Rookie Race Takes Center Stage at Heartland Championships

By Susan Kanode
Posted Saturday, October 17, 2009

WACO, Texas --- The race for the Rookie of the Year title in bull riding has been one of the closest in the history of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

Taylor Cowan from Fort Pierre, S.D., and Tyler Willis from Wheatland, Wyo., both qualified for the Heartland ProRodeo Championships with just $113 separating them with Cowan in the lead. Cowan won one of the preliminary rounds of competition and Willis placed second.

They both qualified for the semi-finals with Cowan $745 in the lead. Willis took the lead after a second place finish here on Friday. He had a 77-point ride on Sammy Catalena’s bull named Secret Agent to win $1,886. Cowan was not successful, but still advances to the semi-finals thanks to his previous success.

Willis is in the lead for the rookie title by $941. With $9,000 up for grabs on Saturday, it’s likely to come down to one eight-second bull ride. The duo are more than competitors in the PRCA, they are both attending college at Vernon, Texas, and live just down the hall from each other. They have been going to rodeos together and feed off of each other’s success.

Steven Peebles, who had the bareback riding rookie title sewed up before he got here, earned his third buckle here and tied for the arena record. Peebles, from Redmond, Ore., rode the Andrews Rodeo horse named Power Play for 89 points. The previous record was set by Dave Worsfeld who was the 2008 champion.

Bandy Murphy is the only bull rider to have lasted 32-seconds on his bulls. Murphy won his third buckle of the competition with a 78-point ride on Andrews Rodeo’s Hot Spot. This was his fourth successful bull ride. The Morgan Mill, Texas, resident is definitely a favorite to win the Heartland ProRodeo Series Championship here on Saturday.

All of the competitors start at zero in the semi-finals and again in the finals. Everyone that qualifies has an opportunity to win a championship and the truck load of money that goes with it. Champions will earn at least $7,500 here. They all advanced through the competition based on earnings, making this rodeo a very lucrative stop on the tour.

Rodeo action gets underway at 7 p.m. Saturday with the semi-finals.

WACO, Texas --- The following are results after the eighth performance of the Heartland ProRodeo Championships at the Heart O’ Texas Fair Rodeo, Friday, Oct. 16, 2009. Saturday’s rodeo will feature the top eight contestants in a semi-finals, then the top four in the finals.

Bareback Riding: 1, Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., on Andrews Rodeo’s Power Play, $2,514. 2, Tim Shirley, Grant, Colo., 82, $1,886. 3, Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., 82, $1,257. 4, Jared Smith, Williston, Fla., 81, $629. 4-8; D.V. Fennell, Neosho, Mo.; Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas; Dave Worsfold, Queensland, Australia; and Matt Bright, Azle, Texas.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 8.5 seconds, $2,514. 2, Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 9.4, $1,886. 3, Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla., 9.6, $1,257. 4, Stetson Vest, Childress, Texas, 9.8, $629. 4-8; Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas; Skyler Moore, Mount Vernon, Mo.; Ryan Jarrett, Summerville, Texas; and Frank Holliday, New Waverly, Texas.

Steer Wrestling: 1 (tie), Chancey Larson, Manhattan, Kan., and Brent Arnold, Coleman, Texas, 4.5 seconds, $2,200 each. 3 (tie), Darrell Petry, Beaumont, Texas, and Matt Reeves, Pampa, Texas, 4.6, $943. 4-8; Blake Doyle, Granbury, Texas; Casey Martin, Sulphur, La.; Ronnie Fields, Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Mickey Gee, Wichita Falls, Texas.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 84 points on Gold Buckle Rodeo’s Marlene’s Bug, $2,514. 2, Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 79, $1,886. 3, Ty Atchison, Jackson, Mo., 77, $1,257. 4, Justin Browning, Lake Charles, La., 76, $629. 4-8; Tate Owens, Platteville, Colo.; Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, and Jermiah Diffee, Hatfield, Ark.; and Mike Outhier, Utopia, Texas.

Team Roping: 1, Bubba Bohac, Victoria, Texas, and B.J. Dugger, Center Point, Texas, 5.0 seconds, $2,514. 2, Nick Sartain, Yukon, Okla., and Kollin VonAhn, Durant, Okla., 5.2, $1,886. 3, Cody Graham, Everton, Mo., and Gabe Gwaltney, Carthage, Mo., 5.6, $1,257. 4, Wes Kent, Grand Cane, La., and Bobby Baize, Anthony, N.M., 5.7, $629. 4-8; Justin Parish, Mineral Wells, Texas, and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan.; Jake Kropik, Midway, Texas, and Wade Clayton, Beasley, Texas; Caleb Mitchell, Sealy, Texas, and Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas; and Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C., and Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas.

Bull Riding: 1, Bandy Murphy, Morgan Mill, Texas, 78 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Hot Spot, $2,514. 2, Tyler Willis, Wheatland, Wyo., 77, $1,886. 3, Jesse Pohlmann, Lenexa, Kan., 69, $1,257. 4, Cody RoStockyj, China Spring, Texas, $629. 4-8: Lonnie Carpenter, Haysville, Kan.; Beau Schroeder, China, Texas; Brendon Averett, Lake Charles, La.; and J.W. Harris, May, Texas.