The ProRodeo Sports News - March 6, 2020

COWBOY GRILLE WITH TRACY RENCK

How crazy has this year been for you? Levi: It has been excellent. God has blessed me with a lot of opportunities, and I’ve been able to capitalize on a lot of them. What have been your biggest highlights? Levi: Winning the San Angelo (Texas) Cinch Chute-Out Rodeo ($12,500) was a big one, as well as the Division 1 Xtreme Bulls in San Antonio ($15,833 for placing second). What are your short-term goals for 2020? Levi: For starters, my goal in the spring is to keep riding good and stay healthy. If you’re not healthy there’s not a good chance of doing well. Of course, everyone is going to be sored up, but if you can stay healthy you have a really good shot at doing well. How did you get involved in rodeo? Levi: My dad (Tim) rode bulls and I had uncles and my grandpa on my mom’s (Jamie) side who cowboyed and Bull rider Levi Gray, 20, of Klamath Falls, Ore., was solid in 2018, earning $30,415 on his PRCA permit. As a rookie in 2019, he earned $19,220 but missed chunks of time with injuries, finishing eighth in the PRCA | Resistol Rookie Standings. The 2020 campaign has been a breakout one for Gray. Gray was third in the March 2 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $39,479. With such a strong start to the season, Gray is hoping to make his Wrangler National Finals Rodeo debut in December.

LEVI GRAY

rode bulls. It just worked out that I never knew anything different. Growing up, I started riding sheep when I was 3 and worked my way up. All I can ever remember since Day 1 is wanting to be a world champion bull rider. What does 8 seconds feel like to you? Levi: The first jump is the clearest, and then after that it is kind of just a blur. You know what’s going on but you’re not thinking about it, you’re just reacting. It is a really cool feeling having your body and muscle memory take over and being able to conquer an 1,800-pound animal. Is there a bull on your bucket list you want to ride? Levi: (Powder River Rodeo’s SweetPro’s) Bruiser is out there, and I would like to get on him before they retire him. He’s such an amazing animal, and whenever they ride him, they are always in the 90s on him. I have the most respect for that bull. Did you college rodeo? Levi: I went to Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari, N.M. I made the College National Finals Rodeo twice. How much did you learn from your 2019 rookie season? Levi: My rookie season, I ended up spending most of my time being hurt. I had a pulled groin that kept me out for a month last February. At the end of the summer, I tore the cartilage in my (left) wrist in my riding hand. I tried riding with it for two weeks, but I couldn’t hang on to my bull rope. I took August and September off. I started coming back at the end of November, and I feel healthy now. What’s your favorite restaurant? Levi: Wubba’s BBQ Shack (in Klamath Falls). I get the Spicier Barn Burner (sliced barbecue with spicy barbecue sauce, jalapeños, grilled onions and melted pepper jack cheese). I usually get a Dr Pepper to drink.

What’s your favorite dessert or candy? Levi: My mom’s peanut butter cookies. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Levi: I have a little brother, T.J., who is 18, and he’s also a bull rider. We are traveling together this year. He’s on his permit and has had a good year so far. It’s pretty cool that we can push each other and get better together and go chase our dreams.

What if there were no such thing as the Internet? Levi: It would be difficult not having a GPS, especially in bigger cities. It would be tough driving around looking for the sign for the fairgrounds. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not bull riding? Levi: I have a custom leather business that I work on the side. I really enjoy carving leather and building chaps and different stuff. That’s usually where I spend most of my time. I started doing leatherwork when I was 13. I love doing it. I’ve always enjoyed drawing and stuff like that, and I enjoy the process of creating something where the only thing I am limited to is my imagination. Who’s your favorite musician? Levi: Chris LeDoux is pretty good. Whenever I have to drive through the night, I enjoy listening to some old rodeo songs.

ProRodeo Sports News 3/6/2020

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