worked really hard and had a lot of success. It is cool. “It was definitely a good season in 2021, especially after last year,” said Kimzey, 27. “Last year was a tough year for a lot of reasons. I was just very happy to be able to go to all the great rodeos that we love going to and have a good regular season.” Kimzey’s season lead received a jolt when he won the Xtreme Bulls Tour for the fifth time in seven years with $102,517. By splitting the win with J.B. Mauney at the by any means. Kimzey, however, used the regular season to prove how dominant he can still be.

2021 BAREBACK STANDINGS

1. Sage Kimzey, Salado, Texas. .................. $264,739 2. Stetson Dell Wright, Milford, Utah. .......... 204,100 3. Clayton Sellars, Fruitland Park, Fla........... 147,021 4. Creek Young, Rogersville, Mo.................. 143,512 5. Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah........................ 130,192 6. J.B. Mauney, Cotulla, Texas...................... 112,300 7. Dustin Donovan Boquet, Bourg, La.......... 112,011 8. Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont.................... 102,714 9. Ky Hamilton, Mackay, Australia................ 101,747 10. Trey Benton III, Richards, Texas................ 98,792 11. Braden Richardson, Jasper, Texas............. 98,540 12. Ruger Piva, Challis, Idaho......................... 98,268 13. Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash.. ....... 97,927 14. Boudreaux Campbell, Crockett, Texas....... 96,910 15. Roscoe Jarboe, New Plymouth, Idaho. ..... 95,778

FROM THE CHAMP

Stetson Wright has won the last two all-around titles and last year’s bull riding crown. While the all-around buckles have been aided by his saddle bronc riding, the bull riding title, well, that’s all him. Kind of. “Winning bull riding titles, honestly,

Wright

QUOTABLE

“It is a big deal for sure to be leading the standings. Anything can happen when you get out to Las Vegas, but to be the season leader obviously you were the best for an extended period, and I definitely take a lot of pride in that.”

my brothers and I, since we were little, we all wanted one,” Stetson said. “We all thought we’d ride bulls and broncs throughout our careers. So, to accomplish a lifetime dream for me and my brothers was pretty awesome.” Even better, those brothers and his dad, Cody, were there with him every step of the way over those 10 nights at the 2020 Wrangler NFR at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. “It was pretty awesome,” Stetson said of winning first bull riding crown. “

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

– Sage Kimzey

ProRodeo Sports News 11/19/2021

WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

DEC. 2-11, 2021

ProRodeo Sports News 11/19/2021

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