Monthly Archives: April 2021

BAY CITY, Texas –There’s something special when the rodeo comes to town. The people in this community of more than 17,000 have needed a relief from the COVID-19 infestation that has isolated and held people down for better than a year. That makes things more special for this year’s Matagorda County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, May 6-Saturday, May 8, at the Matagorda County Fairgrounds in Bay City. “People need to get their minds off what’s been going on this last year,” said Julie Culver, the fair’s manager. “They need some good, clean, old-fashioned fun. They need unity and fellowship. They need to let the kids be kids again. “Everybody’s been through a lot.” Yes, they have, and the rodeo will be the perfect remedy. Nearly 400 contestants are planning to compete in Bay City, with almost 100 NFR qualifiers. That’s saying something about the times and the opportunities that await them near the Texas gulf coast. There are still several rodeos that cancel each month. The Matagorda County rodeo has been postponed from it’s March date to know with hopes that there will be fewer COVID restrictions. That has opened the door for so many of ProRodeo’s best to make their way to southeast Texas in early May. There are world champions like Sage Kimzey, who owns six bull riding world titles; Jacobs Crawley, the 2015 saddle bronc riding champion; Junior Nogueira, the 2016 all-around titlist; and 18 others who wear the coveted gold buckle every chance they get. Why are they headed to southeast Texas? A big reason behind it is the livestock and production from Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, which handles all the intimate details of Bay City’s rodeo. “Having Pete part of our rodeo is very important,” Culver said. “It’s not just Pete. He has some very good guys working with him. It’s so nice for him to be here and be such a respectful and respected livestock producer. He’s got some really nice stock, and people want to know who our stock producer is.” Carr and his team take a solid approach to each rodeo and each rodeo performance. They understand that this is a unique option for many seeking quality entertainment. The production must make sure the competition is as even as possible for the cowboys and cowgirls, but they also must be mindful that it is a show for the crowd. They have a routine they’ve perfected over the years. “We trust Pete, and we trust the people working with him,” Culver said. “We can’t do this without the directors and the volunteers. “I think Pete’s got a good following, and there are going to be contestants that follow him around. I know a lot of them like getting on his stock and know he’s going to put on a good rodeo.” That’s why the Carr firm has been recognized as one of the best in ProRodeo for several years.

DUNCAN, Okla. –Kylie Weast doesn’t compete at many ProRodeos these days. Life in nearby Comanche, Oklahoma, with her husband and two children keeps her plenty busy. But she won’t miss Cord McCoy’s ProRodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 7-Saturday, May 8, at Stephens County Arena in Duncan; tickets can be purchased at Crutcher’s Western Wear in Duncan or online at McCoyRodeo.com. “I think it’s great that we have the ProRodeo return to Duncan in May,” said Weast, a 2018 National Finals Rodeo qualifier in barrel racing. “It’s just 20 minutes from the house, so it’s a hometown rodeo for us.” Weast comes to rodeo naturally. She is the fifth member of her family to qualify for the NFR, following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Florence Youree; great aunt, Sherry Johnson; mother, Renee Ward; and older sister, Janae Massey. It’s similar to McCoy, the youngest of his rodeo family from southeastern Oklahoma. In fact, the McCoy kids and the Ward girls ran in the same circles; that’s just what happens in the game and the Western lifestyle. “We grew up with the McCoys,” Weast said. “I think it’s great that he’s become a stock contractor and is putting on a rodeo in Duncan. Cord’s done well for himself in a lot of different avenues, so I expect this to do very well, too.” McCoy has a pretty nice rodeo background. He was a five-time IPRA world champion, a 2005 NFR qualifier and a six-time qualifier to the PBR World Finals. Beyond that, he was featured three times on CBS-TV’s “The Amazing Race,” competing alongside his older brother, Jet, as they raced around the world trying to win $1 million. Their best finish was second place in their inaugural run on the show, but they reached viewers. Producers noticed, which is why The Cowboys returned two more times. For her part, Weast has lived her rodeo dreams. She still loves to run barrels and train horses, which is why she focuses on that instead of chasing a gold buckle. “I have a lot of futurity colts, so I’m busy with that and love it,” she said. “My kids are getting bigger, and I just don’t want to miss out on that.” But she has no plans to miss out on Cord McCoy’s ProRodeo. Her grandmother, a Hall of Fame cowgirl, makes sure to remind her of it and the opportunity to compete in front of a local crowd. Stephens County Arena will be the site of the first event on the 2021 McCoy Rodeo Tour, and it will be the perfect place to celebrate so many things that are Oklahoma. In addition to Weast and McCoy, the rodeo will feature the specialty act of Ripley, Oklahoma-based Rider Kiesner and Bethany Isles, who were named the PRCA Dress Act of the Year in 2020, and Cody Webster of Wayne, Oklahoma, the reigning PRCA Bullfighter of the Year and a fixture at the PBR’s premier events, the Unleash the Beast tour. “I’m pretty proud to be from Oklahoma, and I’m glad that the first two of our events are in Oklahoma,” McCoy said, noting he will produce an event in Atoka, Oklahoma, May 21-22. “I was raised here, and I’m raising my family here. It’s rodeo, and it’s home. I like it.”

Darin Suit became the first champion of the 2021 Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo. The Ames, Oklahoma, cowboy placed in three rounds and won the average title in steer roping, which took place Monday and Tuesday at Henry C. Hitch Arena in Guymon. Suit pocketed more than $7,000 for the feat. But he wasn’t the only champion crowned Tuesday. Will McBride of Ogallala, Nebraska, won the legacy steer roping. He roped four steers in a cumulative time of 64.0 seconds. In all, he pocketed $3,822 in Guymon. Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days RodeoApril 26-May 2Steer roping: First round: 1. Reo Lohse, 10.7 seconds, $1,746; 2. Laramie Allen, 11.5, $1,518; 3. Garrett Hale, 11.6, $1,290; 4. (tie) Darin Suit and Roger Branch, 12.1, $949 each; 6. Troy Tillard, 12.3, $607; 8. (tie) Shay Good and Bryce Davis, 12.4, $266 each. Second round: 1. Kyle Cauthom, 9.7 seconds, $1,746; 2. Jess Tierney, 10.3, $1,518; 3. Rocky Patterson, 10.4, $1,290; 4. Neal Wood, 11.2, $1,063; 5. Jason Stockton, 11.4, $835; 6. Chad Edward Mathis, 11.5, $607; 7. Shay Good, 11.7, $380; 8. Colt Williams, 12.0, $152. Third round: 1. Travis Sheets, 10.1 seconds, $1,746; 2. Troy Tillard, 10.7, $1,518; 3. Darin Suit, 11.0, $1,290; 4. Chet Herren, 11.1, $1,063; 5. Cody Doescher, 11.2, $835; 6. Jess Tierney, 11.5, $607; 7. Tyler Hargrave, 11.6, $380; 8. Scott Snedecor, 12.0, $152. Fourth round: 1 Bryce Davis, 8.9 seconds, $1,746; 2. Garrett Hale, 9.4, $1,518; 3. Darin Suit, 10.1, $1,290; 4. Scott Snedecor, 10.4, $1,063; 5. Billy Good, 10.7, $835; 6. Martin Poindexter, 11.3, $607; 7. Tony Reina, 11.4, $380; 8. Troy Tillard, 11.5, $152. Aggregate: 1. Darin Suit, 47.1 seconds on four runs, $3,492; 2. Reo Lohse, 58.5, $3,036; 3. Will McBride, 64.0, $2,581; 4. Neal Wood, 65.7, $2,125; 5. Brad Lund, 67.5, $1,670; 6. Kim Ziegelgruber, 68.7, $1,214; 7. Ora Tagon, 75.1, $759; 8. Shorty Garten, 75.3, $304. Legacy steer roping: First round: 1. Roger Branch, 12.1 seconds, $551; 2. Shay Good, 12.4, $414; 3. Ora Taton, 13.1, $276; 4. Brad Lund, 14.8, 138. Second round: 1. Rocky Patterson, 10.4 seconds, $551; 2. Shay Good, 11.7, $414; 3. Chris Glover, 12.3, $276; 4. Corey Ross, 14.2, $138. Third round: 1. Rocky Patterson, 12.2 seconds, $551; 2. Miles Williams, 12.8, $414; 3. Buck Mekelburg, 15.0, $276; 4. Will McBride, 15.2, $138. Fourth round: 1. Martin Poindexter, 11.3 seconds, $551; 2. Miles Williams, 13.3, $414; 3. (tie) Trey Wallace and Ora Taton, 13.5, $207 each. Average: 1. Will McBride, 64.0 seconds on four runs, $1,103; 2. Brad Lund, 67.5, $827; 3. Ora Taton, 75.1, $551; 4. Roger Branch, 41.8 seconds on three runs, $276.

Trimble, Hittle claim team roping win; Rangers earn men’s team victory ALVA, Okla. – As youngsters, Jaden Trimble and Brandon Hittle grew up three hours apart but became close friends despite the miles. “We’ve been best friends since the seventh grade,” said Trimble, a sophomore from Coffeyville, Kansas. They chose the came college, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, and compete on the rodeo team. They just started roping together a few months ago, and it’s already paying off. The two Kansas cowboys won the Oklahoma Panhandle State University’s Doc Gardner Memorial Rodeo this past weekend in Guymon, Oklahoma, earning their first victory of the season. In addition, Northwestern earned its first men’s team title of the season. It’s a good time to get on a roll, with only the final rodeo of the Central Plains Region standings left this coming weekend in Colby, Kansas. “This was a special one,” said Hittle, a sophomore from Harveyville, Kansas, just outside of the state’s capital in Topeka. “I’d say it’s the most unique rodeo out of all of them that we compete at because of the muleys. They’re dead fresh, and everyone gets a fresh one. “It’s more of a challenge. You never know what to expect (as a heeler) on the back end of them. Your header can make or break you.” Muleys are hornless cattle, and team ropers typically rope Corriente steers. The best heading catch is slick around the horns, which makes the cattle easier to handle. That’s not possible with muleys, so the headers must catch with a neck loop, which adds to the degree of difficulty. The header also wants the animal to make a smooth transition during the turn, which helps the heeler secure his catch – hopefully of two hind legs.   Throw in the fact that none of the cattle in Guymon had ever been roped before, and there was something even more challenging for the ropers. “You didn’t know what to expect,” Trimble said. “Luckily we drew a really good steer in the first round, and Brandon got a good heel catch on him.” Both cowboys grew up as headers, and Hittle made the switch to the heel end last summer. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to head or heel at the college rodeos,” he said. “Then Jaden and I decided to rope together, so that made it easy for me to choose heeling. I love it. It’s a blast.” Trimble and Hittle were second in both rounds with runs of 7.2 and 8.9. Their cumulative time on two runs was what got them the victory. They weren’t the only winners, though; they were joined by steer wrestler Riley Westhaver of High River, Albert, who claimed another title and clinched his region championship. Fellow bulldogger Wacey Dorenkamp of Bristol, Colorado, placed in both rounds and finished fourth overall, while Bridger Anderson of Carrington, North Dakota, finished tied for second in the opening round and sixth overall. Tie-down roper Bo Yaussi of Udall, Kansas, moved to third place in the region standings after his second-place finish in Guymon – he finished second in both rounds and the aggregate. Denton Oestman of Auburn, Nebraska, placed in both rounds and finished sixth. Northwestern header Tucker Huffman of Mutual, Oklahoma, won the opening round before being saddled with a no-time in the championship round. He still finished fifth overall in a tough roping. The Rangers brotherly team of Reed Murray and Rhett Murray of Belvue, Kansas, finished fourth in the first go-round to collect points. Lindy Munsell of Arnett, Oklahoma, paved the way for the Northwestern women, placing fifth in both rounds and the average. As most of the competitors have learned, having the right horsepower can make all the difference in the world. When his good horse suffered an injury, Trimble reached for a replacement in Cowboy, an 8-year-old gelding that Trimble trained himself. “I was a junior when I bought him,” he said. “He was real green, but I got to where I started hauling him my senior year in high school. He sure did the job in Guymon.” Hittle relied on Moses, a 13-year-old gelding he’s had for eight years. Hittle roped calves on Moses in high school, then switched him to heeling. For his measure, the success in the Oklahoma Panhandle was due to Trimble’s talent. “We drew well, but my header being able to handle the cattle was the biggest reason we won,” he said. “There were a lot of heelers that didn’t get good looks, because the header wasn’t able to do a good job on the handle. Jaden handled those steers good.”

ATOKA, Okla. – Atoka County has a rich rodeo tradition and has been home to some of the greatest cowboys to have ever competed. Cord McCoy is one of them. He and his family live in nearby Lane, Oklahoma, and he is proud to live in a county that has been home to PRCA world champions like John McEntire, Clark McEntire, Lane Frost and Tyler Pearson. More importantly, he’s excited to bring the PRCA to this part of the world for the Atoka Pro Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 21-Saturday, May 22, at the Atoka Trail Riders Arena. It’s the second event on the 2021 McCoy Rodeo Tour, presented by ProVantage Animal Health. The Atoka County Chamber of Commerce is considering other events to coincide with the rodeo. For more information, contact the chamber office. “This one here is special,” said McCoy, now in his first year as a ProRodeo stock contractor. “This is my hometown rodeo, and it means a lot to me and my wife that we are able to bring the PRCA to Atoka. When you look at the legends that are from right here in Atoka County, this is where ProRodeo should be.” McCoy never claimed PRCA’s gold buckle, but he owns five of them from Oklahoma City-based IPRA. He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 2005, then followed that with six qualifications to the PBR World Finals. Even before he hung up his spurs, he’d begun raising bulls and having them at PBR events all across the country. Now he wants to add to that legacy – and that legacy of Atoka County – by having locally raised animals buck at the NFR and the PBR World Finals. “Rodeo and the Western way of life is all I’ve really ever known,” he said. “My daddy was a cowboy, and my momma rodeoed. My momma’s family goes generations deep here in Atoka County. They got together and raised four cowboys and one cowgirl, and now they’ve got a bunch of grandkids that all are part of the Western lifestyle. “Rodeo is just part of life for us, and I’m excited about this adventure.” He’s also reaching out to other rodeo veterans in bullfighter Cody Webster of Wayne, Oklahoma, and the specialty act of Rider Kiesner and Bethany Isles of Ripley, Oklahoma. Kiesner and Isles won the PRCA Dress Act of the Year in 2020, and Webster was named the association’s top bullfighter last year. McCoy also expecting hundreds of contestants with ties to Oklahoma, including cowboys like Pearson, the 2017 steer wrestling world champion who sits fourth in the world standings. Pearson still claims Louisville, Mississippi, as home, but he’s lived in Atoka with his family for a few years. “I think something a lot of people don’t realize is that the dollars won at the Atoka Pro Rodeo will count for the world standings and those trying to make the NFR,” McCoy said. “This could be a big stop for them.” Atoka is a big stop for many, and that includes McCoy Rodeo.

SAN ANGELO, Texas – The one thing the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo did for team ropers Clay Tryan and Jake Long was give them a sense of normalcy. They earned the victory, but they were sparked by the chance to rope and a chance to show their talents before packed houses in Foster Communications Coliseum. They placed in two go-rounds – including a share of the championship-round win Friday night – and had the fastest cumulative time with 12.8 seconds on three runs. Each man earned $10,862. “I think that coliseum is awesome,” said Tryan, a three-time world champion from Billings, Montana. “I think it’s one of the best rodeos of the year anywhere in the United States. It feels like a big-time rodeo, even if it’s in a smaller building. “I’ve always liked coming to San Angelo. Of course, any time you can win that much money at one rodeo, it helps.” Yes, it does. Tryan, the header, and Long, his heeler, sat 27th in the world standings heading into this week of rodeo. They nearly tripled their season earnings with their payout in this west Texas community. “With how everything’s been, it’s special to get back to feeling normal,” said Long, a 10-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Coffeyville, Kansas. “They draw a big crowd there, and the people are really into the rodeo. It felt good to feel the energy in the crowd again. It’s fun to rope in front of a crowd like that. To feel them get excited when you do a good job, it gives you goose bumps.” This marks the first San Angelo victory for Long, but it’s the second for Tryan. Both men are established in the game – besides his gold buckles, Tryan is an 18-time NFR qualifier. The tandem began competing in ProRodeo together prior to the 2019 NFR, and they’ve pieced together a solid run since then. They placed in four rounds this past December in the sport’s grand finale and pocketed just shy of $83,000 apiece. “I really think our styles match up good,” Long said. “We get along good, so that’s always important. I like to be really aggressive, and Clay’s really good at setting the run up. He gives me a chance to throw my rope a lot, and it allows me to take more chances on my shot.” The chemistry between them also fits. “I think it’s a pretty good partnership,” Tryan said. “I just try to pull (the steers) in his loop. I think what works as a team is how fast I am and how he’s a catcher. It makes for a good combination.” Through the 2020 season and parts of the 2021 campaign, ProRodeo has been affected in numerous ways by COVID 19. With events canceling, that has left fewer opportunities for the contestants to make a living in the game they love. But there seems to be a brightening on the horizon, and San Angelo was a fitting place for many of the sport’s best to put their talents on display. Of the eight winners, only steer wrestler Cade Staton has not competed at the NFR. Other winners include bareback rider Caleb Bennett, saddle bronc rider Chet Johnson, tie-down roper Tuf Cooper, barrel racer Wenda Johnson and bull rider Trey Benton III. “I’ve had chances to win this rodeo in the past, but I’ve never been able to do it,” Long said. “I’ve placed in the rounds quite a bit. At any rodeo that has history to it like this one, it’s pretty neat to get your name in the books there.” San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 9-23Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 88 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Hot Flash, $5,892; 2. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Zach Hibler, 87, $3,862 each; 4. Caleb Bennett, 86.5, $2,124; 5. (tie) Tim O’Connell and Shane O’Connell, 86, $1,158 each; 7. (tie) Chad Rutherford and Wyatt Denny, 85.5, $676 each. Final round: 1. Garrett Shadbolt, 90 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Flight, $1,650; 2. Caleb Bennett, 89, $1,250; 3. Shane O’Connell, 88.5, $900; 4. Chad Rutherford, 87, $600; 5. Tilden Hooper, 86.5, $350; 6. Cole Franks, 86, $250. Average: 1. Caleb Bennett, 175.5 points on two rides, $5,792; 2. Garrett Shadbolt, 175, $4,441; 3. Shane O’Connell, 174.5, $3,282; 4. Cole Franks, $174, $2,124; 5. Tilden Hooper, 173.5, $1,342; 6. Chad Rutherford, 172.5, $965; 7. Wyatt Denny, 170.5, $772; 8. (tie) Kaycee Field and Tim O’Connell, 168.5, $290 each. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Jesse Brown, 3.4 seconds, $4,529; 2. (tie) Brandon Harrison, Jacob Edler and Jacob Talley, 3.5, $3,348 each; 5. (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Gavin Soileau and Kalane Anders, 3.6, $1,575 each; 8. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Cody Devers, 3.7, $197 each. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Tyler Pearson, Kyle Irwin and Trell Etbauer, 3.6 seconds, $3,939 each; 4. T.J. Hall, 3.7, $2,757; 5. (tie) Jay Williamson, Cody Moore, Gavin Soileau, Termaine Debose and Cody Harmon, 3.8, $1,024 each. Final round: 1. (tie) Trell Etbauer, Taz Olson and Cade Staton, 3.8 seconds, $1,410 each; 4. Nick Guy, 4.0, $987; 5. Jesse Brown, 4.1, $776; 6. Jacob Talley, 4.5, $564; 7. Jacob Edler, 4.6, $353; 8. Ryan Nettle, 5.3, $141. Average: 1. Cade Staton, 11.8 seconds on three runs, $6,784; 2. Taz Olson, 11.9, $5,908; 3. Trell Etbauer, 12.0, $5,022; 4. (tie) Nick Guy and Jesse Brown, 12.1, $3,692 each; 6. Jacob Talley, 12.3, $2,363; 7. Jacob Edler, 12.6, $1,477; 9. Ryan Nettle, 13.5, $591. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Jake Orman/Brye Crites and John Gaona/Trevor Nowlin, 3.9 seconds, $4,174 each; 3. Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich, 4.0, $3,300; 4. (tie) Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp and Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.2, $2,427 each; 6. (tie) Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, Cooper White/Tucker White and Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.3, $971 each. Second round leaders: 1.(tie) Dustin Eguisquiza/Travis Graves and Cyle Denison/Brady Norman, 3.5, $4,174 each; 3. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jake Long and Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 3.6, $3,009 each; 5. Jr. Dees/Rich Skelton, 3.7, $2,135; 6.  Continue Reading »

GUYMON, Okla. – Much has changed over the last 89 years, since the inaugural Pioneer Days celebration in 1933. A tradition was established. The times have changed. There are more cars and fewer horse-drawn buggies. There is television instead of sitting beside the radio. News is shared online and over social media; no more news reels at the theater. Times change. Traditions don’t. The tradition continues at this year’s Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 30; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 1; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 2, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. “The thing about our rodeo is that it’s a week long,” said Jeremy Carman, chairman of the committee that produces the annual rodeo. “We have a bunch of very dedicated volunteers that help make this thing happen because the only way to accommodate as many contestants as we get is to have seven days of competition. “We have many of our committee members that take a week of vacation for this rodeo. It means that much to them. We know it’s important to the community, so we do everything we can to make sure it happens.” Seaboard Foods is also helping by enabling everyone to experience the high-flying, big-time action of the rodeo by covering the cost of the Saturday and Sunday matinee performances. Anyone wanting general admission for those 2 p.m. shows can park and get in for free. Why? The main reason is because it’s the largest event annually in the community that draws thousands of people to town for the competition and entertainment. This year’s rodeo features a record number of 1,060 entries, and that includes dozens of world champions and many more contestants that have qualified for the National Finals Rodeo. “I’d like to think we draw so many contestants because we put on a dang good rodeo,” Carman said, noting that the event was nominated as a Rodeo of the Year in 2020, 18 years after it was named the PRCA’s Large Rodeo of the Year in 2002. “I think the timed-event contestants like our format, and we give them all a good chance to win money. “I also think the bull riders, bronc riders and bareback riders like that Frontier Rodeo is our primary stock contractor and that we have others that are part of our rodeo. All of that gives the cowboys a good chance to cash in.” Frontier, which is based in nearby Freedom, Oklahoma, is the reigning six-time PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year and has had more bucking animals selected to perform at the NFR the last few years than any other livestock producer in ProRodeo. There is a big list of top animal athletes that come out of the Frontier herd, but the biggest this year is a powerful buckskin mare named Gun Fire, which led Tilden Hooper to a $100,000 bareback riding victory at The American and was a big part of Tim O’Connell’s world record-tying 94-point ride at the Riggin’ Rally in early April. Gun Fire is just one of a number of top buckers that is expected to buck inside the Hitch Arena gates. That’s what Frontier brings to the Oklahoma Panhandle each spring, and it’s why the rodeo committee has teamed with the Oklahoma firm. After all, this is Oklahoma’s richest rodeo. It’s only right that the best in the business be here.

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Shane O’Connell was excited about his draw Thursday night during the 11th performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. He was a little envious, too. O’Connell, who qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 2018, watched from home as Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Network Gazer performed at last year’s grand championship. He’s hoping the two will match up again at the 2021 NFR in Las Vegas. “That’s just a great horse, but all the experiences I’ve had with Cullen Pickett horses, I know most of them are big, strong bays that will get you paid every time,” said O’Connell, 25, of Rapid City, South Dakota. “That horse tested me, and that horse really bucked.” He and Network Gazer matched moves in Foster Communications Coliseum for 86 points, good enough to finish the first round in a tie for sixth place with world champion Tim O’Connell (no relation). Both the O’Connell boys earned $1,158 and have a great chance to cash in even more in Friday’s championship round, which will feature only the top 12 times or scores through the preliminary rounds. “The last couple of years, I’ve been making good rides, but I haven’t been able to put anything together,” Shane O’Connell said. “I was ready for this year. The money we won at the circuit finals counted (toward the world standings). I cracked my first 90 in Jackson (Mississippi) and finished second there. I went to San Antonio, and I was 90 twice. I’ve just been drawing good horses this winter, and that’s been a big part of the equation. “I’ve still got to ride them to get my score, but I’ve gotten to where I just crave it. I was looking out the window on the drive down here, and I was just ready to go.” Thursday’s performance had plenty of excitement as contestants battled to find a way into the short round. Barrel racer Wenda Johnson of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, posted the fastest run of the rodeo, stopping the clock in 14.11 seconds. By winning the second round, she earned $5,595. But that’s not all. She also finished second in the opening go-round two and a half weeks ago, which was worth $4,796. She’s cashed in big already, and there’s one night left in the rodeo. The final performance will be the Cinch Chute-Out, and it’s set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday. By then, though, the San Angelo champions will already be crowned. To make that happen, though, the competition will be tight. O’Connell knows that as well as anyone. He’s experienced San Angelo before, but this will be his first time in the short round. “There are a handful of these rodeos in these smaller buildings that are just electrifying,” he said. “The people make it electric. There are a handful that stick out, and this is one. I haven’t had much luck here before, but I’ve had to watch the short round. They pack this place up, and it gets loud. “I know we’re all going to draw good horses. They’re going to stack the short round with the 10th-rounders, the really good horses that we see in the 10th round of the NFR. They’re going to buck hard, but they’re going to feel good.” San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 9-23Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 88 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Hot Flash, $5,892; 2. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Zach Hibler, 87, $3,862 each; 4. Caleb Bennett, 86.5, $2,124; 5. (tie) Tim O’Connell and Shane O’Connell, 86, $1,158 each; 7. (tie) Chad Rutherford and Wyatt Denny, 85.5, $676 each; 9. (tie) Luke Creasy and Garrett Shadbolt, 85; 11. Kaycee Field, 84.5; 12. Cauy Pool, 84.   Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Jesse Brown, 3.4 seconds, $4,529; 2. (tie) Brandon Harrison, Jacob Edler and Jacob Talley, 3.5, $3,348 each; 5. (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Gavin Soileau and Kalane Anders, 3.6, $1,575 each; 8. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Cody Devers, 3.7, $197 each. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Tyler Pearson, Kyle Irwin and Trell Etbauer, 3.6 seconds, $3,939 each; 4. T.J. Hall, 3.7, $2,757; 5. (tie) Jay Williamson, Cody Moore, Gavin Soileau, Termaine Debose and Cody Harmon, 3.8, $1,024 each. Average leaders: 1. Gavin Soileau, 7.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Jacob Talley, 7.8; 3. (tie) Jesse Brown, Jacob Edler and Cade Stanton, 8.0; 6. (tie) Taz Olson and Nick Guy, 8.1; 8. (tie) Shane Frey, Billy Boldon, Ryan McKay Nettle and Trell Etbauer, 8.2; 12. (tie) Cody Devers, Remey Parrott, Grady Payne and Tory Johnson, 8.3 (Devers advances to short round via the tie-breaker). Team roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Jake Orman/Brye Crites and John Gaona/Trevor Nowlin, 3.9 seconds, $4,174 each; 3. Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich, 4.0, $3,300; 4. (tie) Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp and Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.2, $2,427 each; 6. (tie) Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, Cooper White/Tucker White and Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.3, $971 each. Second round leaders: 1.(tie) Dustin Eguisquiza/Travis Graves and Cyle Denison/Brady Norman, 3.5, $4,174 each; 3. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jake Long and Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 3.6, $3,009 each; 5. Jr. Dees/Rich Skelton, 3.7, $2,135; 6. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 3.8, $1,553; 7. Clint Summers/Rosh Ashford, 3.9, $971; 8. (tie) Kal Fuller/Coleby Payne and Wyatt Muggli/Casey McCleskey, 4.0, $194 each. Average leaders: 1. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 8.4; 3. Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich, 9.5; 4. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 8.6; 5. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 8.9; 6. Cooper White/Tucker White, 9.0; 7. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 9.4; 8. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 10.0; 9. Cory Clark/Wyatt Cox, 10.8; 10. Jaguar Terrill/Sid Sporer, 11.0; 9. Wyatt Muggli/Casey McCleskey, 13.8; 11. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 12.5; 12. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 13.6. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Chet Johnson, 87 points on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Vertical Horizon, $5,637; 2. Kolby Wanchuck, 86, $4,322; 3. Dawson Hay, 84.5, $3,194; 4. Jacobs Crawley, 84, $2,067; 5. (tie) Cort Scheer, Isaac Diaz, Jarrod Hammons and Lefty Holman, 83.5, $893 each; 9. (tie) Allen Boore, Chase Brooks and Sage Newman, 83; 12.  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Not many ProRodeo cowboys have a 20-year career, but Chet Johnson isn’t a typical ProRodeo cowboy. When he began his professional life as a bronc rider in 2001, the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo was a big event. He found it to his liking and had considerable success inside Foster Communications Coliseum in a short amount of time. With the highs come the lows, and Johnson went through years without west Texas prosperity until it all changed in one eight-second ride Wednesday night during the ninth performance of the rodeo. “This used to be a really good rodeo to me when I was in my early 20s, but it’s been a real battle for me for a long time,” said Johnson, who rode Lancaster and Jones Pro Rodeo’s Vertical Horizon for 87 points to take the saddle bronc riding lead. “When I say a long time, I mean it’s been at least 15 years. “It was one of the first three Texas rodeos I’d ever been to coming out of Wyoming. To be that disappointed for so many years in a row, and now to do good, it’s an unbelievable feeling. If I can finish strong, it’s going to mean even more.” Thursday’s 10th performance will host the final preliminary rounds for the competitors, and only the top 12 advance to Friday’s championship round. He is excited to be part of that performance and be in a good place to claim his first San Angelo title. “With us still being in a funny type of year with COVID, a good check here and a win would be really good,” said Johnson, 40, of Douglas, Wyoming, now living most of the year in Stephenville, Texas. “This is going to be a big paycheck, and it helps set us up for the spring run and the summer run. “This gives you the confidence and the money to keep going down the road, and it’s something to build on.” There’s quite a bit to build on, because he didn’t look his age on the back of Vertical Horizon. The powerful horse threw some moves at the veteran cowboy, who has four qualifications to the National Finals Rodeo on his resume. “He tested me those first three jumps,” he said. “I had to bear down right out of the chute, but then he got super fun to ride and stacked up. He is just the kind of horse you need at this caliber of rodeo. “A lot of guys have been trying to figure that horse out, and I finally got what you need to give him as far as rein. That helped me, and the experience of the other guys who have been on him or seen him a bunch. He’s going to be a good horse for a long time.” By the time they reach 40, many bronc riders have been long retired. That’s not on Johnson’s mind … at least for now. Over the last two decades, he’s missed time with injuries; in fact, he missed much of the 2018 and ’19 campaigns because of knee issues. This season, he sits 23rd in the world standings thanks in large part to considerable success when the campaign began . He’s ridden through a rough stretch of luck for several weeks leading up to his ride in San Angelo. He’s been through the roller coaster of rodeo so many times before that he takes a solid approach to playing the game he loves. “A lot of it’s more on the mental side of it,” Johnson said. “I’m just enjoying it and realize I don’t have a lot of years left. I’m going to enjoy going to rodeos I get to now and enjoy being around the other guys. We have a lot of younger bronc riders, too, and they help keep me young. “Part of it is just sitting back and enjoying it and going back to why you started doing this.” There have been times where the injuries and the all-night drives wore on the cowboy, but he has always plugged along. He’s known for his infectious smile and a good outlook on life, and it still shows in his riding. “I worked my butt off to get my second knee rehabbed,” he said. “It got healed up, but it took seven months to get back to normal. Finally, everything settled itself down. I think the work I put in earlier might be paying off. “I definitely want to make the NFR again. If I keep drawing these types of horses and keep riding good, I think it’s definitely could happen this year. After the year is over, I’ll sit down and really think about it. I know I’m toward the end of my career, but I still love doing this.” San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 9-23Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 88 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Hot Flash; 2. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Zach Hibler, 87; 4. Caleb Bennett, 86.5; 5. Tim O’Connell, 86; 6. Chad Rutherford, 85.5; 7. (tie) Luke Creasy and Garrett Shadbolt, 85; 9. Kaycee Field, 84.5; 10. Cauy Pool, 84; 11. Kody Lamb, 83; 11. (tie) Tanner Aus, Bill Tutor, Jamie Howlett and Hunter Carter, 82.   Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Jesse Brown, 3.4 seconds, $4,529; 2. (tie) Brandon Harrison, Jacob Edler and Jacob Talley, 3.5, $3,348 each; 5. (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Gavin Soileau and Kalane Anders, 3.6, $1,575 each; 8. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Cody Devers, 3.7, $197 each. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Tyler Pearson and Kyle Irwin, 3.6; 3. T.J. Hall, 3.7; 4. (tie) Jay Williamson, Cody Moore, Gavin Soileau, Termaine Debose and Cody Harmon, 3.8 seconds. Average leaders: 1. Gavin Soileau, 7.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Jacob Talley, 7.8; 3. (tie) Jesse Brown, Jacob Edler and Cade Stanton, 8.0; 6. (tie) Taz Olson and Nick Guy, 8.1; 8. (tie) Shane Frey, Billy Boldon and Ryan McKay Nettle, 8.2; 11. (tie) Cody Devers,  Continue Reading »

ALVA, Okla. – For several years, Pacman was the perfect horse for Kody Woodward. Now, Pacman is doing the same for another member of the family, Brent Woodward, a senior steer wrestler at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The speedy sorrel gelding proved it again this past weekend by guiding Brent Woodward to the title at the Fort Hays (Kansas) State University Rodeo. “This was really good for me,” said Woodward, the third member of his family from Dupree, South Dakota, to be part of the Northwestern rodeo team. “I haven’t been doing very good at these college rodeos. It should be a confidence booster to finally win one. “I’m hoping to do good at these next two rodeos and sneak up into the third spot.” He’s talking about the Central Plains Region standings. With rodeos in Guymon, Oklahoma, this week and Colby, Kansas, the first weekend in May, the intercollegiate athletes have just two more shots to finish among the top three in the circuit in order to advance to the College National Finals Rodeo; it takes place June 13-19 in Casper, Wyoming. After winning the title in Hays, Woodward shot up to 13th in the region. There are plenty of points available for him to advance to the finale, but things will have to go his way. He trails the leader, teammate Riley Westhaver of High River, Alberta, by 285 points but is just 141 points away from third place. Woodward earned 130 points in Hays. Kody is 10 years older than Brent, and Pacman was his bulldogging horse a decade ago when he was trying to make the college finals. Since then, Pacman’s been ridden by some of the best cowboys in rodeo. Now, he’s helping more college students learn the game. “He’s a pretty solid horse, and I’ve got a good haze horse, Junior,” Brent Woodward said of the horses he uses as a team. “Bradley Ralph has been my hazer, and he always does a good job of getting the steers lined out for me. “Kody (trained) both those horses. That’s more of what my brother does. He picks them out, and we start on them and make runs on them.” That type of training has worked. Woodward led the way for the Rangers in Hays, but there were others who overcame the snow and colder conditions to gather points. Heeler Bo Yaussi of Udall, Kansas, placed in both rounds and finished fourth overall while roping with Garrett Elmore of Western Oklahoma State College. Header Zane Thompson of Cheyenne, Wyoming – roping with Zach Woods of Western Oklahoma – earned points in the first round by placing in a tie for sixth place with the Northwestern tandem of Taylor Carson and Cale Koppitz, both of Alva; both teams stopped the clock in 9.7 seconds. Tie-down roper Tucker Huffman of Mutual, Oklahoma, picked up a third-place finish in the opening round as well. Breakaway roper Hannah Zimmers of Eureka, Kansas, led the way for the Northwestern women. She placed in both rounds and finished third overall.

CHILDRESS, Texas –Rodeo rigs in all shapes and sizes will soon converge on this community of 6,200 and increase the population considerably. That’s what happens when the STS Championship comes to town, with competition set for April 30-May 2 at the Mashburn Event Center and Arena in Childress. The event, named for hometown tie-down roping world champion Stran Smith, will feature three days of timed-event competition, most of which will involve youth from across the region. “One way or another, I’ve been involved with this event since they’ve had it,” said Smith, now retired from competition and working on other business opportunities and being a dad. “It’s nice to be involved, especially when you’re talking about an event that involves so many kids.” The extravaganza begins open ladies breakaway roping Friday morning, and it is expected to attract many of the top female ropers in the sport. Over the past few years, the money and participation in breakaway roping has exploded, and the interest and viewership has followed suit. The American in Arlington, Texas, was the first to push it onto the national scene, but many other event organizers have decided to jump on the bandwagon. In fact, the inaugural National Finals Breakaway Roping took place this past December in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo. There is more to come Many of the elite tie-down ropers in ProRodeo will be featured Friday afternoon during an open calf roping that is being organized by another Childress cowboy, NFR qualifier Stetson Vest. He expects many of the top ropers to be on hand, mainly because the time of the event fits perfectly into the rodeo season. “It’s going to be 50 to 60 guys, and we will have three rounds and a short-go,” Vest said of the format. “The calves are supposed to be fresh, and we’re going to have the score out there for them. It’s going to be a fun roping, but I’m going to have it where it’s more like an old-school roping.” Saturday morning’s festivities will begin with the 19-under 4D barrel race with side pots that enable competitors to qualify for Vegas Tuffest Junior World Championship – the side pots are $100 for each young racer, and the divisions are set up at 19-under and 12-under. That will be followed by the 10-under and 12-under co-ed breakaway roping, the 15-under girls breakaway roping and the 10-under double-mugging. Day 2 will wrap with 19-under and 15-under girls goat-tying, then the 12-under co-ed goat-tying. An 8 a.m. church service will open the final day, followed by boys 15-under tie-down roping, 12-under co-ed roping, 19-under boys tie-down roping and ladies 19-under breakaway roping. “Youth rodeo is important, and the growth in youth rodeo is tremendous compared to when I started rodeoing,” Vest said. “I’ve seen the young, hungry kids coming up in our ranks now, and they started when they were kids. The talent is unbelievable. “There are more opportunities for young kids now than there ever were before. It’s more competitive, and these kids are getting an edge because of it.”

DUNCAN, Okla. –For much of his life, Cord McCoy made a living as a rodeo cowboy. He won his first buckle at age 5, then progressed up the youth ranks into high school, then intercollegiate rodeo at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, where he was a regular qualifier to the College National Finals Rodeo. As a young professional, he won five International Professional Rodeo Association titles, his latest in the 2003 season that saw him break earnings records. In 2005, he was one of the top bull riders in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and qualified for that year’s NFR. He followed with six qualifications to the Professional Bull Riders World Finals. That’s why the return of PRCA rodeo to this region in May is called Cord McCoy’s Pro Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 7-Saturday, May 8, at Stephens County Arena in Duncan. Tickets go on sale Monday, April 19, and can be purchased at Crutcher’s Western Wear in Duncan or online at McCoyRodeo.com. “Back when I was rodeoing, Duncan was always the first of May, and I made sure to enter it every year that I could,” said McCoy, who operates the Oklahoma-based livestock production firm McCoy Rodeo with his wife, Sara, and Joe Waln, a third-generation stock contractor. “It was a big deal to me to go to that rodeo. I want it to be a big deal again.” It’s been several years since the May ProRodeo has taken place in Duncan, but McCoy wants to bring it back and is glad to have it be the opening event of the 2021 McCoy Rodeo Tour, presented by ProVantage Animal Health. Oklahoma has always been home to the cowboy that grew up in a rodeo family in Tupelo, Oklahoma. He claimed his IPRA gold when the International Finals Rodeo took place in Oklahoma City, and one of his biggest victories in his 2005 NFR season happened in Jim Norick Arena at the Oklahoma State Fair Rodeo in the state’s capital city. “I’ve always had a big love for rodeo,” he said. “To turn back and be able to produce those events is even better. Over the last 20 years, we’ve had a lot of experience producing rodeos, producing events and producing bull ridings. We feel that we’ve had the years to get better at that.” This is more than a typical rodeo. In Duncan, McCoy has enlisted the help of some of the sport’s brightest stars who also have ties to Oklahoma. That includes the specialty act of Ripley, Oklahoma-based Rider Kiesner and Bethany Isles, who were named the PRCA Dress Act of the Year in 2020, and Cody Webster of Wayne, Oklahoma, the reigning PRCA Bullfighter of the Year. “I’ve always been taught, and I firmly believe, that if you want to be successful, you have to surround yourself with successful people,” McCoy said. “Rider, Bethany and Cody are the best, and I’m glad they’re on board for both Duncan and Atoka rodeos.” McCoy will cross Interstate 35 for the second event of the tour, which takes place May 21-22 in Atoka, Oklahoma, a community in southeastern Oklahoma. It’s just a 12-minute drive from there to McCoy Ranch in Lane, Oklahoma. Even before he retired from bull riding seven years ago, McCoy was raising bucking bulls and showing them at PBR events all across the country. He’s produced his own events in numerous states, and he’s seen what it takes to keep crowds coming back for more. Now, he wants to package it all together. He’s teamed with Waln, a well-respected bucking-horse producer from South Dakota, to develop an overall rodeo firm. He wants to produce a live event for fans, but he also understands the needs of rodeo contestants. McCoy wants to outfit them with great livestock and a fun show to be part of when the time comes. “Rodeo is an athletic competition, but it’s also entertainment,” McCoy said. “You want to put it all together and make as many people happy as possible. That’s the great thing about rodeo. It can happen; it’s something we’re going to try to do every time.”

Florida cowboy climbs standings with San Angelo X Bulls win SAN ANGELO, Texas – In a matter of minutes, Clayton Sellars shot up seven spots to sixth in the bull riding world standings? How does that happen so quickly? The key ingredient was riding two bulls en route to his title at the San Angelo Xtreme Bulls on Sunday afternoon in Foster Communications Coliseum. As the only cowboy in the mix to do so, he pocketed $15,217 and pushed his season earnings to $32,704. “This means I’ve got a good start going into the meat of the summer run, and I have all the confidence in the world,” said Sellars, a two-time National Rodeo Finals qualifier from Fruitland Park, Florida. “It means a lot to win a big deal like this.” Only six men earned qualified rides in the first go-round, and Sellars was the only cowboy to cover eight seconds in the championship round, matching moves with Stockyards Rodeo’s Soy El Fuego for 91 points. For that feat alone, he collected $7,144. In the opening round, he rode Rafter H Rodeo’s Shagga for 89.5 points to finish second, just a half point behind Laramie Mosley’s round-winning ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Royal Reel. With the title and the big bucks, Sellars also moved to the lead in the PRCA’s Xtreme Bulls standings. “Moving up in the world standings is always a plus,” he said. “You want to climb in the standings all the time, but I really don’t like to pay attention to the standings until it’s all over. “It’s super important to do well at these events, especially the Division I bull ridings like this. The top bull riders are going to enter them, so to win is a really big deal. When you have the opportunity to do it on a big stage, it’s crucial.” The bulls were especially tough during Sunday’s event. Of the 30 cowboys who competed in the first round, only six had qualified rides. Of the 10 in the short-round, only Sellars managed to hang on. That equates to just 18 percent of the bulls being ridden. “There were a lot of tough bulls,” Sellars said. “I think this is one of the toughest pens of bulls we get every year.” Five stock contractors had their best animals inside the coliseum for the one-day event, and that added up to some spectacular bucking action. For his part, Sellars rode three bulls while in San Angelo, scoring 81 points on the opening weekend. Covering three in a row is big in bull riding, where the animal wins most of the time. “My job is to stay on the bulls I get,” he said. “When you do it, it means you’re doing your job and doing it well. Momentum is important, but it’s not the whole factor. Bull riding is a big mental game, so it definitely helps. When you have something like that building your confidence, it helps a guy moving forward.” San Angelo Xtreme BullsApril 18First round: 1. Laramie Mosley, 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Royal Reel, $3,340; 2. Clayton Sellars, 89.5, $2,590; 3. Dustin Boquet, 86.5, $1,947; 4. Maverick Potter, 84, $1,304; 5. Levi Gray, 81.5, $875; 6. Garrett Smith, 80.5, $681. Championship round: 1. Clayton Sellars, 91 points on Stockyards Rodeo’s Soy El Fuego, $7,144; no other qualified rides. Average: 1. Clayton Sellars, 180.5 points on two rides, $5,483; 2. Laramie Mosley, 90 points on one ride, $4,233; 3. Dustin Boquet, 86.5, $2,161; 4. Maverick Potter, 84, $2,090; 5. Levi Gray, 81.5, $1,375; 6. Garrett Smith, 80.5, $1,018.

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Barrel racing at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo is always tough. There are dozens of outstanding horses with exceptional jockeys involved in ProRodeo. With 275 barrel racers entered, this year’s competition is exceptional. On Saturday afternoon, Dona Kay Rule and her horse, High Valor, shot past them all, posting a 14.17-second run to take the second-round lead; she also leads the aggregate with a two-run cumulative time of 30.08 seconds. “That was really, really fun, except for almost falling off on Barrel 1,” Rule, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Minco, Oklahoma, said with a laugh. “I didn’t like that very well, but I knew I had to sit back up and hurry if I wanted to win 10 cents at this rodeo.” She has already pocketed $1,599 for placing seventh in the first go-round, which took place nearly two weeks ago and served as the first step in the progressive format; only the top 120 of the total list of competitors advanced to compete in the second round. “In the first round, I was the 260th in a very deep arena, so I was very proud of my horse,” she said. She should be. Valor is a 12-year-old sorrel gelding that has been selected as the WPRA AQHA Barrel Racing Horse of the Year each of the past two seasons. He’s been exceptional in just about any type of arena, and he proved that Saturday in Foster Communications Coliseum. “It feels good, and it’s very exciting to compete in that building,” Rule said. “There’s a lot of history. I know the San Angelo committee is excited to have a non-COVID event. “I’m so excited to be able to go again and have it be more open. Generally, Valor feels extremely good. I have had a little bit of a sore joint, as we do when we age, but it seems to be hanging in there.” Rule finished the year 13th in the final world standings, and though she earned a bid to compete at the NFR, she wasn’t able to do so. Prior to the start of competition, the pandemic protocol revealed she had tested positive for COVID, and she was replaced. Is there another NFR in the plans for her and Valor for 2021? “I’ll just leave it in God’s hands and go do what I do,” she said. “I’ll take care of my horse. Run by run, I’ll have my team as good as I can. I’m just grateful to do what I do. I know it’s all a gift, and I’m just delighted to be here.” Here is a good spot. While there are three more performances and 36 more schedule runs left in the preliminary go-rounds, Rule and Valor are in good shape to make a third run inside San Angelo’s storied coliseum during the championship round, set for Friday, April 23. “I would be tickled to death to come back,” Rule said. “There are a lot of great horses to go. We’ll just sit back and see what happens.” San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 9-23Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 88 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Hot Flash; 2. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Zach Hibler, 87; 4. Caleb Bennett, 86.5; 5. Tim O’Connell, 86; 6. Chad Rutherford, 85.5; 7. (tie) Luke Creasy and Garrett Shadbolt, 85; 9. Kaycee Field, 84.5; 10. Cauy Pool, 84; 11. Kody Lamb, 83; 11. (tie) Tanner Aus, Bill Tutor, Jamie Howlett and Hunter Carter, 82.   Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Jesse Brown, 3.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Brandon Harrison, Jacob Edler and Jacob Talley, 3.5; 5. (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Gavin Soileau and Kalane Anders, 3.6; 8. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Cody Devers, 3.7. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Tyler Pearson and Kyle Irwin, 3.6; 3. T.J. Hall, 3.7; 4. (tie) Jay Williamson, Cody Moore, Gavin Soileau, Termaine Debose and Cody Harmon, 3.8 seconds. Average leaders: 1. Gavin Soileau, 7.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Jacob Talley, 7.8; 3. (tie) Jesse Brown, Jacob Edler and Cade Stanton, 8.0; 6. (tie) Taz Olson and Nick Guy, 8.1; 8. (tie) Shane Frey, Billy Boldon and Ryan McKay Nettle, 8.2; 11. (tie) Cody Devers, Remey Parrott and Tory Johnson, 8.3. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 3.9 seconds; 2. Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich, 4.0; 3. (tie) Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp and Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.2; 5. (tie) Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, Cooper White/Tucker White and Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.3; 8. Hayes Smith/Justin Davis, 4.4. Second round leaders: 1.(tie) Dustin Eguisquiza/Travis Graves and Cyle Denison/Brady Norman, 3.5; 3. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jake Long and Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 3.6; 5. Jr. Dees/Rich Skelton, 3.7; 6. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 3.8; 7. Clint Summers/Rosh Ashford, 3.9; 8. (tie) Kal Fuller/Coleby Payne and Wyatt Muggli/Casey McCleskey, 4.0. Average leaders: 1. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 8.4; 3. Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich, 9.5; 4. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 8.6; 5. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 8.9; 6. Cooper White/Tucker White, 9.0; 7. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 9.4; 8. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 10.0; 9. Cory Clark/Wyatt Cox, 10.8; 10. Jaguar Terrill/Sid Sporer, 11.0; 9. Wyatt Muggli/Casey McCleskey, 13.8; 11. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 12.5; 12. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 13.6. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Kolby Wanchuck, 86 points on Hampton Pro Rodeo’s Desert Stomper; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 84; 3. (tie) Cort Scheer, Isaac Diaz and Jarrod Hammons, 83.5; 6. (tie) Allen Boore, Chase Brooks and Sage Newman, 83; 9. Lucas Macza, 82.5; 10. Cash Michael Wilson, 82; 11. Brody Cress, 81.5; 12. (tie) Mitch Pollock, Taos Muncy and Tyrel Larsen, 81. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Tuf Cooper, 7.3 seconds; 2. Bradley Bynum, 7.5; 3. Tanner Green, 7.6; 4. Shad Mayfield, 7.7; 5. Reid Zapalac, 7.9; 6. Riley Pruitt, 8.0; 7. (tie) Kincade Henry, Beau Cooper, Seth Cooke and J.D. McCuistion, 8.1. Second round leaders: 1. Haven Meged, 7.2 seconds; 2. Sy Felton, 7.4; 3. Clint Robinson, 7.8; 4. Cooper Martin, 8.0; 5. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Caleb Smidt,  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Garrett Shadbolt had done his homework on the horse he’d drawn Friday night during the sixth performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. He knew Fettig Pro Rodeo’s Pop A Pop had bucked at the National Finals Rodeo and that the animal was part of a 90.5-point ride with Tim O’Connell there. He’s seen fellow bareback rider Taylor Broussard ride the horse earlier this year. He didn’t know Pop A Top was a stallion, but Shadbolt is a bit of a stud himself. The two matched moves for 85 points to move into a tie for sixth place and have a great chance to return next Friday night for the championship round. “That was definitely the horse you wanted to have, and I was excited to see my name next to his (on the random draw),” said Shadbolt, 25, the No. 8 bareback rider in the world standings from Merriman, Nebraska. “That horse is really well built. Just looking at him, you know he’s going to be fun to ride. “When he went straight across the arena, I was just having fun. When he made the corner, is speed picked up but was still just as strong. That does increase the degree of difficulty.” The judges rewarded him for managing the ride, but that’s happened quite a bit. He was the 2018 PRCA Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year, and he’s finished among the top 25 each of the past two seasons. He won both the year-end and circuit finals average titles in the Prairie Circuit last fall, and all that money counts toward the 2021 season. He then advanced to the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, which took place a week ago in Kissimmee, Florida. While there, he finished second overall and pocketed more than $8,600. It all adds up to a top 10 spot in the standings with a great chance to add to that in San Angelo. “I’m getting better, I’m riding better and I’m drawing better,” he said. “I have goals of getting better than I did the year before. I’m sitting right where I want to be. My goal is to finish the season in the top 10.” Anywhere among the top 15 at the end of the regular season will earn Shadbolt a spot at the NFR, which is scheduled for December in Las Vegas. It’s the dream of every rodeo contestant that has ever played the game, and he has five and a half months left to secure his inaugural bid to ProRodeo’s marquee event. “You learn as you go along,” he said. “I’ve been on more bucking horses, and that teaches you a lot. I didn’t finish last year the way I wanted. I’m not going to do the same thing and get the same results. I got to the gym and started working out during those cold months where we weren’t going anywhere. I think it’s paid off for me. “My confidence is through the roof. They’re not going to slow me down.” While Shadbolt looked to solidify his spot in the short round on Friday, April 23, there were some lead changes in other events. Jesse Brown took the lead in the second round of steer wrestling; Jake Orman and Brye Crites took the aggregate lead in team roping; Kolby Wanchuck rode Hampton Pro Rodeo’s Desert Stomper for 86 points to take the lead in saddle bronc riding; and Lacinda Rose and Michelle Alley were 14.22 each to tie for the second-round lead in barrel racing. And they all got a chance to compete inside the legendary Foster Communications Coliseum. “It’s awesome that there were so many people in that building,” Shadbolt said. “In a time when rodeo has been struggling with this pandemic, everybody seems to have had enough of this. I think it’s the rodeo spirit to take a little bit of a risk. You’ve got to take a risk to get the reward. “It embodies rodeo to have a packed coliseum.” San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 9-23Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 88 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Hot Flash; 2. Tilden Hooper, 87; 3. Caleb Bennett, 86.5; 4. Tim O’Connell, 86; 5. Chad Rutherford, 85.5; 6. (tie) Luke Creasy and Garrett Shadbolt, 85; 8. Kaycee Field, 84.5; 9. Cauy Pool, 84; 10. Kody Lamb, 83; 11. Tanner Aus, 82; 12. Trenton Montero, 81.5.   Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Jesse Brown, 3.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Brandon Harrison, Jacob Edler and Jacob Talley, 3.5; 5. (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Gavin Soileau and Kalane Anders, 3.6; 8. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Cody Devers, 3.7. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Jay Williamson, Gavin Soileau, Termaine Debose and Cody Harmon, 3.8 seconds; 5. (tie) Nick Guy, Bill Boldon and Tory Johnson, 3.9; 8. (tie) Will Lummus, Tucker Allen, Gary Gilbert and Talon Roseland, 4.0. Average leaders: 1. Gavin Soileau, 7.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Cade Stanton, 8.0; 3. (tie) Taz Olson and Nick Guy, 8.1; 5. (tie) Shane Frey, Billy Boldon and Ryan McKay Nettle, 8.2; 8. (tie) Remey Parrott and Tory Johnson, 8.3; 10. Gary Gilbert, 8.5; 11. (tie) Tanner Milan and Garrett Oates, 8.6. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 3.9 seconds; 2. Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich, 4.0; 3. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.2; 4. (tie) Clay Smith/Jade Corkill and Cooper White/Tucker White, 4.3; 6. Hayes Smith/Justin Davis, 4.4; 7. (tie) Tyler Wade/Trey Yates and Zach Kilgus/Ben Gambrell, 4.6. Second round leaders: 1.Cyle Denison/Brady Norman, 3.5; 2. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jake Long and Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 3.6; 4. Jr. Dees/Rich Skelton, 3.7; 5. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 3.8; 6. Clint Summers/Rosh Ashford, 3.9; 7. (tie) Kal Fuller/Coleby Payne and Wyatt Muggli/Casey McCleskey, 4.0. Average leaders: 1. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 8.4; 3. Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich, 9.5; 4. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 8.6; 5. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 8.9; 6. Cooper White/Tucker White, 9.0; 7. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 9.4; 8. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 10.0; 9.  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – It was a perfect night for Jacobs and a great night for bull rider Boudreaux Campbell during Thursday’s fifth performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. Campbell, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Crockett, Texas, rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Oyster Bayou for 92.5 points to close out an electric night that saw lead changes happen in four of seven events at Foster Communications Coliseum. He was joined by team ropers Jake Orman and Brye Crites, who posted a 3.9-second run to lead the first round; saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley, who matched moves with Fettig Pro Rodeo’s Power Supply for 84 points; and steer wrestlers Jacob Talley and Jacob Edler, who were each 3.5 seconds to share the first-round lead with Brandon Harrison. “This was the first time in a long time that I’ve seen a huge, packed arena,” said Edler, the reigning world champion from State Center, Iowa. “I told my traveling partners that it doesn’t look like there were any restrictions. I was so excited to compete in front of a crowd with that much electricity.” That’s what San Angelo is known for. Fans expect a near sold-out show for all 13 performances, whether it’s a Thursday night or a Sunday afternoon. “This is definitely one of my favorite arenas,” said Crawley, the 2015 bronc riding world champion from Stephenville, Texas. “It’s not only because of the success I’ve had here, but I’m a die-hard (Texas A&M) Aggie, and when they fire that war hymn, it just gets my blood pumping. They love rodeo, and they love their Texas guys here.” Crawley is a 10-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who has never won the San Angelo rodeo, but he’s a two-time champion of the Cinch Chute-Out, which will take place on the final Saturday night, April 24. He’ll likely miss that competition, but he’s hoping it still translates well. “I just hope I’m saving all my success for the regular rodeo,” he said, noting that he won the chute-out’s bronc riding titles in 2016 and 2020. “Making the short round (set for Friday, April 23) is huge. Not only is this probably the biggest rodeo we have in the Texas Circuit, it’s one of the biggest rodeos so far this year. “If a guy can hit a lick here, it could get him a good step leading into the summer run.” Talley, a three-time NFR qualifier from Keatchie, Louisiana, leads the steer wrestling world standings, thanks in large part to winning The American last month in Arlington, Texas. He pocketed more than $100,000, half of which counts toward the PRCA world standings. “It’s been really good here lately,” he said. “Having this mare makes everything easy. She scores so well, and she gives you the same run every time.” The horse is Baby, a smooth sorrel owned by Sam Dixon of Lockesburg, Arkansas. Talley has hauled and ridden the mare for two and a half years, earning two of his three NFR trips on her. “I always want to be aggressive, especially at rodeos like this when it’s so fast,” Talley said. “If you back off the start at all, you’re probably not going to make it back for the short round.” Like Talley, Edler has taken advantage of strong mounts to get him his gold buckle. This year, he’s riding Whiskers, a horse owned by one of his traveling partners, Bridger Anderson, who, like Edler, went to his first NFR in 2020. Both Edler and Anderson are in the first-round money and will make their second-round runs Saturday night. Only the top 12 in the two-run aggregate in the timed events will return for championship night next week – the top 12 one-ride scores in rough-stock events also will return “I decided to hop on Whiskers right before Jackson (Mississippi in mid-February),” said Edler, who is also traveling with Stockton Graves, a seven-time NFR qualifier who coaches the rodeo team at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma. All three men live near Alva; Graves and Edler are alumi of the rodeo team, and Anderson is a senior. “We live 15 miles apart from each other, so this is the closest group of guys I’ve ever traveled with as far as miles go. It’s really nice to meet in Alva and hop in one rig.” As long as there’s a Jacob or a Jacobs in the rig, the chances of winning seemed pretty high Thursday night inside San Angelo’s storied coliseum. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 9-23Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 88 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Hot Flash; 2. Tilden Hooper, 87; 3. Caleb Bennett, 86.5; 4. Tim O’Connell, 86; 5. Chad Rutherford, 85.5; 6. Luke Creasy, 85; 7. Kaycee Field, 84.5; 8. Cauy Pool, 84; 9. Tanner Aus, 82; 10. Trenton Montero, 81.5; 11. Will Martin, 80; 12. (tie) Jacob Lees and Bronc Marriott, 77.   Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Brandon Harrison, Jacob Edler and Jacob Talley, 3.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Gavin Soileau and Kalane Anders, 3.6; 6. (tie) Will Stovall, Bridger Anderson, Ryan McKay Nettle, Garrett Oates, Scott Guenthner and Tanner Milan, 3.8. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Jay Williamson, Gavin Soileau, Termaine Debose and Cody Harmon, 3.8 seconds; 5. (tie) Nick Guy, Bill Boldon and Tory Johnson, 3.9; 8. (tie) Will Lummus, Tucker Allen, Gary Gilbert and Talon Roseland, 4.0. Average leaders: 1. Gavin Soileau, 7.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Cade Stanton, 8.0; 3. (tie) Taz Olson and Nick Guy, 8.1; 5. (tie) Shane Frey, Billy Boldon and Ryan McKay Nettle, 8.2; 8. (tie) Remey Parrott and Tory Johnson, 8.3; 10. Gary Gilbert, 8.5; 11. (tie) Tanner Milan and Garrett Oates, 8.6. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 3.9 seconds; 2. Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich, 4.0; 3. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.2; 4. (tie) Clay Smith/Jade Corkill and Cooper White/Tucker White, 4.3; 6. Hayes Smith/Justin Davis, 4.4; 7. (tie) Tyler Wade/Trey Yates and Zach Kilgus/Ben Gambrell, 4.6.  Continue Reading »

Pioneer Days partner offering free admission for matinee performances GUYMON, Okla. – From its first days of operation 25 years ago, Seaboard Foods has been highly involved in the Guymon community and activities across Texas County. Each year, the company serves as a major sponsor of the annual Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo, which this spring is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 30; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 1; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 2, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. “We’re thankful for all that Seaboard Foods has done for our rodeo over the years,” said Jeremy Carman, chairman of the volunteer committee that produces the rodeo. “The fact that Seaboard did more this year speaks a lot about what they do for our community.” The plant is increasing its sponsorship level in order to buy out the Saturday and Sunday matinee performances, thereby allowing for free admission for general seating. “This is an unprecedented level of commitment from a local business for our rodeo,” said Ken Stonecipher, the committee’s production manager. “Seaboard has been a great partner of ours for a very long time. By purchasing those afternoon performances, Seaboard is not only doing more for us but is also doing more for the people that live here. “What does this mean? It allows people who might have a tight budget to enjoy two days of rodeo and have a little cash left over for the concession stand. Seaboard is allowing us to open our doors to more people and give them the best in ProRodeo for a great value.” Pioneer Days Rodeo is the largest single event in the Oklahoma Panhandle each year. It draws thousands of fans and nearly a thousand ProRodeo contestants to town. It’s an economic boon for the region, and Guymon will shine on The Cowboy Channel during all four performances. The rodeo has been one of the best in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association for decades. It was named the PRCA’s Large Rodeo of the Year in 2002. This past season, it was nominated again as a rodeo of the year. Pioneer Days Rodeo was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2015. “All of us who volunteer for the rodeo committee care a great deal about this rodeo and the people in this community,” Carman said. “I think Seaboard cares a lot about the community. By paying for our afternoon performances, Seaboard is contributing even more. “It means a lot to us, because we want as many people as possible to enjoy our rodeo. We’re proud of what we produce. We’ve heard from the cowboys about how much they like our rodeo, and we like hearing our fans say the same thing, too.” The doors to the 2021 Guymon ProRodeo are now open. It takes a community-size effort to produce an event of this proportion, and community partners like Seaboard are making it more affordable for anyone who wants to enjoy the show.

ALVA, Okla. – Kade Chace may have enjoyed football, but rodeo always had his heart. A 2020 graduate of Cherokee (Oklahoma) High School, Chace spent the first semester his freshman year at Sterling (Kansas) College preparing to play football. When COVID-19 disrupted the season, the lifelong cowboy realized he wanted to move closer to home and return to what he’d been missing. He transferred to Northwestern Oklahoma State University, and it paid off quickly. Chace earned a share of the tie-down roping title this past weekend at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Rodeo in Weatherford. “This was the first time I felt like I was getting back to things,” said Chace, the younger brother of Kelsie Chace, an eight-time WPRA world champion roper. “I drew some tough calves. I was confident that if I could get a good calf and make a solid run, it would turn out OK. I did that in the long round. Then I came back and made another solid run.” He was 10.6 in the opening round, then followed with a 10.7-second run in the short round to share the aggregate title with Clint Graves of Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College. “It was nice to split that title,” he said. “It just so happened to be at Southwestern, where my sister went to school. She had never won that rodeo, so it’s nice to have one over on her.” Little brother took a nice jab at his older sister, who has quite the pedigree. But Kade looks up to Kelsie and takes advantage of all she can teach him. “After I decided that I wanted to college rodeo, I went to her house for two weeks and practiced,” he said. “We took things real slow. She helped me out every day getting me back into it. She always texts before I make a run, and I always send her a video. She’s been real good about looking at the video and helping me to get better.” Other Rangers earned points in Weatherford, including fellow tie-down roper Zane Thompson of Cheyenne, Wyoming, who was third in the first round. He was saddled with a no-time in the final round. Bridger Anderson, the reigning college steer wrestling champion coming off his first NFR, held on to his No. 2 spot in the Central Plains Region’s standings with a solid finish. He placed in both rounds and finished third in the aggregate. While bulldogger Beau Kelley of Artesia, New Mexico, scored big points by finishing second with a 5.2-second run in the first round, he wasn’t able to secure a time in the final round. Wacey Dorenkamp of Bristol, Colorado, made two solid runs, placing in the short round and finishing fourth overall. Chace has had plenty of success through youth and high school rodeo, and his title at Southwestern boosted his confidence for intercollegiate rodeo. “I knew I could compete at this level, but I just had to tell myself just to do every step,” he said. “Even if the run doesn’t seem perfect, just keep going. It wasn’t anything fancy. I just made good runs on the calves I had. The competition gets tough sometimes. The good thing about it is I get to watch all the runs, and I can learn something from each of them in the different things they do. It motivates me.”

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Will Lummus understands as well as any steer wrestler the importance of having a good mount underneath him. He’s enlisted the services of Benz, a quick bay owned by fellow bulldogger Clayton Hass of Weatherford, Texas, and the horse is already paying dividends in west Texas for Lummus. He is placing in both the first and second rounds and sits No. 1 in the two-run aggregate race with 9.2 seconds after the opening weekend of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. “Especially in Angelo because the start’s so fast, horsepower is everything,” said Lummus, 29, a three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Byhalia, Mississippi. “If you’re anybody, you’re going to be entered in Angelo, so horsepower is the key to being able to be successful when you have so many guys in the field.” Benz is doing his part, but so is the cowboy. Lummus was 5.2 Friday night, then followed with a 4.0-second run Sunday afternoon at Foster Communications Coliseum. That should enable him to return to Tom Green County on Friday, April 23, as one of 12 bulldoggers competing in the championship round. “You’ve got to do good at the big rodeos and the tour rodeos,” he said. “I feel like every steer’s as important as the last one and just as important as the next one. You never know if things are going to shut down again, so you need to roll with the momentum when you can.” Lummus sits third in the world standings with $20,684. He had wins earlier this season in Kissimmee, Florida, and Odessa, Texas, and he’s well on his way to earning his first paycheck in San Angelo. “I’ve made a lot of good runs, but I’ve never made it back to the short round,” he said. “I finished 13th (in the two-run aggregate) once, but I’ve never won a dollar.” His best chance at winning money comes with a tip of the hat to Hass, one of his traveling partners along with Ty Erickson of Helena, Montana. Hass also serves as Lummus’ hazer, riding alongside the bulldogger to keep the steer running in a straight line. “I personally think the key to my success this week was having good traveling partners and having good horses,” Lummus said. “I’m getting to ride Benz, and having Clayton on the other side riding Quatro makes everything better. “Benz is as simple as it gets. He’s going to be on the start when you drop your hand, and with Clayton hazing, the steer’s going to be right where I need him to get my hands on him.” As a veteran, he’s competed inside the coliseum many times. Before and after each run, he stands amazed at the experience the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo provides all competitors. “There’s a lot of electricity in that building,” he said. “It’s nice to go to a rodeo that has fans are that way. We haven’t been to many rodeos that had electricity like that this year. “I think you can have a rodeo any day of the week, and that building will be full. It’s always been a big thing in Angelo. This rodeo’s usually in February, and even moving it back two months, they still pack it out.” San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 9-23Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 88 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Hot Flash; 2. Tilden Hooper, 87; 3. Caleb Bennett, 86.5; 4. Tim O’Connell, 86; 5. Chad Rutherford, 85.5; 6. Luke Creasy, 85; 7. Cauy Pool, 84; 8. Trenton Montero, 81.5; 9. Will Martin, 80; 10. (tie) Jacob Lees and Bronc Marriott, 77.   Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Wyatt Jurney, 4.0 seconds; 2. Jason Thomas, 4.6; 3. (tie) Clayton Hass and J.D. Struxness, 5.0; 5. (tie) Will Lummus and Kodie Jang, 5.2; 7. Bubba Boots, 5.4; 8. Zack Jongbloed, 6.1. Second round leaders: 1. Jay Williamson, 3.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Will Lummus and Tucker Allen, 4.0; 4. (tie) Blake Knowles and Stetson Jorgensen, 4.1; 6. Kodie Jang, 4.5; 7. (tie) J.D. Struxness and Mike McGinn, 4.6. Average leaders: 1. Will Lummus, 9.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Jason Thomas, 9.4; 3. J.D. Struxness, 9.6; 4. Kodie Jang, 9.7; 5. Bubba Boots, 10.3; 6. Tucker Allen, 10.9; 7. Blake Knowles, 11.2; 8. Zack Jongbloed, 11.3; 9. Jace Melvin, 11.5; 10. Clayton Hass, 13.6; 11. Wyatt Jurney, 18.3; 12. Dirk Tavenner, 18.7. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.2 seconds; 2. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.3; 3. Hayes Smith/Justin Davis, 4.4; 4. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 4.6; 5. (tie) Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan and Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 4.7; 8. Nick Sartain/Reagan Ward, 5.2; 4. Levi Simpson/Tyler Worley, 7.7; 5. Derrick Begay/Jake Edwards, 10.2; no other qualified times. Second round leaders: 1.Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 3.6 seconds; 2. Jr. Dees/Rich Skelton, 3.7; 3. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 4.2; 4. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.3; 5. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 5.2; 6. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 5.3; 7. Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord, 8.7; 8. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 9.7. Average leaders: 1. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 8.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 8.6; 3. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 8.9; 4. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 9.4; 5. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 10.0; 6. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 14.3; 7. Jr. Dees/Rich Skelton, 3.7 seconds on one run; 8. Hayes Smith/JustinDavis, 4.4; 9. (tie) Nick Sartain/Reagan Ward and Tanner Green/Clay Futrell, 5.2; 11. Luke Brown/Cory Petska, 5.9; 12. Levi Simpson/Tyler Worley, 7.7. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. (tie) Cort Scheer, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s The Darkness, and Isaac Diaz, on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Lucky Cab, 83.5 points; 3. Allen Boore, 83; 4. Lucas Macza, 82.5; 5. Cash Michael Wilson, 82; 6. Brody Cress, 81.5; 7. Mitch Pollock, 81; 8. Jade Blackwell, 80; 9. Brody Wells, 79; 10. Rhett Fanning, 78. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Tuf Cooper, 7.3 seconds; 2. Riley Pruitt, 8.0; 3. Cooper Martin, 8.6; 4. Westyn Hughes, 8.7; 5. (tie) Blane Cox and Shane Hanchey, 8.9; 7. Chris McCuistion, 9.4; 8. Catfish Brown,  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – For the last several years, Tuf Cooper has chased ProRodeo’s most elusive title: all-around world champion. He won the grand gold buckle in 2017 and has been in the mix in the three seasons since. In fact, he’s second in the all-around world standings heading into the opening weekend of competition at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. Alas, his focus has changed for the 2021 season, thanks in large part to his acquisition of a new tie-down roping horse, Blanco, a 9-year-old gray gelding Cooper rode in the first two performances at the Foster Communications Coliseum. Cooper leads the two-run aggregate with a cumulative time of 15.4 seconds, highlighted by his 7.3-second, opening-round run Friday night; that time stands as the first-round lead through three performances. “I got this new horse from Cade Swor,” Cooper said of his fellow tie-down roper from Winnie, Texas. “We fit each other like peas and carrots. It’s helped my mindset and approach to do what I do. I’m working extremely hard to accomplish what I want.” His sights are set on a fourth tie-down roping world title. He’s going to take advantage of his new partner and give chase to something he knows so well. He’s the youngest son of calf roping legend Roy Cooper, and Tuf Cooper won his tie-down roping gold in 2011-12 and 2014. “Cade set the record for selling the most expensive calf horse,” he said, chuckling a bit at the reality. “It’s the price you pay, but it’s the value you get. I’m out here to live my dream and win a world title, and I feel like he’s going to give me the best chance to do that. “My dad and grandpa told me that it I had to have the best horse to win. It doesn’t matter how good you rope if you don’t have the best horse. He fits me as good as any horse ever. I don’t have to do anything more than what I need to do. He does the rest for me.” Cooper was 8.1 seconds during Saturday’s matinee performance, and he’s already produced one of his best-ever outings in the storied coliseum in front of packed crowds that have arrived early for this year’s rodeo. “It’s awesome to compete there, because it’s like a homecourt advantage for tie-down ropers,” he said. “They’re big rodeo fans, but they really like calf roping out here.” Part of that is because of the incredible roping that happens during this rodeo, but San Angelo is also home to the Roping Fiesta, a big-time calf-roping that takes place each fall; it is the longest-running stand-alone roping event in the nation. “It has been a great city for rodeo,” said Cooper, 31, of Decatur, Texas. “San Angelo is a second home for calf ropers. I feel like I grew up here with jackpots and the Roping Fiesta. The ProRodeo has gotten really good over the years. I didn’t win a check my first six years there. It took me a little while to figure out how to win in that coliseum. “I’ve never won the rodeo, but I’d like to. They always get 150 tie-down ropers, so that makes for really tough competition.” He has a great chance to win this year’s title. He is right in line to carry the aggregate lead into the championship round on Friday, April 23, based on results over the previous five seasons. This year’s cast of characters features 178 entries in tie-down roping, so there are plenty of men yet to rope. Still, he has virtually locked down his spot to rope for the title in less than two weeks. In the meantime, he will travel to compete at California rodeos in Red Bluff and Clovis before returning to his home state of Texas. “Short go-rounds are where every contestant wants to be, or at least they’re definitely where I want to be,” Cooper said. “That’s where the biggest money is. Especially with not knowing how the season will play out, you know you need to win big every chance you can.” He’s well on his way. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 9-23Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 88 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Hot Flash; 2. Tilden Hooper, 87; 3. Tim O’Connell, 86; 4. Chad Rutherford, 85.5; 5. Luke Creasy, 85; 6. Cauy Pool, 84; 7. Will Martin, 80; 8. (tie) Jacob Lees and Bronc Marriott, 77; 10. Logan Patterson, 74; no other qualified rides.   Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Wyatt Jurney, 4.0 seconds; 2. Jason Thomas, 4.6; 3. (tie) Clayton Hass and J.D. Struxness, 5.0; 5. (tie) Will Lummus and Kodie Jang, 5.2; 7. Bubba Boots, 5.4; 8. Zack Jongbloed, 6.1. Second round leaders: 1. Kodie Jang, 4.5 seconds; 2. J.D. Struxness, 4.6; 3. Bubba Boots, 4.9; 4. (tie) Jace Melvin and Dirk Tavenner, 5.0; 6. Zack Jongbloed, 5.2; 7. Tanner Brunner, 12.1; 8. Wyatt Jurney, 14.3. Average leaders: 1. J.D. Struxness, 9.6 seconds on two rides; 2. Kodie Jang, 9.7; 3. Bubba Boots, 10.3; 4. Zack Jongbloed, 11.3; 5. Jace Melvin, 11.5; 6. Wyatt Jurney, 18.3; 7. Dirk Tavenner, 18.7; 8. Jason Thomas, 4.6; 9. Clayton Hass, 5.0; 10. Will Lummus, 5.2. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.2 seconds; 2. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.3; 3. Hayes Smith/Justin Davis, 4.4; 4. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 4.6; 5. (tie) Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan and Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 4.7; 8. Nick Sartain/Reagan Ward, 5.2; 4. Levi Simpson/Tyler Worley, 7.7; 5. Derrick Begay/Jake Edwards, 10.2; no other qualified times. Second round leaders: 1.Jr. Dees/Rich Skelton, 3.7 seconds; 2. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 5.2; 3. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 5.3; 4. Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord, 8.7; no other qualified times. Average leaders: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 9.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 10.0; 3. Jr. Dees/Rich Skelton, 3.7 seconds on one run; 4. Nick Sartain/Reagan Ward, 5.2; 5. Levi Simpson/Tyler Worley, 7.7; 6. Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord, 8.7; 7. Derrick Begay/Jake Edwards,  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Cole Franks has spent his life around rodeo. That happens when he’s the son of a ProRodeo cowboy, but there’s more to it. He is making his way in the game his own way as a bareback rider. Though he’s just beginning, he proved Friday night that he’s more than capable. He spurred Northcott Macza Rodeo’s Hot Flash for 88 points to take the opening-night lead at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo on Friday at Foster Communications Coliseum. It was just the second time he’d ever posted a score that high and was the first time he’d done it at an event sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the premier body in the game. “I’d seen a couple videos on Facebook of that horse with Will Lowe and Orin Larsen, and he looked pretty hard to ride,” said Franks, 20, the son of Bret Franks, a three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier in saddle bronc riding and now the coach at Clarendon (Texas) College, about four hours north of San Angelo. “I knew it was going to be a fight.” Franks came out the winner. More importantly, he will return to this west Texas community in two weeks to compete in the championship round and take a shot at winning one of the most coveted titles in the sport. “He left (the chute) really hard and had a little move right out of there and almost got me out of shape,” said Franks, a sophomore rodeoing for his dad at Clarendon and the leader of the Southwest Region’s bareback riding and all-around standings. “I let my feet come up to the riggin’ and got back under him. He was strong and fast, but it felt really good. “Being 88 was relieving, but it just wants to make you want to be 89.” This is his rookie season, but it’s been a bit rough heading into the first performance into this weekend. He’s finished just out of the money at most rodeos he’s attended, but he gained a great deal of confidence with Friday’s performance. “I’d really like to win the rookie (of the year) title this year,” he said. “If I could make the NFR, that would be great, but I’m really going for it in 2022. That’s all in the crosshairs.” While his dad serves as his college coach, there have been plenty of mentors along the way. His dad can help with some aspects of bareback riding, but Bret Franks’ forte was in the saddle. When he was first getting started, Cole Franks received a grand education from Jeffrey Collins, the 2000 bareback world champion. “Dad helps a lot with the mental aspects of rodeo,” Cole Franks said. “He’s also good with the physical side of it with the workouts and being in the best shape possible. Jeff helped by drilling it into me to keep everything basic and make it as simple as possible.” Like all athletes, fundamentals come into play, whether they are in their rookie seasons or veterans who have already earned gold. Franks showed that with a powerful ride to kick start San Angelo’s rodeo. “The atmosphere in that building was crazy,” he said. “It was awesome.” He will now get to experience it on championship night. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 9-23Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 88 points on Northcott Macza’s Hot Flash; 2. Tim O’Connell, 86; 3. Jacob Lees, 77; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Jason Thomas, 4.6 seconds; 2. Clayton Hass, 5.0; 3. Will Lummus, 5.2; 4. Tucker Allen, 6.9; 5. Blake Knowles, 7.1; 6. Ryan Lewis, 8.2; 7. Luke Branquinho, 13.5; 8. Stetson Jorgensen, 20.0. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.2 seconds; 2. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 4.7; 3. Nick Sartain/Reagan Ward, 5.2; 4. Levi Simpson/Tyler Worley, 7.7; 5. Derrick Begay/Jake Edwards, 10.2; no other qualified times. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Allen Boore, 83 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Texas Playboy; 2. Lucas Macza, 82.5; 3. Mitch Pollock, 81; 4. Chance West, 58; no other qualified rides. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Tuf Cooper, 7.3 seconds; 2. Riley Pruitt, 8.0; 3. Cooper Martin, 8.6; 4. Westyn Hughes, 8.7; 5. Blane Cox, 8.9; 6. Cody Craig, 10.3; 7. Michael Otero, 12.4; 8. Tyler Milligan, 15.8. Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Kelly Bruner and Jimmie Smith, 14.36 seconds; 3. Keyla Polizello Costa, 14.44; 4. Leia Pluemer, 14.57; 5. Mindy Goemmer, 14.67; 6. Shelly Shields, 14.72; 7. Cassidy Champlin, 14.81; 8. Lisa Fernandes, 15.16; 9. Kristel Ising, 15.47; 10. Cristin Posey, 15.60. Average leaders: 1. Kelly Bruner, 30.28 seconds on two runs; 2. Keyla Polizello Costa, 30.62; 3. Mindy Goemmer, 30.86; 4. Cassidy Champlin, 30.89; 5. Jimmie Smith, 30.94; 6. Leia Pluemer, 31.18; 7. Shelly Shields, 31.30; 8. Lisa Fernandes, 31.54; 9. Kristel Ising, 32.09; 10. Cristin Posey, 32.22. Bull riding leaders: 1. Laramie Mosley, 89 points on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Final Rainbow; no other qualified rides.

CHILDRESS, Texas –The Bruce brothers and Colee Cox have a considerable homefield advantage when it comes to the STS Championship, set for April 30-May 2 at the Mashburn Event Center and Arena in Childress. They’re from here, and they’ve been inside the indoor facility more times than they can count. “We have the privilege of having that arena in Childress,” said Colee, 13, a seventh-grader who competes in breakaway roping, goat-tying and ribbon roping. “It’s a very nice facility, so no matter what it’s doing outside – whether its raining or really windy or snowing – we can go practice.” By the time the youth events begin that Saturday morning, Colee and the Bruce boys – Cutter, 13; Sterling, 11; and Quay, 9 – will know every inch of the complex, inside and out. But they’re excited about the experiences they will have on the opening weekend of May. “A lot of our friends are coming to rope from all around the Panhandle,” said Cutter, also a seventh-grader who competes in breakaway roping, tie-down roping, ribbon roping, team roping and chute dogging. “Most of our friends plan on coming. We’ll have a fun time hanging out with them, too. “It’s awesome to have an event like this here, because we don’t have to travel with those horses. They’ll get to rest, and they’ll be a lot more comfortable by not having to be hauled three hours.” Each of the youngsters will have plenty of opportunities to show their stuff over those two days of youth competition. The STS Championship will also serve as a qualifying event for the Vegas Tuffest Junior World Championship, which is expected to take place in December in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo. That’s obviously a goal for all who put their names in the hat. “I want to make the Vegas Tuffest in breakaway roping and tie-down, but I’m also going to try to make the “Tuf Cooper” (Junior World Championships),” said Sterling, a fifth-grader. “We’re really thankful for (world champion tie-down roper) Stran (Smith) for putting his name on this; we couldn’t put on this event without him.” Like his big brother, Sterling likes to be involved. He competes in goat-tying, breakaway roping, team roping, tie-down roping, ribbon roping and double mugging. His favorite? He couldn’t pick just one. “It’s probably tie-down roping, ribbon roping or double mugging,” he said with a smattering of confidence. “I get to get off my horse on those.” While all four local youth are the first generations of their families to compete in rodeo, the love of horses goes back for several decades. Parents showed horses, and Colee and Cutter started out doing the same. By the time they were 6, though, they found a passion for something different. Even the youngest, Quay, understands why. “I do it for fun and because I get to see my friends,” said the third-grader, who competes in breakaway roping and goat-tying. “I also do it because I can make more friends.” The socialization is a pretty big deal, and rodeo has always had more of a family feel. “My parents and the Bruces’ parents took us to our first rodeo, and me and their oldest son, Cutter, are very close and in sync,” Colee said. “We told them we wanted to do this, and we haven’t been back to a show since.” Each child has found success along the way, whether it was competing at the Vegas Tuffest or even at a jackpot in a small Texas town somewhere down the highway. Being involved in rodeo and caring for animals and others around them is part of the mix. Family has been a major support system, and that also enables them to learn along the way. There’s something in their voices when they speak of the pride they have in their equine partners and what they do to take care of them. “Being able to compete in Childress is great, because it’s easier on my horse,” Sterling said, noting that his horse is 27 and won’t be put through the rigors of the rodeo trail much longer. Many changes are ahead for all four, but the oldest three at least have an idea of what they want to do as adults: Sterling: “I want to be a veterinarian.” Cutter: “One of my hobbies is beekeeping; I’d like to do that when I grow up and rope for fun in my free time.” Colee: “I would either like to be a professional breakaway roper or an equine assisted therapist. I have a bunch of autistic friends, and think it would be really cool if I could help them. I’m very caring for those kinds of people and take them in. I think it would be awesome to put that together, being able to help people while using horses to do it.” Until then, though, they’ll keep roping, tying goats and having fun while they chase titles and hang out with friends. After all, that’s what kids do.

CHILDRESS, Texas –Stetson Vest has always wanted to be involved in something big in his hometown. He has that chance with the STS Championship, set for April 30-May 2 at the Mashburn Event Center and Arena in Childress. Vest, one of the elite tie-down ropers in professional rodeo and a 2013 National Finals Rodeo qualifier, is overseeing a special day of roping that will kick off the three days of the championship. “I’ve always wanted to host something here,” said Vest, the grandson of legendary roper Clifton Smith and the nephew of 2008 world champion Stran Smith. “Stran had the junior event going, and the people with the event came to me and wanted me to do our open ropings.” Like golf, there is a handicapping system for some aspects of Western events, and the open classification points to the highest level of roping. A key part of Vest’s duties is to attract the biggest names in the sport and draw them to Childress for the competition. The timing of the STS Championship coincides with one of the largest ProRodeos in the region in Guymon, Oklahoma, which is about 200 miles northwest of Childress. “I thought it was a great weekend for the open tie-down ropers where I can promote it,” he said. “Since I’m still roping, I’m going to work on getting the top guys to rope here. “There are a lot of people going through Childress on their way to Guymon and back home. That weekend used to be full of open jackpots, but we haven’t had that in a while. The timing and date are always crucial with us involved with the rodeo season if we’re going to be able to make a roping like this.” He expects 50 to 60 of ProRodeo’s top stars to be in the mix, and they will all rope at least three calves. The cowboys with the top three-run cumulative times will advance to the championship round. The Friday, April 30, competition isn’t just for the boys, though. The STS Championship will begin with the open breakaway roping, and Vest expects to see dozens of ladies arrive for a chance at the money available. “We’re going to base our rounds on the number of ropers that show up for the breakaway,” Vest said. “It’s going to be open entries with no limits on how many, but we want to set it up based on the timeline. I want the open tie-down roping start at 1 o’clock (p.m.). “Breakaway roping has grown like wildfire the last couple of years. Anything that can help grow the sport of rodeo is great. There aren’t as many jackpots for us open guys, but breakaway roping has just seen tremendous growth. It’s very exciting for roping altogether.” That growth and the talent that will be involved in the opening day is one reason organizers are so excited about what’s fans will get to experience when the STS Championship comes to town.

ALVA, Okla. – For the better part of the Central Plains Region season, Denton Oestmann wasn’t quite sure about his roping partner. It affected the way Oestmann – a junior tie-down roper for the Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team – handled his business. When he finally put his faith in Short Stack, it paid off. The Auburn, Nebraska, cowboy placed in the opening round, won the championship round and claimed the overall title this past weekend at the Oklahoma State University Rodeo in Stillwater. “This means quite a bit to win in Stillwater,” said Oestmann, who began his rodeo career at Iowa Central Community College before eventually finding his way to Alva. “This means more than the ones I won my freshman year, because I was on a colt to win this. “It’s hard enough to win on a solid horse, much less a colt.” He won the Great Plains Region’s tie-down roping title in the 2018-19 season to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo. That was on his solid horse, which suffered an injury earlier this school year and was sent back to southeastern Nebraska. He had acquired Short Stack last October, and the younger horse got the nod for the starting lineup. “He’d only had about 100 calves tied down on him when I got him,” Oestmann said of the horse that has a smaller stature (about 14.1 hands tall); Short Stack is a sorrel gelding that will turn 6 years old later this spring. “I (tied for) fourth at the home rodeo (in Alva), and it started off right. Then I missed at Fort Scott (Kansas) and missed another one at Durant (Oklahoma). “I drew a runner at Garden City (Kansas), so I found myself in a little bit of a slump.” He talked to the man that trained Short Stack, who assured Oestmann that the horse had plenty of talent to work just fine. “At those first two that I rode him at, I rode him like a colt and worried so much about him that I didn’t take care of myself,” he said. “I made myself forget about worrying about him.” It worked out well and propelled him to the top spot in the Central Plains Region’s tie-down roping standings. He is one of two regional leaders, joining steer wrestler Jace Rutledge of Harrisonville, Missouri. Fellow tie-down roper Colten Kropf of Haskell, Oklahoma, scored points in the first round with a 10.3-second run, good enough for a tie for fifth place. While Rutledge padded his season stats by placing in both rounds and the average in steer wrestling, Bo Yaussi of Udall, Kansas, also placed in both bulldogging rounds, including a second-place finish in both the short round and the overall race. Team roping header Wyatt VanOrsdol of Bristow, Oklahoma, finished sixth in the opening round and the aggregate while roping with Mason Okke of Western Oklahoma State College. For the second week in a row, breakaway roper Lindy Munsell of Arnett, Oklahoma, led the way for the Rangers women. She posted two 2.6-second runs, placing in the short round and finishing fourth overall. When Oestmann made the move to the Central Plains Region a year and a half ago, he knew he was going to face tough competition. He’s found a home in Alva, and he’s in a nice spot atop the standings with just four rodeos remaining on the schedule. The final push will be big for the Northwestern cowboys and cowgirls; only the top three contestants in the regional standings at the end of the season will advance to the college finals in June. The last time it was played in 2019, Oestmann appeared on that stage, and two Rangers – steer wrestler Bridger Anderson of Carrington, North Dakota, and Taylor Munsell from Arnette – brought home national titles. Oestmann would love for something similar to fall his way. “I knew a few kids that had gone to school here, and I had some friends that were in this region,” he said of his decision to enroll at Northwestern. “I knew if you go to Alva, you can find a place to rope and keep your own calves, and I liked that a lot.” He ropes at the home of Perry Dietz, a Northwestern rodeo team alumnus, and he takes advantage of all that is offered to him with school and rodeo. Part of that involves rodeoing for coach Stockton Graves, a seven-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who was a former Rangers star. “Stockton’s a winner, and he’s made a living doing it,” Oestmann said. “Guys like that talk different and act a little different. Being around him just does as much for a guy. He has a more positive attitude about winning, and that becomes contagious.”