ProRodeo Sports News - October 16, 2020

RAM GREAT LAKES CIRCUIT FINALS RODEO Illinois steer wrestler wins GLCFR Like Eike BY MATT NABER W hether it’s a 26,000-acre cornfield or a ProRodeo arena, steer wrestler Kyle Eike harvests gold. On Oct. 10, the Glenarm, Ill., cowboy won the RAMGreat Lakes Circuit Finals Rodeo and jumped from fifth to the head of the steer wrestling pack to claim the year-end title. Eike won the first round in 4.1 seconds and claimed

TOP MONEY WINNER Bull rider Jarett Evans, $5,668 BAREBACK RIDING TOP SCORES

Evans

the average with 9.5 seconds on two head in Palmyra, Mo., aboard his aptly named American Quarter Horse, Looking For A Good Time. More commonly known as Goody, Eike’s horse was Ben Kilburg’s mount when Kilburg won the 2020 Cody (Wyo.) Stampede in 3.6 seconds. “He has a speed index of 105, so he can dang-sure fly and he’s smooth,” said Eike, 23. “They call a speed index of 95 or above fast, but I’m not much for track stuff, personally. But I know from riding him that his 105 is very fast.” In layman’s terms, a horse’s speed index is based on the horse’s performance and the inherent speed of the racing surface. “For making that run work, I need to give a big shout-out to my hazer, Jon Ragatz, he played a huge role in that,” Eike said. “He made sure I was able to stay close enough for a good catch and I didn’t have to worry about the steer not being where he was supposed to. He didn’t even make the finals, but he came to haze for me and Cody Metzger.” The 2020 season marked Eike’s first full ProRodeo season at home since his rookie year in 2018 after graduating fromKansas State University in May 2019. “This was a big deal,” Eike said. “I made the Prairie Circuit Finals while in school, so this was cool working for a year and also making the finals and winning it. People dream about it, but never accomplish it.” Eike’s win gave him a $3,390 jump-start on the 2021 season, but he’s not sure yet if he will make a run for the 2021Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Competing at the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., in the spring could help him decide. “I’m extremely excited, and that (RAMNCFR) is something I’ve always dreamed about going to,” Eike said. “I’ll get to go down there and play and compete against my idols and people you see on TV. I’m honored to have become friends with some of them going up and down the road, and it’ll be cool to see people I haven’t seen in a while.” But first, he’s got a harvest to finish. “I haven’t planned to go anywhere in the next month since I’m home farming and running the combine every day,” Eike said. “I know for a few months of the year I have to take care of business and stay here and then I’ll be able to take off somewhere. My family has been outstanding to let me go rodeo when I need to.”

1. Tanner Aus ................... 163 pts. on 2 2. Logan Corbett .......................... 162.5 3. Job Dunlavey .............................. 162 STEER WRESTLING 1. Kyle Eike ....................... 9.5 sec. on 2 2. Ty Standley ................................... 9.8 3. Two tied at .................................. 11.8 TEAM ROPING 1. Reed/McDaniel ............ 11.4 sec. on 2 (Tie) C. Bruce/R. Boos ................ 11.4 3. M. Barney/G. Gwaltney ............... 12.1 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Tegan Smith .............. 166.5 pts. on 2 2. Trey Watts ................................ 147.5 (Tie) Curtis Garton ................... 147.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Tom Crouse ................ 17.6 sec. on 2 2. Chance Oftedahl ......................... 17.9 3. Jesse Hinkle ............................... 18.9 BARREL RACING 1. Lacinda Rose ............ 29.95 sec. on 2 2. Kiley Dalchow ........................... 30.10 3. Ronda Casey ............................ 30.25 BULL RIDING 1. Jarett Evans ............... 168.5 pts. on 2 2. Trevor Reiste ......................... 86 on 1 3. Matt Palmer .................................. 81

Complete results/Page 50

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ProRodeo Sports News 10/16/2020

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