COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Will Lowe never doubted he would get back to top form after shoulder surgery last December. He just needed time to heal – three months, as it turned out – physical therapy and a little bit of luck with his draws to get back to chasing a fourth bareback riding world championship.
The luck came last. Lowe had ridden well since his return at RodeoHouston in March, but he said “the names coming out of the hat” weren’t often giving him a chance to win until he hit the jackpot at the April 30-May 2 Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo.
Lowe, of Canyon, Texas, drew Dirty Jacket of the Carr Pro Rodeo string and rode him for 87 points to win the event and $5,045.
It was the third year in a row that Dirty Jacket had served as the winning mount at Guymon. Jared Schlegel won on him in 2008 and Jared Smith triumphed a year ago, with all three winning rides earning 87 points.
This time, Dirty Jacket not only took Lowe to the title, but he provided Joe Gunderson, of Agar, S.D., with an 86-point ride, good for second place.
“That horse likes (Hitch Arena) a lot,” Lowe said. “I was dang sure happy to get him. He just likes to buck. He’s such a good horse. He’s in the TV pen (fifth and 10th rounds) at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, with all the horses you can get the most points on.”
Lowe had been injured in the eighth round of last year’s Wrangler NFR and sat out that last “TV pen” with a neck strain. Doctors suggested taking some time off to allow the swelling around the inflamed nerve in his neck to go down.
He decided to use that time to undergo surgery on the damaged labrum in his right (riding) shoulder, going in for the procedure on Dec. 16.
“I’d gone a couple years with it hurting and messed up,” Lowe said. “It never hurt when I was riding, but it prevented me from doing some things in my day-to-day life. I was concerned that (shoulder) muscles were starting to deteriorate, so I knew it was time.”
Lowe started on a program of physical therapy just as soon after the surgery as the doctors would allow him and has kept it up for more than four months.
“If I’m digging post holes for eight hours, I don’t think I need to do the exercises,” Lowe said, “but otherwise, I’ll work out for an hour or so every other day. I also get a good workout carrying my little guy (11-month-old Garrett William) around. He’s getting big.”
The win at Guymon moved Lowe from 40th place in the world standings to 26th.
Montanan Josh Reynolds, a qualifier for the 2005 Wrangler NFR, won the saddle bronc riding with an 86-point ride on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Simple Man to edge five-time World Champion Billy Etbauer and Cort Scheer by one point.
Etbauer’s check for $2,964 left him just $4,003 shy of joining Trevor Brazile as the only PRCA cowboys to reach $3 million in career earnings. Etbauer is $5,367 away from becoming the first competitor to have earned $3 million in a single event.
The other champions at Guymon were steer wrestler Josh Peek (12.0 seconds on three head), team ropers Jay Adams and Austin Adams (28.8 seconds on three head), tie-down roper Trevor Brazile (25.2 seconds on three head), barrel racer Tana Poppino (34.74 seconds on two runs), bull rider Tyler Smith (90 points) and steer ropers Neal Wood and Rocky Patterson (67.0 seconds on five head).
Patterson’s share of the title earned him $6,046, enough to move past Vin Fisher Jr. into first place in the PRCA World Standings.
Guymon, Okla.: Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo, April 30-May 2
All-around cowboy: Josh Peek, $12,919, steer wrestling, tie-down roping and steer roping.
Bareback riding: 1. Will Lowe, 87 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket, $5,045; 2. Joe Gunderson, 86, $3,868; 3. Chris Harris, 85, $2,859; 4. (tie) Micky Downare, Bee Jay Scott and Cody DeMers, 84, $1,289 each; 7. (tie) Wes Stevenson and Casey Colletti, 81, $589 each.
Steer wrestling: First round: 1. (tie) Tommy Cook and Todd Suhn, 3.7 seconds, $1,929 each; 3. (tie) Josh Peek and Dean Gorsuch, 3.8, $1,391 each; 5. (tie) Ethan Thouvenell and Wade Sumpter, 3.9, $852 each; 7. (tie) Spud Duvall and Jake Rinehart, 4.0, $314 each. Second round: 1. (tie) Cash Myers and Kyle Irwin, 3.3 seconds, $1,929 each; 3. Casey McMillen, 3.6, $1,525; 4. (tie) Zack Cobb and Matt Reeves, 3.9, $1,122 each; 6. (tie) Todd Suhn and Spud Duvall, 4.0, $583 each; 8. (tie) Beau Clark and Ryan Jarrett, 4.1, $90 each. Third round: 1. (tie) Josh Peek and Clint Robinson, 3.6 seconds, $1,929 each; 3. (tie) Beau Franzen and John Franzen, 3.8, $1,391 each; 5. Stockton Graves, 3.9, $987; 6. Kyle Irwin, 4.0, $718; 7. Kody Woodward, 4.1, $449; 8. (tie) Tanner Milan and Casey McMillen, 4.2, $90 each. Average: 1. Josh Peek, 12.0 seconds on three head, $3,095; 2. Kyle Irwin, 12.3, $2,692; 3. Spud Duvall, 12.5, $2,288; 4. Stockton Graves, 12.8, $1,884; 5. Clint Robinson, 13.0, $1,480; 6. (tie) Todd Suhn and Cole Edge, 13.2, $875 each; 8. (tie) Dean Gorsuch and John Franzen, 13.3, $135 each.
Team roping: First round: 1. Brooks Dahozy/Chad Wahlert, 6.8 seconds, $2,489 each; 2. Coleman Proctor/Ty Knott, 7.5, $2,164; 3. Josh Siggins/Seth Hall, 7.7, $1,839 each; 4. (tie) Chris Lawson/Josh Patton, Turtle Powell Cory Petska and Joel Bach/Paul Eaves, 7.8, $1,190 each; 7. (tie) Chance Kelton/Brett McDowell and Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, 8.1, $379 each. Second round: 1. Jake Cooper/Jim Ross Cooper, 7.0 seconds, $2,489 each; 2. Quincy Kueckelhan/Dustin Davis, 8.2, $2,164; 3. (tie) Stetson Vest/Shank Edwards and Jess Tierney/Paul David Tierney, 8.7, $1,677 each; 5. Dustin Chohon/J.W. Beck, 9.0, $1,190; 6. Jay Adams/Austin Adams, 9.2, $866; 7. Derrick Begay/Cesar de la Cruz, 9.7, $541; 8. David Key/Rich Skelton, 9.8, $216. Third round: 1. Turtle Powell/Cory Petska, 6.4 seconds, $2,489 each; 2. Seth Gurney/K.C. Curtis, 6.9, $2,164; 3. (tie) Jay Adams/Austin Adams and Charles Pogue/Jett Hillman, 7.2, $1,677 each; 5. Scott White/Coy Thompson, 7.3, $1,190; 6. Steve Purcella/Jhett Johnson, 7.4, $866; 7. (tie) Nick Sartain/Kollin VonAhn and Casper May/Derrick Peterson, 7.5, $379 each. Average: 1. Jay Adams/Austin Adams, 28.8 seconds on three head, $3,733 each; 2. Nick Sartain/Kollin VonAhn, 33.8, $3,246; 3. Seth Gurney/K.C. Curtis, 34.0, $2,759; 4. Coleman Proctor/Ty Knott, 34.2, $2,272; 5. Chance Kelton/Brett McDowell, 34.3, $1,785; 6. Turtle Powell/Cory Petska, 34.8, $1,298; 7. (tie) Derrick Begay/Cesar de la Cruz and Steve Purcella/Jhett Johnson, 35.8, $368 each.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Josh Reynolds, 86 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Simple Man, $4,446; 2. (tie) Billy Etbauer and Cort Scheer, 85, $2,964 each; 4. Tyrell Smith, 84, $1,630; 5. (tie) Sam Spreadborough, Anthony Bello, Chad Ferley and Jacobs Crawley, 83, $704 each.
Tie-down roping: First round: 1. (tie) Josh Peek, Cimarron Boardman and Trevor Brazile, 7.9 seconds, $2,302 each; 4. Cody Ohl, 8.0, $1,612; 5. Jesse Sheffield, 8.1, $1,266; 6. (tie) Tyler Fagerhaug and Shane Hanchey, 8.2, $748 each; 8. Scott Kormos, 8.3, $230. Second round: 1. Ryan Jarrett, 7.2 seconds, $2,648; 2. Trent Creager, 7.5, $2,302; 3. Jeff Chapman, 7.7, $1,957; 4. Jerrad Hofstetter, 7.8, $1,612; 5. (tie) Blair Burk and Cody Owens, 8.1, $1,094 each; 7. Clay Cerny, 8.2, $576; 8. Ryan Parnell, 8.3, $230. Third round: 1. Jeremiah Peek, 7.3 seconds, $2,648; 2. Fred Whitfield, 7.9, $2,302; 3. J.D. Kibbe, 8.1, $1,957; 4. (tie) Justin Truman and Jesse Sheffield, 8.4, $1,439 each; 6. (tie) Boe Brown and Josh Peek, 8.6, $748 each; 8. Trevor Brazile, 8.8, $230. Average: 1. Trevor Brazile, 25.2 seconds on three head, $3,971; 2. Josh Peek, 25.8, $3,453; 3. Fred Whitfield, 26.3, $2,935; 4. Jesse Sheffield, 26.4, $2,417; 5. George Rowland, 27.1, $1,899; 6. J.D. Kibbe, 27.6, $1,381; 7. (tie) Tyson Durfey and Jim Locke, 27.9, $604 each.
Barrel racing: First round: 1. Sydni Blanchard, 17.50 seconds, $2,774; 2. Tana Poppino, 17.53, $2,378; 3. Jill Moody, 17.54, $1,981; 4. Ashley Leifester, 17.65, $1,717; 5. Sherry Cervi, 17.71, $1,321; 6. Kelsi Elkins, 17.72, $1,057; 7. Lisa Anderson, 17.73, $793; 8. Shelley Morgan, 17.74, $528; 9. Robin Montague, 17.76, $396; 10. Britany Fleck, 17.77, $264. Second round: 1. (tie) Ashley Leifester and Lisa Anderson, 17.13 seconds, $2,576 each; 3. Tana Poppino, 17.21, $1,981; 4. Shali Lord, 17.25, $1,717; 5. Lacy Wilson, 17.28, $1,321; 6. Jill Moody, 17.34, $1,057; 7. Robin Montague, 17.35, $792; 8. Shelley Morgan, 17.38, $528; 9. Jeanne Anderson, 17.40, $396; 10. Savanah Reeves, 17.43, $264. Average: 1. Tana Poppino, 34.74 seconds on two runs, $2,774; 2. Ashley Leifester, 34.78, $2,378; 3. Lisa Anderson, 34.66, $1,981; 4. Jill Moody, 34.88, $1,717; 5. Shali Lord, 35.04, $1,321; 6. Sydni Blanchard, 35.07, $1,057; 7. Robin Montague, 35.11, $793; 8. Shelley Morgan, 35.12, $528; 9. Lacy Wilson, 35.14, $396; 10. Sherry Cervi, 35.16, $264.
Bull riding: 1. Tyler Smith, 90 points on D&H Cattle’s Rock Face, $4,418; 2. Jesse Bail, 86, $3,387; 3. Blake Rowan, 83, $2,503; 4. Cole Hermanson, 82, $1,620; 5. Dustin Elliott, 81, $1,031; 6. Shawn Hogg, 80, $736; 7. (tie) Jacob O’Mara and Bryan Richardson, 79, $515 each.
Steer roping: First round: 1. Guy Allen, 11.0 seconds, $1,945; 2. K.W. Lauer, 11.3, $1,691; 3. (tie) Dan Fisher and J.D. Yates, 12.0, $1,311 each; 5. Neal Wood, 12.4, $930; 6. Lionel Burns, 12.5, $676; 7. Walter Priestly, 12.6, $423; 8. Rocky Patterson, 12.7, $169. Second round: 1. Walter Priestly, 11.4 seconds, $1,945; 2. Cash Myers, 12.2, $1,691; 3. Brady Garten, 12.4, $1,437; 4. (tie) Landon McClaughterty and Chance Kelton, 12.9, $1,057 each; 6. Travis Sheets, 13.2, $676; 7. Doug Clark, 13.5, $423; 8. (tie) Jess Tierney, Jaime Long and Dan Fisher, 13.6, $56 each. Third round: Trevor Brazile, 9.7 seconds, $1,945; 2. Cody Lee, 10.4, $1,691; 3. Scott Snedecor, 10.8, $1,437; 4. Bryce Davis, 10.9, $1,184; 5. J. Tom Fisher, 11.4, $930; 6. Landon McClaugherty, 11.5, $676; 7. Rod Hartness, 11.7, $423; 8. J.P. Wickett, 12.1, $169. Fourth round: 1. Travis Mills, 10.4 seconds, $1,945; 2. Vin Fisher Jr., 11.0, $1,691; 3. Chris Glover, 11.4, $1,437; 4. (tie) J.B. Whatley and Buster Record Jr., 11.8, $1,057 each; 6. J.P. Wickett, 11.9, $676; 7. Trevor Brazile, 12.0, $423; 8. Grady Potter, 12.1, $169. Fifth round: 1. Neal Wood, 11.6 seconds, $1,945; 2. Scott Snedecor, 12.0, $1,691; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., 12.2, $1,437; 4. Trevor Brazile, 12.6, $1,184; 5. Jim Ross Cooper, 12.7, $930; 6. Cody Garnett, 12.8, $676; 7. Rocky Patterson, 13.2, $423; 8. J.P. Wickett, 13.3, $169. Average: 1. (tie) Neal Wood and Rocky Patterson, 67.0 seconds on five head, $5,454 each; 3. J.P. Wickett, 76.5, $4,312; 4. J.D. Yates, 77.7, $3,551; 5. Will Gasperson, 87.6, $2,790; 6. Chet Herren, 89.0, $2,029; 7. Wade Shoemaker, 93.9, $1,268; 8. Scott Snedecor, 52.1 seconds on four head, $507.
Total payoff: $344,924. Stock contractor: Carr Pro Rodeo. Rodeo secretary: Linda Alsbaugh. Officials: Allan Jordan, Chuck Hoss, Steve Knowles and Marty Jandreau. Timers: Jodi Peterson and Joyce Short. Announcers: Andy Stewart and Ken Stonecipher. Specialty act: Keith Isley. Clowns/bullfighters: Scotty Spencer and Kelly Jennings. Barrelman: Keith Isley. Flankmen: Pete Carr and T.J. Korkow. Chute bosses: Art Alsbaugh and John Gwatney. Pickup men: Paul Peterson, Guy Allen and Dan Etbauer. Photographer: Kerri Allardyce.
