Wrangler National Finals Rodeo creates priceless memories for athletes

World champion rodeo athletes aren’t given bonus checks for winning their prestigious titles, but the gold buckles, memories, and lofty status in the rodeo world are priceless compared to their paychecks. Those checks totaled over $5.6 million for the 119 competitors at the 50th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo WNFR).  Rodeo fans totaling 17,898 at the Thomas and Mack Arena in Las Vegas plus thousands of television and internet listeners cheered as the rodeo world crowned the athletes who rose to the top at the end of the 10-day competition held Dec. 4-13.
Colorado had its hopes pinned on two event leaders going into the competition—Fowler’s Wade Sumpter in the steer wrestling and Pueblo’s Josh Peek in the tie-down roping as each had led the field throughout the season and were well placed for a championship. 
For Sumpter, a serious shoulder injury took him out of competition in Round 1 although he made two more attempts in Rounds 2 and 3. He underwent surgery in Dallas on Wednesday, Dec. 17.  Sumpter led the field in the steer wrestling for the entire season and entered the WNFR with $133,685, but with no chance to earn go-around money, he slipped to seventh in the world standings, just two spots below fellow traveling partner, Ken Lewis, La Junta, Colo.  Lewis showed great consistency, entering the WNFR in fifth place and winning money in four go-arounds to increase his total earnings to $143.225, which maintained his fifth world standing.  A third Colorado steer wrestler, Casey McMillen from Craig, made a great first-time qualifier showing by placing in five rounds and ending the season in 11th with $96,832. 
Peek’s tie-down roping didn’t live up to his expectations as he entered the competition in first place, but slipped to sixth in world standings earning $156,475 for the season.  Although he roped with quick times in the first three rounds, he was just out of the money placing in only one round, and his “no-time” in Round nine took him out of the average.
Wyoming’s two star steer wrestlers, 2007 World Champion Jason Miller of Lance Creek and first-time qualifier Les Shepperson, Midwest, made their state proud with impressive winnings.  Miller drew checks in six of the 10 rounds and ended the season third in the world standings with a $160,302 paycheck.  Shepperson was one of the 11 out of 15 taken out of the average with a steer that set-up, a constant problem with the short arena at Thomas and Mack.  Placing four times in go-arounds, Shepperson ended the season in 13th with a total of $95,802.  K.C. Jones, a former Coloradoan now residing in Texas, also went  out of the average early, but placed twice and ended the season in 15th place with $75,782.
In the bareback riding, Colorado’s Royce Ford of Briggsdale ended the season an impressive fifth standing and earned $175,117 throughout the season.   Ford won two rounds scoring 88.5 in Round three and 87 in Round eight, plus winning money in three other rounds.  Tim Shirley from Conifer, appearing in his first NFR, placed in five go-arounds and ended the season in 11th with $108,933.  Following closely was multi-qualifier Cimmaron Gerke, Brighton, who placed in one round to amass season earnings of $92,422 for 14th place world standings.  Wyoming’s Kelly Timberman of Mills, made a good showing winning Round four, placing three more times and ended the season sixth in the world with $157,933.
Fans cheered the team roping duo of header Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo., and his heeler Kinney Harrell, San Angelo, Texas, as their hot streak gave them three first place wins and two other placings.  A two-loop run in Round 10 moved them from first in the average to ninth and they ended fifth in the world standings with winnings of $163,357 for Tonozzi and $131,990 for Harrell.
Chet Johnson, Wyoming’s only saddle bronc rider who hails from Gillette, placed in three rounds, riding five of his mounts and ended 15th the world standings with $84,195.  Although fan favorite Billy Ethbauer, Edmond, Okla., won two rounds, placed in three others, his season earnings of $204,194 ended second in the world standings to Cody Wright, Milford, Utah. In the bull riding, Wyoming’s three contestants brought fans to their feet with stopping rides.  Bobby Welsh, Gillette, maintained his third world standing by winning two rounds and placing in two rounds to earn $192,887 for the season.  Kanin Assay, Powell, placed on all five of the bulls he rode and was ninth in the world standings with $126,935 whereas Seth Clause, Rock Springs, placed once ending 15th in world standings with $93,537.
World Champions were:   bareback riding, Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla., $216,967; steer wrestling,  Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif. $242,018; team roping header 1. Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz., $189,568 and Randon Adams, Logandale, Nev., $189,568; saddle bronc riding, Cody Wright, Milford, Uah $247,415; tie-down roping, Stran Smith, Childress, Texas, $181,401; barrel racing, Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta, Canada, $323,572 and bull riding J.W. Harris, May, Texas,$208,437.
Trevor Brazille, Decatur, Texas, won his sixth all-around title amassing $419,858 for the season in calf roping, team roping and steer roping.  Peek of Pueblo was fourth with $169,318 in all around standings.
Complete results can be found at www.pro rodeo.com. or page 16 of today’s Journal.