ProRodeo Sports News - September 17, 2021

ELLENSBURG RODEO ELLENSBURG, WASH.

Steer wrestler Cody Devers inches closer to NFR berth Timely Win TOP SCORES

ON THE RISE • Bull rider Matt Palmer was one of several bubble cowboys to break through with big wins in Ellensburg. Palmer came into the rodeo ranked 24th in the world standings but kept his Wrangler NFR dreams alive by winning Ellensburg and finishing second in Walla Walla, Wash., earning $8,796 for the weekend. • Team roping header Jake Clay also advanced his chances for the NFR in Ellensburg after entering the event 22nd in the world standings. Between placing at the Northern Pro Tour Team Roping and winning the rodeo with partner Billie Jack Saebens, Clay earned $4,404.

TOP MONEY WINNER

BY JOLEE JORDAN, Special to ProRodeo Sports News C lutch performances are commonplace at the Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo for cowboys trying to make a late push to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Cowboys like steer wrestler Cody Devers. Devers was one of several champions on Labor Day who scored big at the right moment. Riding the bubble as Ellensburg began, Devers marched through three rounds to claim a share of the championship title with Cody Cabral. Devers earned $5,355 to inch up from his 19th ranked position, gaining ground on what would be his first Wrangler NFR. “It’s definitely getting down to where you have to win,” said Devers, 26. He’s in familiar territory: in 2020, he was 18th just under $6,000 from the coveted No. 15 spot. “I’ve been here before, on the bubble, and came close. Maybe this year we’ll get over the hump,” Devers said. What has he learned from the past to help him over the finish line this time? “Scoring better,” he said with a laugh. Scoring was crucial in Ellensburg, known for its long scores, and Devers relied upon his good mare Sassy. “It’s definitely not like Oklahoma, where you’re riding when you nod,” he said. Sassy is 12 and Devers started her himself. Prior to finding her niche in the steer wrestling, she was a barrel horse, raised and trained by Devers’ parents Marty and Sabrina. “My parents raise and train barrel horses and own barrelhorse.com,” he said. Devers asserts he “stayed in the roping pen” as a kid when barrel training was happening and followed his dad into his chosen event. “I always thought it was cool watching him,” he said, “and I like to rope but steer wrestling was the adrenaline rush I was looking for.” In Ellensburg, Devers won money on both of his long round steers. “I had a good steer. My horse worked great, we scored good and were 4.0 to place in the round,” he said. “Coming back in the second go, I had a steer I didn’t like as good but my hazer, Jule Hazen, did a great job and we were 4.1 on that one. “I was splitting the lead going into the short go and told myself I just had to go do my job, don’t take yourself out of it and that’s kind of what happened.” A 5.0-second run in the final round didn’t earn a check but 13.1 on three steers was good enough to share the win with Cabral. “It’s one of those rodeos you look forward to every year,” he said. Last time Ellensburg was held in 2019, he hazed for Hazen, who won second. “I thought then how awesome it would be to come back in the short go again.” Like many of his fellow competitors, Devers appreciates how hard the rodeo committees navigate new challenges presented by COVID to host their rodeos, especially when having fans in the seats. “They had a great turnout,” he said. “It’s cool how hard the rodeo the committee works. They give all sorts of cool things for winning, a buckle, spurs, a vest and a cooler.”

Stetson Vest ($9,778, tie- down roping) BAREBACK RIDING

Vest

1. Tilden Hooper ............... 173 pts. on 2 2. Leighton Berry ......................... 171.5 3. Mason Clements ......................... 171 STEER WRESTLING 1. Cody Devers .............. 13.1 secs. on 3 (Tie) Cody Cabral ....................... 13.1 3. Will Lummus ............................. 13.3 (Tie) Dakota Eldridge ................. 13.3 TEAM ROPING 1. J. Clay/B. Saebens .... 15.8 secs. on 3 2. L. Brown/H. Koch ....................... 18.2 3. K. Driggers/J. Nogueira .............. 23.5 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Brody Cress ................. 175 pts. on 2 (Tie) Chase Brooks ...................... 175 3. Ben Andersen ........................... 170.5 TIE DOWN ROPING 1. Stetson Vest .............. 26.8 secs. on 3 2. John Douch ............................... 27.4 3. Cody Craig ................................. 29.4 STEER ROPING 1. Clay Smith ................ 20.3 secs. on 2 2. Vin FIsher Jr. ............................. 21.2 3. Laramie Allen ............................. 22.1 BULL RIDING 1. Matt Palmer .............. 171.5 pts. on 2 2. Creek Young ............................. 170.5 3. Stetson Wright ............................ 167

Complete results/Page 53

In addition to the money and swag, the ProRodeo Tour points jumped Devers up to ninth in those standings, virtually assuring him a berth at the Finale in Salinas, Calif., Sept. 23-26.

Roseanna Sales photo Steer wrestler Cody Devers had a strong out in Ellensbug, Wash., winning the average and leaving town with $5,355 in earnings.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/17/2021

ProRodeo Sports News 9/17/2021

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