ProRodeo Sports News - July 12, 2019

RODEO OF THE OZARKS SPRINGDALE, ARK. Harper wins rodeo steeped in family history Family Affair BY TRACY RENCK A history lesson about the Rodeo of the Ozarks in Springdale, Ark., wasn’t needed for Maverick Harper. The cowboy grew up with the rodeo as his grandfather, James Harper of the Harper &Morgan stock contracting company, has provided the roughstock for Springdale for decades.

ALL-AROUND COWBOY Maverick Harper, $4,568, tie-down TOP SCORES

“The first time I was at the Springdale rodeo I was 4 years old loading calves,” said Maverick, 23. “This was my second year competing in the rodeo, and it was really special to get this win because of how prestigious of a rodeo Springdale is, and it is a great Tour rodeo. My whole family was there because he (James) puts on that rodeo.” Harper, who is competing on his PRCA permit, won the two-head average with a 9.0-second time. “My first run, I had a really good steer right down the middle, and I was 4.9 (fourth in the first round),” Harper said. “I came back on my second one and had the best steer, one they won second on in the first round. I ended up splitting first in the second round with a 4.1, and I made the best run I could with what I had. I wasn’t going to waste a good one.” Harper finished in Springdale on June 26 and had to wait until the rodeo concluded June 29 to see if he would be crowned the average champ. “I had to sweat it for three days,” Harper said. “I must have refreshed the page at prorodeo.com 25 times on June 29 checking the results. Finally, it had my name in first with the money next to it, and it was a great feeling.” Harper, who also tie-down ropes and team ropes as a header, also won all-around cowboy honors in Springdale. Harper earned $4,568 for his effort in Springdale. Harper’s introduction to steer wrestling came early, as his stepfather Gary Green was a seven-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in steer wrestling. Following his tutelage fromGreen, Harper attended Northwestern (Alva) Oklahoma State to be coached by Stockton Graves. Graves, a PRCA steer wrestler, also qualified for the Wrangler NFR seven times. He graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in business administration fromNWOSU in Alva. “I’m going to buy my (PRCA) card in October, and my rookie year will be 2020,” said Harper, who qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo once. “I have a chance to win four rookie of the year saddles – in steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping header and the all-around.”

roping, steer wrestling and team roping. BAREBACK RIDING

Harper

1. (Tie) Taylor Broussard...84.5 pts. on 2 Blaine Kaufman. ...........................84.5 3. Two tied at.......................................84 STEER WRESTLING 1. Maverick Harper............. 9.0 sec. on 2 2. Gabe Soileau. .................................9.6 3. Bridger Anderson.........................10.1 TEAM ROPING 1. C. Denison/L. Mitchell............ 4.4 sec. 2. (Tie) L. Brown/P. Eaves...................5.0 C. Markham/B. Crites. ....................5.0 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Jacobs Crawley. .....................85.5 pts 2. Ryder Sanford.................................85 3. Colt Gordon..................................84.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Tyler Milligan.......................... 7.9 sec. 2. Tim Pharr. ......................................8.1 3. Wyatt Imus.....................................8.4 BARREL RACING 1. Savannah Pearson.............. 17.50 sec. 2. Shelley Morgan. .........................17.56 3. Emily Miller. ...............................17.67 BULL RIDING 1. Brennon Eldred.........................89 pts. 2. Braden Richardson..........................88 3. JC Mortensen..................................87

Ankle Biter Bareback rider Blaine Kaufman posted an 84.5-point ride on Rafter G Rodeo’s Ankle Biter to split the win with Taylor Broussard in Springdale. Tilden Hooper won Round 2 of the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo with an 87.5-point ride on Ankle Biter, while Caleb Bennett placed second in Round 7 on Ankle Biter with an 88-point ride. Hooper and Bennett earned $46,962 on the horse in Las Vegas. Kaufman earned $3,886 for his ride.

Complete results/Page 64

ProRodeo Sports News 7/12/2019

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