ProRodeo Sports News - January 12, 2018

round,” Staton said. “My goal when I came here was to make three good runs and see how things played out. After the first two rounds, things were starting to fall in place for me. I originally told myself that I was going to run at it (in the finals) like it was just another one header and not worry about the average, but when it came down to it, I chickened out. I missed the barrier a little bit, but I made a decent enough run (4.3 seconds) to win the average.” Staton’s effort inWaco earned him $5,798. All money RAM TEXAS CIRCUIT FINALS

ONTO KISSIMMEE With his inaugural RTCFR average title, Staton qualified for the 2018 RNCFR, scheduled for April 5-8 in Kissimmee, Fla. “I’ve been to Florida before on vacation, but the RNCFR will be the first rodeo I’ve competed at in Florida,” said the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Staton. “I can’t wait to get there and see what I can do.” The horsepower Staton had at the RTCFR was provided by Casper, 11. “I sold a horse named George to Rowdy Parrott a couple of years ago, and he used that horse at the 2017 NFR,” Staton said. “I never gave Casper a chance because George was a pretty nice horse. Once I sold that horse to Rowdy, it made me give Casper a chance and it has paid off because I’ve had some success on him and he worked really well for me in Waco.”

won at the 12 circuit finals rodeos, All American ProRodeo Finals and the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo counts toward the 2018 PRCAWorld Standings. “I try and go to as many circuit rodeos as my job will allow me, and if things work out where I have enough money won, I will try and make a run (at the WNFR),” Staton said. “But until then, I will go as much as I can and when I can. I love to rodeo and my whole family has always rodeoed. My dad (Doug) was a Texas Circuit steer wrestler and my mom ( Janet) runs barrels, and they were in the stands watching me (Dec. 30), which was very special. I can’t say enough about how much my parents have supported me.” The performance of Staton inWaco might have surprised some cowboys, but not his friend and fellow steer wrestler Kody Dollery, his hazer at the RTCFR on his horse T.C. “It’s awesome to see a circuit guy like Cade go in there and clean house,” Dollery said. “He has a nice horse going right now and he was bulldogging sharp and drawing the right ones and using them. He has a ton of talent. You couldn’t see a better person win the average. He’s a great guy and he’s always there for you to help you.” STATON HAD OTHER SPORTS ON MIND Although Staton grew up in rodeo, he had football and baseball dreams. “I quit rodeoing when I was 9 years old and just focused on football and baseball,” Staton said. “My family supplies a bunch of steer wrestling cattle and roping calves to all the youth rodeos around the area, so I’ve always had all the help I could ever want to rodeo. I finally decided after my senior year of high school to take a summer off from baseball since it was going to be my life when I got to college, and I found out really quick my passion for rodeo outweighed my passion for baseball.” Staton played college baseball for a year – as a catcher at Alvin (Texas) Community College. Then, he transferred to Wharton (Texas) County Junior College and competed on the school’s rodeo team for a couple years. Staton moved on to SamHouston State University in Huntsville, Texas, and was a member of the Bearkats rodeo squad. He made the College National Finals Rodeo and graduated from SHSU with an ag business degree in 2015.

Saddle bronc rider Jacobs Crawley had an 89-point ride on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Total Equines Angel Fire in the third round, a ride which vaulted him to the RTCFR average title for the fifth time in his career and second in a row. James Phifer photo

Complete results on Page 39

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Jacobs Crawley ..... 259.5 pts. on three 2. Isaac Diaz ...................................... 258 3. Sterling Crawley ......................... 247.5 4. Audy Reed .................................. 243.5

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Sterling Smith ........ 26.1 sec. on three 2. Cory Solomon .............................. 26.9 3. Scott Kormos ............................... 27.9 4. Blane Cox ..................................... 29.1

STEER ROPING 1. Cody Lee ................ 36.0 sec. on three 2. Tuf Cooper .................................... 36.7 3. Vin Fisher Jr. ................................. 36.9 4. Scott Snedecor ............................. 38.7

BULL RIDING 1. Sage Kimzey ............. 244 pts. on three 2. Cole Melancon ............................ 242.5 3. Trey Benton III ................ 175.5 on two 4. Jeff Askey ...................................... 160

ProRodeo Sports News 1/12/2018

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