September 9, 2023 Issue, Page 12 of 12

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12 - The Elk City News September 9, 2023 Rodeo Rush Oklahoma cowboy is repeat steer wrestling winner; first time Elk City rodeo contestant is bull riding champ Denton Ward, Goodwell, Okla., is the 2023 saddle bronc riding titlist for the Elk City Rodeo. He scored 80 points aboard the Beutler horse Greeley Hat Work’s Rage. Phio- t0 by Terri Abrahamsen. For the second time, Stockton Graves, Alva, Okla., wins the steer wrestling at the Elk City (Okla.) Rodeo of Champions. His hazer this year was Jacob Edler (on the left). Photo by Terri Abrahamsen. ELK CITY, OKLA. - (Sep- eral weeks, which caused him her way. That makes it fun.” past students have found suc- Graves rode Kalawaia’s land, Texas (8.9 seconds); and cess, competing at the Wran- horse, a fourteen-year-old team ropers Brandon Farris, tember 3, 2023) - Kase Hitt to slip in the standings. “I had This is the second time gler National Finals Rodeo, in- chestnut sorrel mare. Gracemont, Okla. and Braden barely made it to the Beutler to go back home and let it heal McConnell has ridden Amber duding JD Struxness, Bridger Other champions at the Harmon, Yukon, Okla. (6.5 Bros. Arena in Elk City for the up,” he said, “and everybody at the Elk City rodeo; the duo seconds). 2023 Rodeo of Champions, but was out here (rodeoing), and I won second place in 2021, one Anderson, Cody Devers, and 85th annual rodeo include he walked away with a champi- fell behind.” of Amber's first big wins, Mc- world champions Jacob Edler bareback rider Gavin French, Next year’s rodeo will be onship. ‘The son of Kevin Hitt and Connell said. “So this rodeo is and Kyle Irwin. Getting help College Station, Texas (83 August 30-31-September 1, The 19-year-old bull rider, Shawna Page, he’s been around kind of special to us.” from Graves while on the ro- points); saddle bronc rider 2024. a resident of Ardmore, Okla., bucking bulls his entire life, Steer wrestler Stockton deo road “speeds up the pro- Denton Ward, Goodwell, More information can be competed in Ellensburg, Wash. with his mom as part of the Graves has two Elk City Rodeo cess towards their (National) Okla. (80 points); tie-down found at wwwelkcityrodeo. last night, and caught a flight Page stock contracting family. of Champions titles, Finals path.” roper Charlie Gibson, Mid- com. from Boise, Idaho to Okla- He's wanted to be a fulltime The Alva, Okla. man won homa City today, arriving in bull rider since he was young. the rodeo in 2017, and repeat- All-around champion: Paul Da- Tew, Belgrade, Mont. 6.9; 4. Curry Herrin, Apache, Okla. and Cash Oklahoma City by 4:30 pm. Being on the rodeo road ed this year, with a time of 4.2 vid Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla. Kirchner, Ames, Okla,/Billie Jack Fuesz, Eureka, Kan. 10.1 each; 7. He and his bull riding buddies “feels great. I could never have seconds. Bareback Riding Saebens, Nowata, Okla. 7.5; 5. Ty- Pax Vogel, Mattfield Green, Kan. drove to Elk City, just in time dreamed of anything more He had the same steer that 1. Gavin French, College Sta~ ler Hobert, Alva, Okla./Shannon 10.3; 8. Wyatt Muggli, Lane, Okla. for the start of the rodeo, than this right now. I've been fellow steer wrestler Trisyn tion, Texas 83 points on Black Kat; Frascht, Alva, Okla. 7.6;6. Koop- 105. Hitt didn’t make the eight- dreaming of this since I was Kalawaia won the Phillipsburg, 2. Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La. 82; er Huddleston, Amarillo, Texas/ Barrel Racing second buzzer in Ellensburg, a little kid. To watch it come Kan. rodeo on last month. 3. Mark Kreder, Collinsville, Okla. Tyrel Taton, Bessie, Okla. 8.2; 7. 1. Kortni McConnell, Los Ala- which gave him incentive to true, it’s crazy.” “We knew that steer,” he 81.5; 4. (tie) AJ Ruth, Huntsville, Paul David Tierney, Oklahoma mos, N.M. 15.98 seconds; 2. Emily make a qualified ride in Elk In the barrel racing, a ranch said. “The second time he was ‘Texas and Gauge McBride, Kear- City, Okla/Tanner Braden, Dew- Griffin, St. George, Kan. 16.06; 3. City. ney, Neb. 80 each; 6. Weston Tim- ey, Okla, 10.2; 8. Chase Quinn, raised and trained horse won run, they broke the barrier on berman, Columbus, Mont. 79; 7. Tara Carr, Sudan, Texas 16.0: “T was up in Ellensburg last Schuylerville, N.Y./Riley Quinn, the 2023 title for her owner, him. I was a little bit cautious Tim Murphy, Cleveland, Texas 73. Schuylerville, N.Y, 12.2. Chelsie Shoop, Pryor, Okla. 16.12; night and didn’t do any good Kortni McConnell. at the barrier, but I left good Steer Wrestling Saddle Bronc Riding 5. (tie) Emma Charleston, Reeds, there, and it just fired me up Mo. and Tracy Nowlin, Nowata, McConnell, Los Alamos, and the steer was outstand- 1. Stockton Graves, Alva, 1. Denton Ward, Goodwell, Okla. 16.14 each; 7. Sadie Wolav- and [had to stay on one.” N.M. made a run of 15.98 sec- ing” Okla, 4.2 seconds;2. Cody Devers, Okla, 80 points on Greeley Hat er, Weatherford, Okla. 16.16; 8. He rode the Beutler and onds aboard an eight-year-old ‘The college rodeo coach at Balko, Okla. 4.7; 3. (tie) Emmett Work’s Rage; 2. (tie) Gus Gail- Natalie Bland, Boyd, Texas 16.20; Son Rodeo bull Rocco, a bull mare, Freighttrain Ta Fame, Northwestern Oklahoma State Edler, State Center, fowa, and lard, Morse, Texas; Weston Pat- 9. Tamara Reinhardt, Canadian, he'd seen buck at the Greeley “Amber,” who was raised by University in Alva, Graves’ Laramie Warren, Adair, Okla. 5.4 terson, Waverly, Kan.; Trent Burd, ‘Texas 16.21; 10, Mataya Eklund, (Colo.) Stampede. her parents, Steve and Linda rodeo student-athletes often each; 5. (tie) Madison, Kan. and Ean Price, Durant, Okla. 16.24. McConnnell, and trained by compete alongside their coach AdamMarcMusil, Joiner, Loranger, La. and Goodwell, Okla. 79 each; 6. Caleb “I knewI had a good chance Crescent, Okla. 5.6 Meeks, Geraldine, Mont. 78.5; 7. Bull Riding to win on him,” he said. “I just Kortni, on the family place at pro rodeos. He, along with 7. Tanner Brunner, Ramona, Jacob Benham, Dodge City, Kan. other veteran steer wrestlers, each; 1. Kase Hitt, Ardmore, Okla. knew I had to keep my hand near Hereford, Texas. Kan. 5.7; 8. Jarek VanPetten, Ci- 78; 8. Brody Harrison, Elmdale, 83 points on Rocco; 2. Creek shut and do my job.” McConnell’ run was all the offers advice to the younger marron, Kan. 6.0. Kan. 77. Young, Rogersville, Mo. 82.5; 3. Currently ranked 38th in horse. “I just know that if I set cowboys. “There's a huge tran- ‘Team Roping Tie Down Roping Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas 81; 4. the world in the PRCA world her up right and send her hard sition from college to profes- 1. Brandon Farris, Gracemont, 1. Charlie Gibson, Midland, Dustin Boquet, Bourg, La. 79.5; standings, a broken bone in the and stay out of her way, she’s sional rodeo,” he said, “and I Okla/Braden Harmon, Yukon, Texas 8.9 seconds; 2. Austin Law- 5, Trey Benton II, Richards, Texas index finger of his left hand, going to do her job. She tries can recognize things” in the Okla. 6.5 seconds; 2. Stratton rence, Sperry, Okla. 9.6; 3. Paul 78; 6. Jeff Askey, Athens, Texas his riding hand, in July, kept so hard for me every time. My younger cowboys that he can Lopez, Adkins, Texas/Cody Egus- David Tierney, Oklahoma City, 76; 7. Coy Pollmeier, Ft Scott, Kan. him out of competition for sev- main concern is to stay out of offer help with. Several of his quiza, Hico, Texas 6.7; 3. Cory Okla, 9.7; 4. Denton Oestmann, BB. Smothers, Henryville, Ind./Cody Alva, Okla. 9.8; 5. (tie) Hunter ** Unofficial results. AMERICA'S #1 aly MATTRESS BRAND PnTtT nit Get Your Perfect Laundry Pale THE reaarum CAFE |Remodel Fars p $5007 = = | Reward BIGGEST SALE OF THE YEAR bebek |