ProRodeo Sports News - August 24, 2018

Rookie bull rider Ross Freeman had an 88.5-point ride on Powder River Rodeo’s Cracker to capture the Lawton (Okla.) Rangers Rodeo title and earn $4,145. It was the biggest payday of his career.

Fly Thomas photo

Making HisWay

Ross Freeman gaining experience – and wins

BY TRACY RENCK S ometimes access is all a cowboy needs to start enjoying the sport of rodeo. Being the son of a bull rider and growing up in Kountze, Texas, gave Ross Freeman a truckload of opportunities. Now, at the age of 19, Freeman, a rookie bull rider, is honing his skills – and earning money in the process. Freeman’s biggest career payday came at the Lawton (Okla.) Rangers Rodeo. Freeman had an 88.5-point trip on Powder River Rodeo’s Cracker to capture the rodeo title and earn $4,145. “I wasn’t sure about the bull, but I figured I would get on a good one from Powder River,” Freeman said. “The ride was a lot of fun. That bull was electric and showy, and he got up high in the air. I was pumped up because bulls like that get your adrenaline going.” After making his ride Aug. 10, Freeman left town and then had to wait and see if he would get the victory. “I kept looking on the PRCA app for the results, and I was so happy when I saw I won,” Freeman said. “I was blessed to get that win and get by that bull.”

Freeman joined the PRCA Sept. 28, 2017. In less than a year, he has turned heads, earning $18,517. Freeman has two rodeo wins on his résumé, his first coming June 23 at Rodeo de Santa Fe (N.M.). He took that title with an 86-point ride on

Harry Vold Rodeo’s Golden Child and earned $2,905. As of Aug. 20, Freeman was 62nd in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. He ranked ninth in the bull riding PRCA | Resistol Rookie of the Year Standings. “I’ve grown quite a bit since I bought my (PRCA) card,” Freeman said. “I always considered myself to be somewhat of a mature person, but being out there on the road and rodeoing all the time you have to really be smart and think ahead, not wait until the last minute to plan things out.” BUSY SCHEDULE As the summer winds down, Freeman will remain busy as he fits in rodeos with school. He’s entering his sophomore year at Panola College in Carthage, Texas, where he competes on the school’s rodeo team. “I do a lot of the college rodeos, but I also hit a lot of the PRCA rodeos,” said Freeman, whose first day of class at Panola was Aug. 22. “I want to get my (welding) degree from Panola, and then I will start rodeoing full time and try to make a living at it. But I will also have that degree to fall back on. My dad

TOPS AT LAWTON — Aug. 8-11

ALL-AROUND COWBOY Trevor Brazile $148

BAREBACK RIDING 1. Tanner Aus ............................ 87.5 pts. 2. Orin Larsen ...................................... 87 3. Bill Tutor ....................................... 83.5 4. J.R. Vezain ....................................... 82

STEER WRESTLING 1. (tie) Cody Harmon ....... 8.4 sec. on two Tyler Pearson .................................. 8.4 3. Jarek VanPetten .............................. 8.5 4. Justin Blaine Davis ......................... 9.2

TEAM ROPING 1. (tie) D. Gordon/G. Williams .... 4.7 sec. C. Hicks/J. Fox ................................ 4.7 3. J. Stipes/J. Smith ........................... 4.9 4. A. Ward/R. Ward ............................ 5.1

Tie-down roping and team roping

ProRodeo Sports News 8/24/2018

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