ProRodeo Sports News - September 2, 2022

SHORT ROUND Mike Cervi named 2022 Legend of ProRodeo High Honor

P roRodeo Hall of Fame stock contractor Mike Cervi has been named the 2022 Legend of ProRodeo. Cervi will be honored at the 15th annual Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala on Nov. 28 at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. “Thank you very much,” said Cervi, 85. “I’m honored and appreciative.” Cervi, who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2003, has been involved with rodeo since 1950 and as a stock contractor since 1967. “I started clowning rodeos when I was 14 years old in Canada for Harry Vold,”

pretty hard to shake it and do something else.” Cervi’s career as a stock contractor for rodeos was on a list of the country’s biggest on the PRCA trail like Houston, Denver, San Antonio, Albuquerque, Nampa, Idaho, and Waco, Texas. He was named a two-time PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year (1983, 2001), and he sent countless horses and bulls to compete at the National Finals Rodeo. He was also a longtime member of the PRCA board of directors, who helped the sport leap into the 21st century. “It is the people you meet and the friendships you make, the lifelong

Cervi said. “I did that for three or four years and that led me into the rodeo business. I have been involved with the cattle business all my life also. Once you got attached to rodeo and were a part of it, it is

friendships that mean a lot,” said Cervi about what he enjoyed most about his lifetime in rodeo. “Those friends are very important to me.” Cervi is the 17th man to be honored as a Legend of ProRodeo.

Sage Newman sets saddle bronc earnings mark The amazing season of saddle bronc rider Sage Newman got even better the weekend of Aug. 21. Newman earned $23,634 at four different Championship Shootout at NGR Stadium.

“That was unbelievable,” said Newman, 24. “That was the most memorable win of my career so far. It’s a legendary rodeo and to be able to win that is amazing. My traveling partner Kolby Wanchuk got on that horse (Billie) in San Antonio (Feb. 26) and was 90 on him, so I knew what he was all about and when I drew that horse, I was pretty excited. “I was talking with some of my traveling partners, and I told them last year I was fighting to get $80,000 at the end of the year.” From 2017-20, Newman earned a combined $33,000 and some change and then everything changed in 2021. “2017 was my first year and in 2018 I ended up breaking my leg and it took me a little bit of time to come back,” Newman said. “In 2019, I just kind of circuit rodeoed, and 2020 was COVID, and I didn’t really get to go that year so I just kind of stayed home and practiced and got ready for 2021. That’s when it all kicked off. Honestly, I just think I matured a bunch and got comfortable. I feel like I belong. I’m just having fun and traveling partners help out as well and I have a great traveling crew.” Newman is in the rig with Kolby Wanchuk (10th in the world standings); Chase Brooks (12th) and Tanner Butner (17th).

rodeos, highlighted by his $13,902 payday at the Xtreme Bronc Finals in Rapid City, S.D., on Aug. 21. By earning that amount and even more since, Newman upped his season total to $243,459, which is a new regular season saddle bronc earnings record before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The previous record was $224,488 set by Ryder Wright in 2019.

Newman

“This season has been awesome,” Newman said. “I didn’t even know I broke the record. Somebody text me the other day and said congrats on breaking the record and I didn’t even know what he was talking about. It took me a while to figure out what he was talking about, and this is pretty cool.” Newman is sure to add to his record total as the PRCA regular season doesn’t end until Sept. 30. This season, Newman, who leads the PRCA | RAM World Standings, has won countless rodeos, including RodeoHouston. At RodeoHouston, he pocketed $57,500. Newman won the coveted RodeoHouston title with a 93-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Billie in the

ProRodeo Sports News 9/2/2022

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