ProRodeo sporst News - October 15, 2021

BY TANNER BARTH t was a record year for rookies across the sport of ProRodeo. The eight PRCA | Resistol Rookies of the Year combined to win $515,600 in 2021. Of those eight, bareback rider Cole Franks and bull rider Creek Young will be making their debuts at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas this December. Resistol Rookie All-Around and Steer Roper of the Year Slade Wood is inside the top 5 of the steer roping standings and will compete at the NFSR in Mulvane, Kan., Nov. 12-13. Top Newcomers RESISTOL ROOKIES OF THE YEAR I

ALL-AROUND AND STEER ROPER OF THE YEAR Slade Wood Hometown: New Ulm, Texas Biggest moment of the 2021 season? Taking second place at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo was probably the biggest and best moment of this season for me. When did you realize you could win Rookie of the Year? Coming into the year I had planned on just steer roping and not entering any other events.

STEER WRESTLER OF THE YEAR Marc Joiner Hometown: Loranger, La. Biggest moment of the 2021 season?

I would say our Southeast Circuit Finals. I didn’t have anything won at the time and that was my first circuit finals. It was a big boost for me to get to this point. When did you realize you could win Rookie of the Year? It started out as my goal and I just kind of believed I could win it. I had a really good winter and it happened right for me down the stretch to win it. TIE-DOWN ROPER OF THE YEAR Beau Cooper Hometown: Stettler, Alberta Biggest moment of the 2021 season? I would have to say the Washington State Fair Pro Rodeo in Puyallup, (Wash.). I came in sixth and pulled out the long round win. That was probably my favorite moment this season. When did you realize you could win Rookie of the Year? After the Fourth of July run is when I started to realize it could be a real possibility. I was leading it going into June and then everything started going my way from that point on. TEAM ROPING HEADER OF THE YEAR John Gaona Hometown: Winkelman, Ariz. Biggest moment of the 2021 season? I think it has to be my win in Casper, (Wyo.), I’ll always remember my first pro win and it definitely took a little weight off my shoulders. When did you realize you could win Rookie of the Year? This is my first year rodeoing full time, so I didn’t really know if it was possible. But I think after I won Casper, (Wyo.) it started to set in that I could do it. Joiner Cooper Gaona

Wood

Then I started having success in the steer roping and things took off for me in my rookie year. I decided to try team roping, I won a little money there, and it secured the all-around for me as well. BAREBACK RIDER OF THE YEAR Cole Franks Hometown: Clarendon, Texas Biggest moment of the 2021 season?

I think my win in Dodge City, (Kan.) was the best moment for me. I came out and won the rodeo and also set the arena record. When did you realize you could win Rookie of the Year?

Franks

When I first bought my PRCA card I knew I could do it. I think winning the long round at San Angelo, (Texas) is what really started it all. That win put me in the No.1 spot and everything went well after that. SADDLE BRONC RIDER OF THE YEAR K’s Thomson Hometown: Lundbreck, Alberta Biggest moment of the 2021 season?

The Redding, (Calif.) Rodeo win was huge for me because I knew I’d start getting into bigger rodeos from that point on. When did you realize you could win Rookie of the Year? I thought I had a realistic shot to win it from the start. It was my main goal this year and it means a lot to get it done.

Thomson

ProRodeo Sports News 10/15/2021

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