ProRodeo Sports News - August 24, 2018

LEA COUNTY FAIR & RODEO

Muncy has had plenty of success in Puyallup, winning the rodeo in 2011 and 2012. He won in 2011 with a 91-point ride on Flying 5 Rodeo’s Spring Planting in the final round, and he was victorious the following year with a 91-point trip on Big Bend Rodeo’s Kool Toddy in the finals. Rewind to the Lovington victory, and it was extra special for Muncy because his parents, Blaine and Johnnie; wife, Marissa; daughter, Marley, 7; and son, Shooter, 2, were in the stands. “When I woke up in Lovington, I felt good that day, and I had a feeling it was going to go good,” Taos said. “I was excited because I was going to get to see my family. I had not seen them in a while, and on top of that it was my daughter’s birthday. I also got to see my little boy, so it was just a great day.”

NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN Muncy has been to

Bareback rider Steven Dent and Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hired Gun had some fun in the mud in Lovington, N.M., Aug. 10. Dent took second with an 87-point ride. Peggy Gander photo

the pinnacle of rodeo twice, winning world championships in 2007 and 2011. However, he has no plans of slowing down any time soon. “I’m real fortunate to do what I love to do and make a living at it,” Muncy said. He won his first world championship in his second year on the ProRodeo tour, then added the next one four years later. “It’s crazy, and I don’t really know how to explain it,” Muncy said. “It’s a relief to get the first one, but the second one didn’t just happen overnight. You have to keep working at it, and heck, I haven’t come close to that for a while, but maybe this year I can get hot and get back into the top 5 before the Finals. Honestly, if you just make the NFR, you have a chance to win the world because there’s so much money to ride for in Las Vegas.” Saddle bronc rider Isaac Diaz, a five-time Wrangler NFR qualifier (2007,

2009, 2012-13, 2015) and longtime traveling partner of Muncy, said his friend is still one of the best going. “He just doesn’t like to lose,” said Diaz, who joined the PRCA in 2006. “Everybody goes through little deals where they don’t win, and then they go through times when they do. But his not-winning time never seems to last very long. That’s not only being persistent and loving what you do, but also trying harder than the rest. “We are in an event that doesn’t really matter if you’re 18 or 38. As long as you stick to the basics and the fundamentals you are just as capable of beating the guy who is 18 years old. The field of bronc riders right now is as tough as it has been since I’ve been rodeoing, by far. Taos continues to work at it, and so he’s stayed on the top, and that’s a credit to him.”

Complete results on Page 54

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Taos Muncy .............................. 86 pts. 2. Dean Wadsworth .......................... 84.5 3. (tie) Jacobs Crawley ........................ 84 Bradley Harter ................................. 84

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Hudson Wallace ...................... 8.3 sec. 2. (tie) Cooper Martin ......................... 9.0 Ryan Jarrett .................................... 9.0 4. Reese Riemer ................................. 9.1

STEER ROPING 1. Bryce Davis ............ 44.4 sec. on three 2. Will Gasperson ............................. 45.2 3. Trey Wallace ................................. 46.6 4. Chance Gasperson ........................ 48.8

BULL RIDING 1. J.W. Harris ................................ 88 pts. 2. Elliot Jacoby .................................... 87 3. Jessi Petri ........................................ 86 4. Jeston Mead ................................. 83.5

ProRodeo Sports News 8/24/2018

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