ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 21, 2018

RAM NATIONAL

CIRCUIT FINALS

Logan Olson, right, and Matt Kasner won the team roping title at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla. They each took home $20,090. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Kent Soule

BREDING BUCKS TO THIRD RAM NCFR TITLE The last couple of seasons of ProRodeo haven’t been the easiest for bull rider Parker Breding. After making the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2013 and 2015, the 25-year-old from Edgar, Mont., hadn’t been back. The RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo went a long way toward helping Breding find his way back to ProRodeo’s biggest stage. Breding won his third RAMNCFR buckle, winning $29,567 (including ground money) in Kissimmee, Fla., April 5-8. That was the most money of any competitor at the rodeo. “This is amazing; I came down here wanting this really bad,” he said. “I

home in Desdemona, Texas. “This is my home state, and I had never been here before for the RAM National Circuit Finals. It’s a dream come true to win this deal. I always wanted to win it, especially when it moved to Florida.” Diaz scored big. Not only did he win his first RAMNCFR in his home state, but he also took home $14,594. COOPER NETS RAM NCFR TIE-DOWN ROPING BUCKLE The reigning PRCA All-Around champion was at it again. Tuf Cooper, who won his first all-around gold buckle in Las Vegas in 2017, was at the top of the charts for all-around in April 2018, and it wasn’t even close after the RAMNCFR. Cooper added to that lead by winning the tie-down roping finals at the RAMNCFR with a 7.0-second run in Kissimmee, Fla., April 8. “I’m just so thankful to have the opportunity to

needed a money boost, because I’m up there toward the top of the standings, but I need to keep winning more and this helps. Winning this kind of money was great, but they sure made me work for it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” SADDLE BRONC RIDER WINS IN NATIVE STATE Born in Davie, Fla., saddle bronc rider Isaac Diaz had always wanted to compete at the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo since its move to Kissimmee, Fla., about three hours away. Diaz, who now lives in Texas, finally made it to the RAMNCFR in Kissimmee this year. He made the most of the trip. Diaz rode Dakota Rodeo’s Bartender for 86 points in the finals, tying withWade Sundell, whose 86-point ride came on Korkow Rodeo’s Meat Cracker. Diaz won the rodeo buckle because his 83.5-point ride in the semifinals was higher than Sundell’s. “I feel awesome,” said Diaz, who makes his

RNCFRWINNERS BAREBACK RIDING Mason Clements, 86 pts.

STEER WRESTLING Chason Floyd, 4.2 sec. TEAM ROPING Logan Olson/Matt Kasner, 5.4 sec. SADDLE BRONC RIDING Isaac Diaz, 86 pts. TIE-DOWN ROPING

win this thing,” said Cooper, 28. “It’s a dream come true. I always wanted to be the RAMNational Circuit Finals (Rodeo) tie-down champion.” He got there by taking fifth in the second round, third in the average and second in the semifinals. All that success at the RAMNCFR netted Cooper $18,906. As of April 16, Cooper had won $84,702 in all-around money, giving him a lead of nearly $34,000. The win also helped Cooper climb from fifth in the tie- down roping standings to first. He is in second place in steer roping. “I’ve gotten off to a great start in both events – calf roping, steer roping,” said Cooper, who owns four world titles. “This is going to help out so much.”

Tuf Cooper, 7.0 sec. BARREL RACING Taci Bettis, 15.34 sec. BULL RIDING Parker Breding, 83.5 pts.

ProRodeo Sports News 12/21/2018

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