PublicationProRodeo Sports News - March 22, 2019

Steer wrestler Ty Erickson also is having an outstanding season, leading with $85,708. Erickson, a four-time qualifier for the Wrangler NFR, made it to Vegas in 2018 in the No. 4 spot with $89,662. Team roping header Ty Blasingame is leading the world standings with $71,832, thanks in large part to capturing the title at RodeoHouston with partner Kyle Lockett. Rhen Richard qualified as the No. 15 team roping header for last year’s Wrangler NFR with $65,232. Team roping heeler Ryan Motes is leading his event with $70,166 – $50,000 of which came when he and heading partner Coleman Proctor wonThe American at AT&T Stadium, March 3. Last year, team roping heelers Chase Tryan ($68,284), Cole Davison ($66,252),

Pro Rodeo’s Meeko in Round 6. Sage Kimzey, who has won five-consecutive PRCA bull riding world championships, sits in third place in the world standings with $60,500. He earned $31,129 during the San Antonio, The American and RodeoHouston run. “I’ve had a rough go of it in 2019,” Kimzey said. “I was so banged up after the NFR, I really just now got back to healthy, and I’ve been struggling with some equipment. It has just been a battle. I have had a lot of wasted opportunities, and really, my season is just about to get underway. I’ve only been to 10 rodeos so far. With the way the bull riding turned out at this point in the season, I managed to get through a really rough stretch of the season and still be at square one. I was probably riding as bad as I ever have in my professional career. To be at $60,000 and to not be that far

PRCA WORLD STANDINGS (March 19, 2019) AA: Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas .................... $65,282 BB: Kaycee Feild, Genola, Utah ..................... $104,013 SW: Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. ....................... $85,708 TR-1: Ty Blasingame, Ramah, Colo. ................... $71,832 TR-2: Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas ................ $70,166 SB: Ryder Wright, Milford, Utah .................... $102,260 TD: Michael Otero, Weatherford, Texas ............. $70,966 SR: Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas ................... $25,009 BR: Trevor Kastner, Roff, Okla. ....................... $78,340 PRCA WORLD STANDINGS (March 19, 2018) AA: Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas ....................... $65,667 BB: Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah ................. $41,487 SW: Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev. ...................... $34,307 TR-1: Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla. .................. $40,437 TR-2: Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo. ....................... $40,437 SB: Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas .................. $63,794 TD: Blane Cox, Cameron, Texas ...................... $43,735 SR: Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas ......... $35,642 BR: Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla. ................. $78,999

Buddy Hawkins II ($64,451) and Quinn Kesler ($61,349) qualified in the Nos. 12 through 15 positions, respectively, for the Wrangler NFR. In saddle bronc riding, Ryder Wright is pacing the field with $102,260. “I’ve never really had a good winter run, and I guess I picked a good year to have a good run,” saidWright, the 2017 Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion. “This is pretty crazy that I’ve won this amount of money so far this season. I’ve been very lucky and blessed.” Wright earned $86,333 at San Antonio, The American and RodeoHouston. “It’s awesome to have San Antonio, The

behind first, there’s something to be said for that. “I would like to be at $150,000 and not worry about anything, but I’m still in the thick of things. I think it is huge that The American and RodeoHouston count in the standings and be a part of the PRCA. It’s a really good deal. The PRCA is rodeo’s flagship association, and for premier events like those to be part of the PRCA it speaks volumes, not only how rodeo is growing and going in the right direction, but also how the PRCA has been and is the leader in professional rodeo.”

Sage Kimzey, shown competing at the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, has had a tough go at things in the 2019 season, but still sits third in the world standings as he eyes his sixth- consecutive bull riding world championship. PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

American and RodeoHouston all count in the standings,” saidWright, 21. “I think it is great that the PRCA has partnered withThe American and RodeoHouston. This isn’t going to change my travel plans for the rest of the season because I’m traveling with my little brother Stetson (a bull rider and saddle bronc rider), and I don’t want to leave him hanging by himself. I also know when you get to Vegas for the NFR a $100,000 lead isn’t that big, so I want to try and get as big a lead as I can. Hopefully things keep going good for me.” Bull rider Trevor Kastner is well on his way to his fifthWrangler NFR qualification as he leads the world standings with $78,340. A year ago, he qualified in the No. 15 spot for the NFR with $94,396. “This was a typical season for me, and then I won RodeoHouston, and that changed things a lot,” Kaster said. “It’s great to see big rodeos like The American and RodeoHouston counting in the standings, it’s awesome. It would be good for me to get back to Vegas so I can redeemmyself a little bit.” Last year at the Wrangler NFR, Kastner missed Rounds 7 through 10 after separating his left shoulder when he was bucked off United

ProRodeo Sports News 3/22/2019

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