The ProRodeo Sports News - March 6, 2020

Injury-plagued bull rider wins in Fort Mohave Wally’s World

BY TRACY RENCK T his win was a longtime coming for Ty Wallace. For the last two years, there has been one constant inWallace’s rodeo life – injuries. The Ardmore, Okla., bull rider qualified for the 2014-15 and 2017Wrangler National Finals Rodeos. But shortly after the ’17 Finals, he broke his right leg. Then came broken ribs (2018), a broken right arm in Denver (2019) and a broken right foot in Casper, Wyo., in July. “I took the rest of the year off after the Casper injury,” Wallace said. “I bought a place in Oklahoma, got down there and put my head to the grindstone. I didn’t really know what I was going to do. I was just sick of being hurt.” Fast-forward to the

Dale Miller photo Ty Wallace shakes hands with stock contractor Jerry Honeycutt of Honeycutt Rodeo after winning the Xtreme Bulls in Fort Mohave, Ariz., Feb. 29.

present, andWallace is finally healthy, and it showed at the Fort Mohave Classic Division 1 Xtreme Bulls, Feb. 29. Wallace won the two-head average with 182 points, notching two 90-point rides in one night for the first time. “I’m really excited about this win,” saidWallace, 26. “It feels good just to be healthy and get to go to the next one. …When you get a win like this it seems like you can keep your momentum going, and (Feb. 29) felt great. I’m better if I go to fewer rodeos and not get burned out.” Wallace earned $13,244 in Fort Mohave, boosting him to 12th in the March 2 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $28,617. Tyler Bingham (175 points) and Colby Demo (174.5) finished second and third, respectively, in the average. “That was a pretty good performance for me, and the money was awesome,” said Bingham, who earned $8,232 in Fort Mohave. With injuries mounting, Wallace looked for a fresh start outside of the rodeo arena and moved fromCollbran, on the Western Slope of Colorado, in January 2019 to Ardmore. “It was frustrating being hurt all the time,” Wallace said. “I bought that place in Ardmore, and I was riding horses, starting some colts and building some fence. “Then, my shoeing business kicked up and I have been shoeing a bunch of horses. That keeps me busy and keeps me in shape. It keeps my mind going and not thinking about bull riding

as much. I can overthink a lot of stuff.” Wallace was back in top form at Fort Mohave. He set the tone for his victory in the long round with a 90-point ride on Salt River Rodeo Company’s Rocky Road, a former Wrangler NFR bull. “I had never ridden that bull before, but I had seen him a handful of times,” Wallace said. “... Everybody wants to get on him. That’s why we ride bulls, to get on bulls like him.” Wallace’s short-round ride was even better, posting a 92-point ride on Honeycutt Rodeo’s Braggin Rights. “When I saw that 92 points, it was a relief that I did my part,” Wallace said. “I was glad it worked out that way for me. That bull was a little wild and big and had a lot of different stuff going on. To get by him gives a guy a lot of confidence.” Wallace joins the 2020 Division 1 Xtreme Bulls winner’s list, which includes Dustin Boquet (SWELS – Xtreme Bulls in Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 22) and Boudreaux Campbell (San Antonio, Feb. 22). This is Wallace’s second career Division 1 Xtreme Bulls victory, his first coming in San Antonio in 2017. “This win (at Fort Mohave) seems more deserving,” Wallace said. “I’ve been really trying to do things right and work hard. It’s funny, if you work hard, karma comes around and you get rewarded.” RESULTS PAGE 52

Dale Miller photo

ProRodeo Sports News 3/6/2020

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