ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 21, 2018

SADDLE BRONC

WORLD CHAMPION

Day in the Sun Sundell wins title in eighth trip to Finals

BY MATT NABER E ight might be Wade Sundell’s lucky number. Thanks to picking up eight checks during his eighth trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Sundell was crowned the 2018 Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion. “Words can’t explain it, it’s amazing,” Sundell said. “I’ve been trying to do it since the first time here, but I’m glad it came and hope there’s more to come.” Sundell competed at every Wrangler NFR from 2009-15. He nearly won the world twice before, finishing as high as second in 2010 and 2015.

“It’s the gold buckle and what everyone wants, it’s the greatest thing ever,” Sundell said immediately after winning the title. “Everyone shoots for it, and it’s what you always work for. Before tonight, I felt good and kept firing away at them.” Sundell won Round 5 with a 92-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman, the same bronc that was the deciding factor in CoBurn Bradshaw winning the average when he nailed a 92-point ride in Round 10. “I told (flankman) Heith Stewart earlier that they (the crowd) were needing to be wowed and that he was about to see something he hadn’t seen in a while,” Sundell said after winning Round 5. “I was stoked to have that one. It’s the best she has ever been with me, so I

ProRodeo Sports News 12/21/2018

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