Champs Beaver, Branquinho make triumphant returns

By PRCA
Posted Friday, December 1, 2006

LAS VEGAS – At this time last year, Joe Beaver, an eight-time world champion, and Luke Branquinho, the 2004 World Champion Steer Wrestler, had to resign themselves to watching the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo from the broadcast booth, sharing time serving as color analysts for the ESPN broadcast crew.

Both made their way back to the dirt of the Thomas & Mack Center following successful 2006 regular seasons and left the analysis to someone else. On Thursday, each made a triumphant return, winning their rounds in tie-down roping and steer wrestling, respectively, as the 10-day event kicked off in front of 17,227 fans.

For Beaver, a five-time world champion tie-down roper and three-time world champion all-around cowboy, Thursday’s go-round title was bittersweet. On Oct. 6, his father, Walter, passed away at the age of 70 after a bout with cancer. Beaver, of Huntsville, Texas, spent much of his 2005 season focused on his father’s health, but this year refocused his efforts on rodeo as he qualified for the Wrangler NFR in two events at age 39.

“Everybody knows I’ve kind of had an up-and-down year,” said Beaver, who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in the all-around category in 2002. “This is the first time sine 1985 that I haven’t gotten a call from my dad before the rodeo. Since he passed away, I kind of waited for that phone call tonight and I didn’t get it. But it turned out that I had a little extra drive in me.”

Beaver roped his first-round calf in 7.7 seconds, topping reigning World Champion All-Around Cowboy Ryan Jarrett, by just one-tenth of a second. The effort gave Beaver a check worth $16,022 after he came up empty with a no-time in team roping earlier in the night.

Branquinho, of Los Alamos, Calif., who missed most of last season with a torn pectoral that required surgery, downed his steer in 3.7 seconds and took a victory lap in his first round back in Las Vegas since claiming his first world title.

“I walked around the arena before, but I didn’t feel any jitters,” Branquinho said. “I just felt like I needed to go out there and take care of business and try to defend a world title that I didn’t get to defend last year.”

Branquinho, who entered the Wrangler NFR in fourth place, moved into second after earning $16,022 and trails leader Dean Gorsuch by almost $11,000.

Another cowboy who watched from the sidelines last year, only to rebound in a big way on Thursday, was bull rider B.J. Schumacher of Hillsboro, Wis. Schumacher, who qualified for the Wrangler NFR in 2005, but had to withdraw after suffering a broken collarbone late in the season, rode Southwick, Robertson and Wilson Rodeo’s Texas for 91.5 points – just the second qualified ride on that bull this season.

Saddle bronc rider Jeff Willert of Belvidere, S.D., the reigning world champion, battled through a variety of injuries during his title defense year and barely qualified for the Wrangler NFR, doing so ranked 14th in his event. On Thursday, he rediscovered his championship touch after scoring 86 points on Burch Rodeo’s Tokyo Massage.

Bareback rider Wes Stevenson of Kaufman, Texas, had the top score of the night, an 89 aboard Classic Pro Rodeo’s Wise Guy, while a new team roping tandem and a barrel racer making her Wrangler NFR debuts started in style.

Travis Tryan of Billings, Mont., and Jhett Johnson of Casper, Wyo., turned in the top team roping time of the night, a 4.3-second run, to win the round by six-tenths of a second ahead of the team of Speed Williams and Clay O’Brien Cooper. Barrel racer Shelly Anzick of Livingston, Mont., completed the cloverleaf pattern in 13.96 seconds, taking the victory lap after her first-ever run at the Thomas & Mack Center after finishing three-hundredths of a second ahead of two-time and reigning World Champion Kelly Kaminski.

The Wrangler NFR, an annual Las Vegas event since 1985, is the world’s premier rodeo. Only the top 15 contestants in each of rodeo’s events qualified for the event, which will crown world champions at its conclusion on Dec. 9.

The event resumes with Round 2 on Friday at 9 p.m. ET.
For more on the 48th Wrangler NFR, log on to www.prorodeo.com., the official Web site of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo
Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas
Round 1 Results
Nov. 30, 2006

BAREBACK RIDING
1. Wes Stevenson, Kaufman, Texas, 89.0 points on Classic Pro Rodeo, LTD.'s Wise Guy, $16,022
2. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 85.0, $12,662
3. Andy Martinez, Pavillion, Wyo., 84.5, $9,561
4. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 83.5, $6,719
5. Chris Harris, Itasca, Texas, 82.5, $4,135
6. (tie) Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo., 80.0, $1,292
Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo., 80.0, $1,292
8. (tie) Forest Bramwell, Pagosa Springs, Colo., 79.0
Chad Klein, Stephenville, Texas, 79.0
10. Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo., 78.5
11. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 78.0
12. Jess Davis, Payson, Utah, 77.0
13. (tie) Paul Jones, Elko, Nev., 71.5
Tom McFarland, Wickenburg, Ariz., 71.5
15. Cimmaron Gerke, Brighton, Colo., 63.0

STEER WRESTLING
1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 3.7 seconds, $16,022
2. (tie) Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore., 4.1, $11,112
Gabe Ledoux, Kaplan, La., 4.1, $11,112
4. Jason Lahr, Emporia, Kan., 4.2, $6,719
5. (tie) Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 4.3, $2,240
Linn Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 4.3, $2,240
Joey Bell Jr., Malakoff, Texas, 4.3, $2,240
8. Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore., 4.4
9. Lee Graves, Calgary, Alberta, 4.5
10. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 4.9
11. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, 5.0
12. (tie) Dru Melvin, Tryon, Neb., 5.2
Stockton Graves, Newkirk, Okla., 5.2
14. Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo., 5.3
15. Ronnie Fields, Oklahoma City, Okla., 5.5

TEAM ROPING
1. Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont./Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 4.3 seconds, $16,022
2. Speed Williams, De Leon, Texas/Clay O'Brien Cooper, Morgan Mill, Texas, 4.9, $12,662
3. David Key, Caldwell, Texas/Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas, 5.0, $9,561
4. Chad Masters, Clarksville, Tenn./Allen Bach, Weatherford, Texas, 5.4, $6,719
5. Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 6.0, $4,135
6. Nick Sartain, Alva, Okla./Shannon Frascht, Alva, Okla., 9.4, $2,584
7. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont./Patrick Smith, Midland, , 9.9
8. Colter Todd, Marana, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 16.4
9. Matt Sherwood, Queen Creek, /Walt Woodard, Stockton, Calif., 19.3
10. Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore./Cody Hintz, Spring Creek, Nev., 19.8
11. Matt Funk, Hermiston, Ore./Bucky Campbell, Benton City, Wash., 20.5
12. Jay Adams, Logandale, Nev./Randon Adams, Logandale, Nev., 22.0
13. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas/Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 24.5
14. (tie) Joe Beaver, Huntsville, Texas/Cole Bigbee, Stephenville, Texas, NT
Shain Sproul, Benson, Ariz./Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla., NT

SADDLE BRONC RIDING
1. Jeff Willert, Belvidere, S.D., 86.0 points on Burch Rodeo Co.'s Tokyo Massage, $16,022
2. Billy Etbauer, Edmond, Okla., 83.0, $12,662
3. (tie) Rusty Allen, Lehi, Utah, 82.0, $6,805
Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, 82.0, $6,805
Bobby Griswold, Geary, Okla., 82.0, $6,805
6. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D., 81.0, $2,584
7. Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D., 80.5
8. (tie) Rod Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 79.5
Cody Martin, Smackover, , 79.5
Glen O'Neill, Didsbury, Alberta, 79.5
11. (tie) Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., 78.0
Bryce Miller, Buffalo, S.D., 78.0
13. Dan Mortensen, Billings, Mont., 74.5
14. JJ Elshere, Quinn, S.D., 71.0
15. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 0.0

TIE-DOWN ROPING
1. Joe Beaver, Huntsville, Texas, 7.7 seconds, $16,022
2. Ryan Jarrett, Summerville, Ga., 7.8, $12,662
3. Mike Johnson, Henryetta, Okla., 7.9, $9,561
4. Doug Pharr, Resaca, Ga., 8.2, $6,719
5. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 8.6, $4,135
6. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 9.4, $2,584
7. Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 9.7
8. (tie) Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah, 10.5
Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 10.5
10. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas, 12.0
11. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 12.1
12. Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., 14.4
13. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, 18.6
14. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 19.5
15. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, NT

BARREL RACING
1. Shelly Anzick, Livingston, Mont., 13.96 seconds, $16,022
2. Kelly Kaminski, Bellville, Texas, 13.99, $12,662
3. Denise Adams, Lufkin, Texas, 14.06, $9,561
4. Terri Kaye Kirkland, Billings, Mont., 14.07, $6,719
5. Mary Burger, Pauls Valley, Okla., 14.09, $4,135
6. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 14.11, $2,584
7. (tie) Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 14.14
Brandie Halls, Carpenter, Wyo., 14.14
9. Tana Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla., 14.15
10. Tammy Key, Ledbetter, Texas, 14.19
11. Terra Bynum, Lubbock, Texas, 14.25
12. Codi Baucom, Carthage, N.C., 14.29
13. Kelly Maben, Spur, Texas, 18.99
14. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, , 19.25
15. Layna Kight, Summerfield, Fla., 19.48

BULL RIDING
1. B.J. Schumacher, Hillsboro, Wis., 91.5 points on Southwick, Robertson and Wilson's Texas, $16,022
2. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 90.0, $12,662
3. Wesley Silcox, Payson, Utah, 88.5, $9,561
4. (tie) Dustin Elliott, North Platte, Neb., 87.0, $5,427
Cooper Kanngiesser, Zenda, Kan., 87.0, $5,427
6. Matt Austin, Wills Point, Texas, 86.5, $2,584
7. J.W. Harris, May, Texas, 85.0
8. Fred Boettcher, Rice Lake, Wis., 83.5
9. Zeb Lanham, Sweet, Idaho, 81.0
10. Sonny Murphy, Herriman, Utah, 80.5
11. (tie) D.J. Domangue, San Angelo, Texas, 0.0
Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah, 0.0
J.C. Bean, Goldendale, Wash., 0.0
Jarrod Craig, Hillsboro, Texas, 0.0
Jarrod Ford, Greeley, Colo., 0.0

PRORODEO COWBOYS WORLD STANDINGS
Official through Nov. 30, 2006

ALL-AROUND COWBOY
1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas $266,096
2. Joe Beaver, Huntsville, Texas 147,648
*3. Ryan Jarrett, Summerville, Ga. 138,935
4. Cash Myers, Athens, Texas 124,103
5. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah 116,970
6. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas 92,932
7. Marty Becker, Edmonton, Alberta 77,568
8. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore. 76,671
9. J P Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla. 76,518
10. Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D. 74,364
11. Garrett Nokes, Mccook, Neb. 72,213
12. Clayton Foltyn, El Campo, Texas 64,300
13. B.J. Campbell, Benton City, Wash. 62,742
14. Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas 61,826
15. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho 60,424

BAREBACK RIDING
*1. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas (84) $164,587
2. Andy Martinez, Pavillion, Wyo. (65) 133,579
3. Wes Stevenson, Kaufman, Texas (83) 112,161
4. Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo. (77) 91,541
5. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore. (89) 84,957
6. Paul Jones, Elko, Nev. (88) 74,903
7. Chris Harris, Itasca, Texas (93) 74,701
8. Jess Davis, Payson, Utah (87) 70,913
9. Cimmaron Gerke, Brighton, Colo. (80) 68,313
10. Forest Bramwell, Pagosa Springs, Colo. (79) 66,488
11. Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo. (100) 64,357
12. Tom McFarland, Wickenburg, Ariz. (86) 63,565
13. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash. (72) 63,157
14. Chad Klein, Stephenville, Texas (98) 60,013
15. Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo. (86) 59,086

STEER WRESTLING
1. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb. (64) $111,059
2. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif. (64) 100,718
3. Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore. (58) 88,281
4. Ronnie Fields, Oklahoma City, Okla. (65) 87,991
5. Jason Lahr, Emporia, Kan. (66) 83,166
*6. Lee Graves, Calgary, (58) 75,003
7. Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo. (75) 72,954
8. K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas (69) 71,781
9. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore. (73) 71,585
10. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo. (75) 69,183
11. Gabe Ledoux, Kaplan, La. (75) 67,829
12. Dru Melvin, Tryon, Neb. (75) 66,921
13. Linn Churchill, Valentine, Neb. (75) 66,530
14. Joey Bell Jr., Malakoff, Texas (75) 66,057
15. Stockton Graves, Newkirk, Okla. (75) 62,370

TEAM ROPING (HEADING)
1. David Key, Caldwell, Texas (60) $94,700
2. Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont. (60) 94,233
3. Matt Sherwood, Queen Creek, Ariz. (59) 93,075
4. Speed Williams, De Leon, Texas (51) 89,508
*5. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont. (59) 69,263
6. Shain Sproul, Benson, Ariz. (58) 65,934
7. Matt Funk, Hermiston, Ore. (59) 59,726
8. Chad Masters, Clarksville, Tenn. (60) 59,408
9. Joe Beaver, Huntsville, Texas (60) 58,840
10. Colter Todd, Marana, Ariz. (55) 58,487
11. Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Colo. (60) 58,482
12. Nick Sartain, Alva, Okla. (60) 57,690
13. Jay Adams, Logandale, Nev. (59) 56,128
14. Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore. (60) 54,902
15. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas (59) 54,070

TEAM ROPING (HEELING)
1. Walt Woodard, Stockton, Calif. (57) $96,669
2. Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas (60) 95,185
3. Clay Cooper, Morgan Mill, Texas (51) 89,508
4. Allen Bach, Weatherford, Texas (60) 80,991
5. Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo. (59) 73,502
*6. Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas (59) 69,263
7. Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla. (60) 65,413
8. Bucky Campbell, Benton City, Wash. (59) 59,726
9. Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz. (57) 58,487
10. Shannon Frascht, Alva, Okla. (60) 57,690
11. Randon Adams, Logandale, Nev. (59) 56,128
12. Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas (59) 54,070
13. Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. (60) 54,066
14. Cole Bigbee, Stephenville, Texas (60) 52,682
15. Cody Hintz, Spring Creek, Nev. (59) 49,032

SADDLE BRONC RIDING
1. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D. (81) $145,846
2. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La. (77) 145,544
3. Dan Mortensen, Billings, Mont. (82) 126,132
4. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah (88) 120,862
5. Rusty Allen, Lehi, Utah (78) 107,188
6. Rod Hay, Wildwood, Alberta (88) 97,306
7. Billy Etbauer, Edmond, Okla. (52) 93,097
8. Cody Martin, Smackover, Ark. (99) 80,943
9. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas (93) 78,654
*10. Jeff Willert, Belvidere, S.D. (92) 77,818
11. Glen O'Neill, Didsbury, Alberta (95) 75,722
12. Bobby Griswold, Geary, Okla. (94) 74,136
13. J.J. Elshere, Quinn, S.D. (91) 66,226
14. Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D. (97) 62,258
15. Bryce Miller, Buffalo, S.D. (85) 55,690

TIE-DOWN ROPING
1. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas (61) $165,460
2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas (65) 123,836
3. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla. (75) 107,332
4. Ryan Jarrett, Summerville, Ga. (72) 105,858
5. Joe Beaver, Huntsville, Texas (73) 88,095
*6. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas (74) 87,647
7. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho (75) 78,704
8. Mike Johnson, Henryetta, Okla. (75) 73,856
9. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla. (75) 71,719
10. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas (75) 71,173
11. Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas (75) 70,881
12. Doug Pharr, Resaca, Ga. (75) 69,323
13. Clint Robinson, Spanish Fork, Utah (75) 67,132
14. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas (65) 66,502
15. Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla. (75) 65,901

BARREL RACING
1. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas $129,380
2. Mary Burger, Pauls Valley, Okla. 114,762
3. Shelly Anzick, Livingston, Mont. 85,267
4. Tana Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla. 74,172
*5. Kelly Kaminski, Bellville, Texas 72,986
6. Layna Kight, Summerfield, Fla. 71,591
7. Kelly Maben, Spur, Texas 71,360
8. Codi Baucom, Carthage, N.C. 69,593
9. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta 66,331
10. Denise Adams, Lufkin, Texas 65,451
11. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz. 64,539
12. Tammy Key, Ledbetter, Texas 64,142
13. Terri Kaye Kirkland, Billings, Mont. 62,079
14. Terra Bynum, Lubbock, Texas 58,067
15. Brandie Halls, Carpenter, Wyo. 55,528

BULL RIDING
*1. Matt Austin, Wills Point, Texas (90) $157,717
2. Sonny Murphy, Herriman, Utah (99) 129,169
3. B.J. Schumacher, Hillsboro, Wis. (91) 121,459
4. Wesley Silcox, Payson, Utah (80) 118,577
5. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo. (78) 110,740
6. Dustin Elliott, North Platte, Neb. (79) 103,227
7. Zeb Lanham, Sweet, Idaho (84) 99,250
8. Cooper Kanngiesser, Zenda, Kan. (108) 89,793
9. J.C. Bean, Goldendale, Wash. (86) 86,379
10. D.J. Domangue, San Angelo, Texas (105) 85,344
11. Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah (89) 84,826
12. J.W. Harris, May, Texas (95) 83,672
13. Jarrod Ford, Greeley, Colo. (93) 81,024
14. Jarrod Craig, Hillsboro, Texas (76) 80,589
15. Fred Boettcher, Rice Lake, Wis. (93) 76,954