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Achieving a life-long goal is awesome and gratifying. It is also unexpectedly humbling. Even though I’ve lived in Childress, Texas all my life, I was overwhelmed when there was a congratulatory party at our church with about two hundred people. Definitely humbling.
Rewarding as it may be, I know it’s not that much about me as it is an entire team of people. Jennifer has given so much of herself and not just as a wife. I’m fully aware that she could pursue a large and successful career but because of the importance of being together as a family, we rodeo as a family. For my entire career I’ve had people that have helped and pushed me to the next level including my parents, my wife, all of my immediate family and closest friends. They have all made sacrifices to reach this goal and because of that I have trouble taking credit for it. It’s definitely a team effort.
I visited Dr. Tandy this week and had an MRI done on my shoulder. In the fourth or fifth round at the finals, the barrier rope caught my loop and jerked my shoulder and it’s been pretty sore. I was afraid I would have to have surgery but with a little physical therapy and a couple of weeks off, I’ll be good to go.
My main goal at the finals this year was to avoid major catastrophe: breaking the barrier, missing a calf, or a calf getting up. The game plan was to rope ten calves, take what was given and let it fall where it may. I wasn’t trying to win every round – just to rope every calf. In the past I’ve either been trying to win the average or the day money so this mentality was new for me. I had a lot of confidence in my horse and didn’t have to push the barrier because she’s so fast.
In the final round it came down to a one-header between Trevor, Tuf, Hunter and me. Even leading the average I still had to beat those four guys in the round to win the world title. Whoever finished ahead of the others in that round would end up winning the world. They all roped behind me and all I could do was the best I could and hope it was good enough. The calf I drew had gotten up with Justin Mass so I decided to go tie him, try and win the average and let them beat me. That was the plan an hour before the rodeo.
For one of the few times I can remember I was in “the zone” and completely and utterly focused. When it came down to it, I just reacted. When I “regained consciousness” and heard the crowd roar I looked down and had just a wrap and a hooey on him.
Normally I can run up to my horse anywhere and she’ll stand still. But when the crowd got loud in the Thomas & Mack she got scared and even more alarmed when I started running to her which caused her to drag a little. When I pulled my hooey the calf had sucked his legs a little and it was long six seconds to see if he stayed down. He did and I won second in the round and won the average, making that one run worth $56,000.
I’d like to thank everyone for all the congratulations and well wishes. I’d also like to thank my sponsors for making it possible for me to do what I love every day.
God Bless and I’ll see you down the line.
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