2017 World Champions

2018 PRCA Media Guide

Sage Kimzey won his fourh consecutive world title in 2017 with $436,479, breaking the PRCA record for most money won in bull riding in a year.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by GregWestfall

2017 WORLD CHAMPIONS

All-Around

Tuf Cooper Tie-down roping champion earns a new title

The battle for the 2017 All-Around Cowboy title was a tug of war that came down to the wire between Tuf Cooper and Trevor Brazile. Cooper ended the regular season leading the PRCA World Standings by $33,644. Brazile tempo- rarily grabbed the top spot following the Clem McSpaddenNational Finals Steer Roping by $13,738, before Cooper ultimately defeated his brother-in- law thanks to placing second in the average in tie- down roping at theWrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER. “This is the best title and buckle you can win in rodeo,” Cooper said. “Trevor really created this award by winning it all those times. I just grew up as a kidwhowanted to rope calves likemy dad and brother-in-law.They both have won the all-around, and now I have one too. This one feels different than the three tie-down roping gold buckles I have because this one says, ‘Cowboy,’on it.” Cooper admitted it was “weird” to see Brazile not win a world title at the Wrangler NFR since

the gold buckle. Brazile was second with $319,337 and Dakota Eldridge was third with $268,553. “It’s the one I’ve wanted, always,”Cooper said. Although they were in direct competition with each other, Cooper and Brazile didn’t put that ahead of their friendship and family bond. “We rodeo together all year, and we practiced together for this event and ride back to the hotel together every night,”he said. The majority of Cooper’s season earnings stemmed from tie-down roping ($301,983), the remainder was from steer roping. The 28-year-old Texan had come close to achieving themost coveted award in ProRodeo, placing fourth in 2015, second in 2014 and third in 2013. “It’s a dream come true and something I’ve worked my entire life for,”he said. Cooper is no stranger to the Wrangler NFR winners’ circle, having won the tie-down roping championship in 2011-12 and 2014. – Matt Naber

the Decatur, Texas, cowboy has won 23world titles between tie- down roping, team roping, steer roping and all-around. Cooper also said it was Brazile who had encouraged him to get into steer roping. “This was my first time quali- fying for the steer roping finals and I wouldn’t have done that without good horses and with my dad leasing the horse from Chance Kelton at the end of the season to qualify for the steer roping finals,”Cooper said.“Even though I only won $15,000 at Mulvane (Kan.), that was a big difference for me – qualifying for that and being able to win.” Cooper trailed Brazile in the final days leading up to Round 10, but Cooper’s 11-second run added up to a second-place finish in the average and a last- minute $54,577 boost in the All- Around race. Ultimately, Cooper earned $341,560 in addition to

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall

Tuf Cooper finished with $341,560 in earnings from tie- down and steer roping, earning his first all-around world championship at the 2017 NFR.

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2017 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Bareback Riding

Tim O’Connell Defending champion stays ahead of the game

Bareback rider Tim O’Connell is 2-for-2 in his last two attempts at becomingWorld Champion. That’s all well and good, but O’Connell is hoping he’s not done counting his world titles. “To do it back-to-back, to have both these buckles sitting inmy hands again and coming back to Iowa, what a blessing,”he said. The 26-year-old has never been shy of saying he wants to be the best bareback rider of all time. And with the way he’s dominated the bareback riding competition in the last two years, his dream could come true in the not-so-distant future. After winning his second gold buckle andWran- gler National Finals Rodeo bareback riding average title in December, O’Connell finished the 2017 seasonwith $371,416 in the PRCAWorld Standings. The Zwingle, Iowa, cowboy dominated during the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas, Dec. 7-16 – he entered the Finals with the biggest lead of any competitor in any event, a staggering $65,259 ahead of his nearest competitor. His lead never dipped below $68,000 over the course of 10 rounds, andO’Connell’s biggest margin

came on the final night, when hewonwith $102,905 more than Richmond Champion, who finished second. All told, O’Connell cashed in for $169,500. “It just solidified it for me that last year wasn’t a fluke,” O’Connell said. “I’m a world champion and I showed up again this year and defendedmy world title.” O’Connell won the 2016 gold buckle by a wider gap, locking in his first world title by $134,111. He relished being at the top of the charts during the 2017 regular season and Finals. “Like I’ve said before, the guy with a target on his back can do two things: he can keep it close where someone can hit it, or you can take it out too far where no one can touch it,” O’Connell said. “I’ve realized the No. 1 guy doesn’t make mistakes. I’ve trained not to make mistakes – I’ve trained to mentally prepare not to make mistakes.” The secondworld title has O’Connell three back of Joe Alexander and Bruce Ford for most ever. But O’Connell doesn’t want to tie them with five. He wants to be the best and take home six. “I wanted nothing more than to be a two-time

2017 WORLD CHAMPIONS

world champion, and now I want nothing more than to be a six- time world champion,” he said. “Now that I have two, it’s time to move on to three – and that means refocusing and resettingmy goals.” But earning the 2017 title wasn’t an easy feat, O’Connell said. “It was harder this year, way harder than it was last year,” he said. “The group of guys that are here are better than any of the guys that have set foot in this arena.This is the best set of 15 bareback riders that ever hit this arena.” – Scott Kaniewski

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall

TimO’Connell stayed in the lead in bareback riding during the 59th NFR, winning a second consecutive world title.

2018 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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Steer Wrestling

Tyler Pearson Bulldogger earns world champion status

When steer wrestler Tyler Pearson won his inaugural steer wrestling gold buckle at the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, he was in disbelief. “This is unreal. This is always what I wanted to do, but this is going to take me a while to believe this happened,”said Pearson, 33. “This is nuts. I’ve been around a bunch of world champions and hung out with a lot of them. I’m just blessed to be a world champion, and now to always be known as a world champion is unbelievable.” The Louisville, Miss., cowboy’s world title came together for him in a drama-packed Round 10. During Round 10 Pearson clocked a 5.2-second run. That gave him a 45.9-second time on 10 head in the average, then he just had to wait and see how the night would pan out. Before the final round, Pearsonwasn’t crunching numbers – he didn’t have time to because he had to haze for his good friend, Ty Erickson, the last contestant out. Erickson, who also was riding Scooter, the PRCA/AQHAHorse of theYear co-owned by Pearson

and Kyle Irwin, had a chance to win the world championship if he finished third or better in Round 10.When Erickson stopped the clock in 4.5 seconds, he placed fourth in the round, giving Pearson the improbable crown by $2,190. Pearson’s world championship became a reality thanks to placing second in the average and earning $54,577. Pearson finished the season with $265,457, followed by Erickson’s $263,267 total. “I didn’t want to know (what the numbers were),” Pearson said. “That would’ve just made me more nervous. I didn’t want to look and see what somebody else did and then see what I had to do. I just wanted to go throw my steer down and let the cards lay. I thoughtTy (Erickson) won it andwas proud for him, and then they toldme I won and that was awesome. I was ecstatic. I’m on Cloud 9. I just thank God, my family and everybody for being here.” Pearson placed in five rounds andwon $155,538 at the Finals. He finished second in Rounds 1 and 2 and tied for second in Round 7. He placed third in Rounds 3 and 5. Pearson credited

Scooter’s horse- power for reaching gold-buckle glory. “We’ve had him (Scooter) for almost two years and he has been an absolute blessing,” Pearson said. “That horse is just amazing. Hewon a pile of money here (in Las Vegas) and we are so blessed to have him. Kyle (Irwin) also was hazing for me at the Finals, whichmade winning the gold buckle even more special because we own the horse together.” –Tracy Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall

Tyler Pearson won his first world championship at the 2017 NFR, with a 3.9-second run during Round 1. He placed second in the average.

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2017 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Saddle Bronc Riding

Ryder Wright Young bronc rider rises to the top

At 19 years old, Ryder Wright became the youngest saddle bronc riding world champion in history, beating out Casey Tibbs by a year, at the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Wright also became the fourth member of his family to win the saddle bronc riding world title, securing it by a margin of $2,651. “The world title is won by pennies,” Wright said. “It’s crazy, I don’t even know what to say, but it’s a dream come true. I could sit and stare at it (the buckle) all day.” Wright’s dad, Cody, beamed after watching his son win the gold buckle. “It’s pretty dang neat,” said Cody Wright, moments before handing his son the gold buckle. “That’s why you can’t say the small rodeos don’t count because they sure do, everything does. It’s awesome, I know how much work it takes and all the pressure. And he is so young and has so much development to do – the sky is the limit.” Cody Wright won the world title in 2008 and 2010. Ryder Wright’s uncles, Jesse and Spencer, won world titles in 2012 and 2014, respectively. “Oh, it’s special. It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I saw my dad win his, and it’s awesome to follow in his footsteps,”Ryder Wright said.“That

  He placed seventh in the average with 702.5 points on eight head. But it was go big or go home as he won four rounds and made his first 90-point ride at a PRCA rodeowith 92 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Show Me Again in Round 8. “I felt like I was hanging by a thread,” Ryder Wright said. “I lit up like a Christmas tree when I saw the score.” That score was an arena record for Round 8, and it propelled him to the top of the world standings for the remainder of the Wrangler NFR. His 10th-round ride wasn’t his first trip on Sutton Rodeos’ Prom Night. He’d drawn the same horse at the Wrangler Champions Challenge in Sioux Falls, S.D. – his final draw of the 2017 regular season.   “He was my last horse of the regular season and my last horse of the NFR, but it worked out better in South Dakota,”RyderWright said of his 86-point, season-finale ride in September. Winning the world wasn’t the only major mile- stone in the Utah cowboy’s life in 2017. He also got married and became a father. “You can’t ask for a better year than that,”Ryder Wright said. – Matt Naber

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall 2017 WORLD CHAMPIONS

was the goal coming here, but getting it and wanting it is a different thing.” Ryder Wright entered the Wrangler NFR ranked eighth in the PRCA World Standings with $99,361, thanks to winning 14 rodeos, including the San Angelo (Texas) Rodeo for $7,023. “This year, I stayed calmer and rode more horses,” Ryder Wright said. All of those checks paled in comparison to the $185,577 hewon during the 10 rounds of the Wrangler NFR. “This is unreal, I don’t think it’s hit me yet,” Ryder Wright said. “This is crazy.”

Ryder Wright entered the 2017 NFR in eighth place, leaving in first with a grand total of $284,938 in saddle bronc riding.

2018 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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Team Roping

Erich Rogers (header) Strong duo become Days, a victory that netted the duo $12,226 each. Other notable wins included the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show (FortWorth,Texas), a win worth a respective $12,068, and the Sheridan WYO Rodeo, which paid both cowboys $4,989. Other 2017 highlights for Rogers and Petska included average wins at the 41st Annual Isanti (Minn.) Firefighters Rodeo, the Southern New Mexico (Las Cruces) State Fair, and a share of the average crown at the Lehi (Utah) Roundup. At the 2017 Wrangler NFR, the talented twosome really showed their mettle. One of only four teams to head and heel at least nine steers, they aggregated an average of 53.9 seconds on nine head, the Finals’ second-best average time. After Round 10, Rogers and Petska had re-established the record for money won by team ropers, as their respective $265,417 bested themarks Levi Simpson and Jeremy Buhler posted en route to their 2016 team roping world titles. Entering the final performance, Rogers said that he tried to treat the potential title-clinching

Erich Rogers could barely believe it when he and Cory Petska narrowly secured their first team roping world titles at the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “Man, this is a great feeling to get a champion- ship,” Rogers said. “I’ve been here several times, and to finally get an opportunity to capitalize on it – and to have Cory behind me, especially to have him heeling for me – it’s a great feeling. The confidence that he has in both of us is just one of the greatest feelings a guy could have.” Contrarily, Petska, a 19-year PRCA veteran, was just as focused as he’d been the night he and Rogers claimed their only round win five days earlier. Leaning against the concrete walls, the 14-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier knew that he’d just been named“world champion” for the first time. But immediately afterward, it was still business as usual. “It’s like it’s not even realistic yet,” Petska said. “This is what every little kid dreams about doing and I was the same way. I was sitting in the stands whenmy dadmade the Finals, and it was my dream to win the world. To finally achieve it is amazing.” Rogers and Petska entered the

Wrangler NFR ranked second in their respective divisions, as both trailed Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira by no more than $95. “We really didn’t change our game plan,” Petska said. “It seems like if you start thinking about (winning the world title) too much, that’s not a good way to do it. We just kept making our runs and did whatever the steer let us do. We decided that if it was our turn, it was our turn.” Rogers and Petska first solidi- fied their rodeo partnership in 2013, the pair’s first full season as a roping team. Given the talent and formidable chemistry of the two, their rise to a gold buckle should come as no surprise. During the 2017 regular season, Rogers and Petska flaunted their collec- tive experience by winning big-money rodeos such as Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier

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2017 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Team Roping

Cory Petska (heeler) new world champions round as just another round of rodeo. He spent the earlier part of the afternoon with his inner circle. “It was just another good day,”said the Round Rock, Ariz., resident. “My family and friends were in town, so I got to go have lunch with them. One of my best friends showed up too, and he’s kind of the one that pumps me up and gets me going in the right direction. He makes me feel a lot better and lets me know that I can do my job.” Rogers said having a partner such as Petska makes his first gold buckle that muchmore special. “It’s a great feeling to win a championship with (Cory),” said the 31-year-old. “He’s a veteran, he’s been here longer than me, and all the hours and roping that we put into it, I’mglad to be a part of it.” Petska followed that theme, praising his team- mate. “It’s awesome, because he’s like my best friend and brother,” Petska said. “We spend so much time together that you want to win it with someone you like and want to be around. We spend hours together and we’re really good friends, so to win it with one of your

best friends is definitely better thanwinning it with someone you don’t like.” After the final round at the 2017 Wrangler NFR, Rogers accepted his first-career gold buckle on stage, in the middle of the Thomas & Mack Center. There, he discussed with CBS Sports not only what a world championship meant to him, but also his Navajo roots. “This world championship is going back to the reservation,” Rogers said. “My friends, fans, and all the sponsors behind me, without them, I wouldn’t be here. To everybody back home on the reservation –‘We’re bringing the gold (buckle) home.”’ Petska kept his emotions in check as he made his way to the championship platform. Neverthe- less, he knew just who to thank for a fulfilling journey that has spanned two decades. “There are no words to describe this,” Petska said.“We couldn’t be here without our friends and our family, and we appreciate everybody.” – Nick Cicere

2017 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Team Ropers Erich Rogers (right) and Cory Petska

entered the NFR ranked second in team roping, performing their way to the top after 10 rounds and collecting their first gold buckles.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall

2018 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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Tie-down Roping

Marcos Costa Costa wins first world title

Marcos Costa made ProRodeo history at the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, becoming the first Brazilian to win a gold buckle in tie-down roping. Through perseverance, he reached the top of the PRCA podium by earning $317,421. “This is a blessing to be the world champion,” said the 27-year-old from Iretama, a ranching and farming community of 11,000 in the southern state of Parana. “Thank you to God, I give all the credit to him. He’s surroundedme with a lot of great people since I was a little kid; I didn’t havemuch growing up. Stran (Smith) went to Brazil, foundme there and brought me here. Stran taught me almost everything about roping (in the PRCA). I’m just happy to be here, I’m the happiest man in the world.” Smith, Costa’s mentor, is the 2008 tie-down roping world champion.

Costa narrowly missed the world title during Round 10 of the 2016 Wrangler NFR, earning the reserve world champion spot. One year later, it was a case of déjà vu for Costa. He once again had the opportunity to strike gold with a clutch run. He did just that, clocking a 7.8-second time that put him in first place for the round with just one roper remaining – three-time world champion Tuf Cooper. If Cooper clocked in faster than 8.2 seconds, Costa would have lost the world title, but Cooper managed only an 11.0-second run. Costa’s first-place check in Round 10 ($26,231) and average winning check ($67,269) handed the Brazilian the world championship by $15,437. Costa won the average with 81.3 seconds on 10 head, while Cooper was second with a 91.0-second time on 10 head. “I was thinking,‘Just go rope that calf and try andwin the title,”’Costa said, referencing Round 10. “When I was praying (before the final round), I said that I was going to give every- thing I got to try and win the world if I have a chance. God’s plan is different than ours and if you trust in himwith all of your heart, things will happen for you.” The title-clinching performance by Costa in Round 10 was even more impressive, considering the calf he roped was used twice in competition – once for a no-time, the other in a run that lasted more than 20 seconds. Costa, a three-timeWrangler NFR quali- fier (2015-17), was thrilled to join his friend Junior Nogueira as the only Brazilian world champions in PRCA history. Nogueira, from Presidente Prudente, Brazil, won the all- around gold buckle in 2016. “Junior is my hero, and he always will be,” Costa said. “He’s like my brother. We are always giving each other advice and motivating each other. He’s a gift from God to me. I know our country is very proud of what Junior and I have been able to accomplish in the PRCA.” – Tracy Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall

At the NFR, Marcos Costa reached the top of the PRCA podiumwith $317,421 and became the first Brazilian to win a world title in tie-down roping.

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2017 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Bull Riding Sage Kimzey Four-time world champ remains No.1

Sage Kimzey continued to make ProRodeo history by becoming the first cowboy in any event to win the world title his rookie year and keep that ball rolling four consecutive years at the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “Each one of them is a step on the way up the mountain, and each is special because the road is so different each year,” Kimzey said. As a rookie, Kimzey claimed the world title with $318,631 in 2014. The stakes were higher in 2017, as the second-place total was a few thousand dollars above his 2014 total, so Kimzey raised the bar to $436,479. “The trials and tribulations are different, and this being the fourth one, I’mhalfway up themoun- tain that Donnie Gay set (eight world titles),”Kimzey said. “I usually have a healthy lead, but this year I was hurt and banged up and sore, but I got the ball rolling in the spring.” Kimzey prepared as much as possible during the regular season by competing at 125 rodeos – 33 more than in 2016 – and won 20.

Kimzey picked up a series of major wins throughout the season, including $52,400 at the Days of‘47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo in Salt Lake City. He also picked up $14,664 at the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in FortWorth,Texas; $12,761 at the K-Days Rodeo in Edmonton, Alberta, and $11,505 at the Lea County Fair & PRCA Rodeo Xtreme Bulls in Lovington, N.M. “You know, every time I nodmy head I give 110 percent. I dedicated my life to the sport and that is what they see in the arena,”Kimzey said. “It’s an entire life of work.” He continued to rewrite history in 2016, becoming the youngest cowboy to surpass the million-dollar mark in career earnings at the age of 22 years, 3 months and 2 weeks. Previously, the youngest PRCA millionaire was Tuf Cooper at 23 years, 22 days. Kimzey also brokeMatt Austin’s 2005 record for regular-season earnings by $8,766. Kimzey earned $237,152 in the regular season and led the field by $32,913. “I don’t see any reason not to win nine or 10 in

2017 WORLD CHAMPIONS

a row,” Kimzey said. “I’ve got the talent and drive and ability, and the Lord has blessed me in ways I can’t imagine.” With groundmoney counting for the first time in 2017, Kimzey’s work from the regular season could have been wiped out, as a round could have been worth up to $84,000 if one cowboy was the only one to cover his bull. Fortu- nately, the Oklahoma cowboy continued to thrive under pres- sure as he rode seven of his 10 bulls and placed in five rounds, splitting the win in Round 3 with Cole Melancon and winning the final round outright. His most profitable win of the Finals came in the final round, when he raked in $28,981 for a total of $199,327 earned in 10 days. – Matt Naber

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall

With ground money counting for the first time in 2017, Kimzey nabbed his fourth consecutive world title in bull riding at the NFR, earning $436,479.

2018 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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Steer Roping

Scott Snedecor Snedecor captures third gold buckle

Scott Snedecor won his third gold buckle at the 2017 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. The Fredericksburg, Texas, cowboy placed in six rounds and won two rounds en route to winning his third world championship and third average title. Snedecor finished with $136,419 in the 2017 PRCAWorld Standings to edge six-time steer roping world championTrevor Brazile, who placed second with $127,538. “I can’t thank enough the army of people behind me, all the sponsors who go up and down the road with me, and my family and friends who support me,” he said. Snedecor added the 2017 gold buckle to the ones he won in 2005 and 2008. He has captured NFSR average titles in 2005, 2011 and 2017. Snedecor came to his 16th NFSR in fourth place but moved to the top of the standings thanks to earning $68,336, the most of any contestant at

the 2017 NFSR, which was held at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane. Snedecor won Round 3 with a 9.8-second run and Round 9 with a 10.2-second effort.  “This showedme that I could still do it,”Snedecor said. “If I didn’t finish near the top of the average I don’t know if I would have been able to win the world.” Snedecor secured the average title with 104.1 seconds on nine head despite missing the catch in his final run. “I sure wanted to tie that last one down, but I felt like I roped well (both days), and the horse worked outstanding. I was just fortunate,” Snedecor said. “I wasn’t doing any math in my head when JoJo (LeMond) roped his steer in Round 10. People just came over and started congratulating me.” During the 2017 NFSR, Snedecor rode Possum, a 9-year-old horse that had never competed on that stage. “This horse belongs to a buddy of

mine, Stephen Stransky, and this horse worked on the spot every time and was just outstanding,” Snedecor said. “Stephen raised the horse and I trained him to be a steer horse about three years ago. Stephen lives close enough to me and he’s good enough to let me come and get himwhen I need to. That horse has been good since Day 1.” Snedecor upped his career round wins to 25 at the 2017 NFSR, third on the PRCA’s all-time list behind the legendary Guy Allen (48) and Brazile (34). “I practiced for the NFSR a little more this year,” said Snedecor, who placed fifth in the 2016 world stand- ings. “The last few years I had not worked on it like I used to. I’ve been fortunate enough and handy enough withmy roping that I didn’t have to put in sweat all the time, but I had some good friends come down and stay with me a week or two at a time, like Tony (Reina) and John Bland. ... My family was also behind me and telling me to keep on going.” – Tracy Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

Snedecor took first at the National Finals Steer Roping Nov. 11, earning $68,336 and finishing with $136,419 in the PRCA World Standings.

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2017 WORLD CHAMPIONS

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