PublicationProRodeo Sports News - February 22, 2019

Lummus can get excited, so Jones helps him stay focused. Traveling with a nine-time qualifier to the Wrangler NFR means having a guide down every stretch of road who knows how to make it to the Finals. “This winter started slow, and he took it hard,” Jones said. “I said, ‘It’s a marathon, and we’re not even warmed up yet.’” When Jones was green, he had a similar mindset to Lummus’ – wanting to win every rodeo. “I’ve helpedWill overcome a lot of the pitfalls I had when I wasn’t rodeoing smart and being too hard on myself,” Jones said. “It’s fun to get Will focused on his talent.” “He (Jones) takes a lot of stress off the guys in the rig because he has been there and done that and knows how to enter and where to keep the horses overnight,” Lummus said. “As much help as I’ve gotten, I’d never turn anyone down who wanted to try to have a career in rodeo.”

SADDLE BRONC RIDERS Ross Griffin. Born: Sept. 30, 1996 Taos Muncy. Born: June 28, 1987 Age difference: 9 years

Griffin placed second in the 2018 PRCA | Resistol Rookie Standings, and now he’s on the road with Muncy, a 10-time qualifier to the Wrangler NFR. Muncy’s cousin and fellow saddle bronc rider Leon Fountain, who turns 23 in March, will join their rig. “I know I can get sour when things aren’t going good, but they’ll motivate me to try harder,” Muncy said. “You want to compete with the guys coming up and kicking butt and keep up with them.” Griffin grew up near Muncy. This is the first season that Griffin has qualified for larger rodeos, so he hopped in the rig with Muncy. “He asked me if I wanted to go, and of course you’re not going to say no to Taos,” Griffin said. “He’s just a real positive guy to be around and really

Griffin

Muncy

much younger and seeing that energy that goes into it and that raw want and desire to win and go do it every day and work hard at it spurs me on, because the older I get, the lazier I want to be. Having a partner I feel accountable to makes me work harder to physically be able to catch up to how fast he is roping these steers. It spurs me on to do a good job and be the partner he needs.” STEERWRESTLERS

happy with a good attitude and excited to go to the next one. He knows how to enter them and how to fit everything in, and there’s a lot to learn from him.” Muncy traveled with older competitors when he was new to the PRCA. Now, he’s on the other side of the table. “It helps to have someone who has been there and done that and knows what it takes to get to the Finals,” Griffin said. Muncy has a lot of confidence in his traveling partner. “I feel like he’s got it already, and I just tell him to stay calm even at a big rodeo,” Muncy said. “It could be for $20,000 or $1,000, you go at it the same. It comes down to $100 for world titles and making the NFR.” Muncy maps out the itinerary, and that frees up Griffin to focus on his riding and have some fun along the way. “I guess getting older is mandatory but growing up is optional,” Muncy laughed. “I don’t think about the age difference much. We work as a team. It’s not just his way, he asks me what I think about stuff and we talk about it and come to an agreement.” -– DUSTIN EGUSQUIZA on partner Kory Koontz

Will Lummus. Born: April 15, 1992 K.C. Jones. Born: Jan. 27, 1971 Age difference: 21 years

Jones competed when Lummus’ uncle, Bob, was still competing. About four years ago, Jones invited Lummus to practice together, and it all grew from there. “Will is an aggressive guy, and it’s helpful to have experience in the corner to remind him to do his job,” Jones said. Lummus’ riding has improved along with his mental game, Jones said. “Confidence – honestly, that’s the biggest thing I learned fromK.C.,” Lummus said, “and having confidence all the time even when you’re doing bad. That’s one thing he is really good at. And one of the hardest things on the road is keeping your mind on the end-goal, which is making the Finals and leaving the last steer at the last rodeo, good or bad.”

Lummus

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ProRodeo Sports News 2/22/2019

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