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Casper gains momentum Friday at NFR

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By Ted Harbin, TwisTed Rodeo

LAS VEGAS – Wyatt Casper’s first saddle bronc ride of the 2022 National Finals Rodeo wasn’t significant to most.
He scored 83.5 points on Rosser Rodeo’s California Dreamin and finished 10th in the opening round of this year’s championship. There was no money, and his place in the world standings didn’t really change.
Still, it was an ignition switch for Casper, now competing at the NFR for the third straight season.
“After being off for three months and not being able to rodeo, to be able to come out here and stick my first one was a lot of weight lifted off my shoulders,” said Casper, 26, of Miami, Texas. “I was pretty confident after (Thursday’s) ride.”
It showed on a rank horse during Friday’s second round. He posted an 82-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Foul Motion to finish in a three-way tie for sixth place, worth $1,555. It’s not the biggest payday, but it offered a boost of confidence for him to carry through the final eight nights of the ProRodeo season.
“Today didn’t feel really well,” he said of his ride on Foul Motion, one of the harder-to-ride broncs in the second round. “It felt like my (saddle’s) cantle kept hitting me in the butt, and I wasn’t able to set my feet. It was a little fouling through there or something. The Beutlers are known to have some bucking suckers that don’t feel real well. If you stick it to them, you’re going to be some points.”
Casper suffered a pulled hamstring in July and tried to battle through it. The muscle finally gave way the first of August, and he spent the final two months of the regular season on injured reserve. He went more than 60 days without getting on any bucking horses, but in the weeks leading up to the NFR, he got on some broncs to dust the rust off and test out his leg.
“I got on nine horses, but I knew after the first two that it was good and we’re ready to roll,” said Casper, who won the intercollegiate national title in 2016 while competing for Clarendon (Texas) College. “I wish I’d have been able to come back a little sooner and maybe went to some rodeos and got on some more horses.
“It is what it is, and those are the cards we were dealt.”
While his financial return wasn’t what he had hoped for on Night 2, the dollars are vital. Most importantly, he has something on which to build through ProRodeo’s grand finale.
“Money’s money, and that’s a good thing,” Casper said. “Any time you can get another one down, get a little money and stay in that average race, you’re good.”

Franks rides Ankle Biter for 83.5 points

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By Ted Harbin, TwisTed Rodeo

LAS VEGAS – At a lot of rodeos Cole Franks went to this season, a $1,555 payday for an eight-second ride was pretty nice.

At the richest rodeo in the world, though, it’s just a nice way to stay in the game. That’s the way it went Friday for Franks, who rode Rafter G Rodeo’s Ankle Biter for 83.5 points. He finished in a three-way tie for sixth place in the second go-round and collected his second check of this year’s National Finals Rodeo.

“I’ve never been on that horse, but I’ve at least seen him a few times,” said Franks, 21, of Clarendon, Texas. I went back and watched videos of (Clayton) Biglow on him in ’19 here, and he was 91.5 on him. I was hoping for that trip.

“He usually stays closer (to the chutes) and circles around and will turn back around at about six or seven seconds. (The judges) have always seemed to like when he does that, and I was hoping for that, but that just didn’t happen.”

It worked out fine, though. He finished in a tie for fifth place in the opening round, so he’s pushed his NFR earnings to nearly $18,000. Now in just his second year qualifying for ProRodeo’s championship event, he’s gaining a strong understanding of what it takes to be successful.

“I feel like last year started off a lot better than I have this year,” he said. “When the time comes, I’ll be ready. There are eight horses left to go. I’m not too worried about it. I’m going to take it on tomorrow and try to win in the (eliminator) pen. If you can do it, that’s doing a lot.”

The third- and eighth-round of bareback horses are the hardest-to-ride broncs in the game. Each of the 15 men in the lineup will be tested. Through a random draw, Franks is matched with Powder River Rodeo’s Dirty Work, a horse that bucked off half the men who tried to ride it in 2022.

“Last year I was almost dreading the E pen a little bit,” Franks said. “It was my first time being here, my first E pen, so it was nerve wracking. I’m looking forward to it now. About halfway through the year this year, I was ready for more of the strong buckers just to test myself a little more, so I’m looking forward to the strong pen.”

It takes that type of mentality to handle the challenges the NFR offers.

Franks gets a bit Dirty at NFR

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Clarendon’s Cole Franks rides Dirty Jacket during Thursday’s first round of the 2022 National Finals Rodeo. PRCA ProRodeo Photo by Phil Doyle

By Ted Harbin, TwisTed Rodeo

LAS VEGAS – When Cole Franks was a youngster, he knew there was something about bucking horses that drove him.

His dad, Bret, rode them, competing in saddle bronc riding for years. Bret Franks is a three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who now coaches tomorrow’s stars at Clarendon (Texas) College. Naturally, his sons, including older Cole’s brother Clint, followed suit.

On opening night of the 2022 NFR, the youngest of the Franks boys was matched with one of the legendary horses in the sport, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Resistol’s Dirty Jacket, a top-three bareback horse for four straight years and a two-time Bareback Horse of the Year.

“I love that horse,” Cole Franks said after posting an 85.5-point ride Thursday night to finish in a tie for fifth place. “I’ve loved that horse ever since I was little. He was one of the first horses that I actually knew when I was little. I’d hear Dirty Jacket’s name come on the TV, and it’d pop my attention and I’d be watching.”

The first time the two matched up was during the 10th round of last year’s finale, and they also scored 85.5 points together.

“I was excited tog et on him last year,” he said. “I was a little more excited this time around. It was a different pen of horses, a different standout.”

And it worked out. For his finish, Franks added a little more than $6,000 and pushed his season earnings to $132,489. That’s key; not only does money help cover expenses and pay bills, but dollars equal championship points. The contestants in each event who earn the most money in a given season will be crowned world champions.

“That ride felt really good,” Franks said. “I felt like I got a little behind there at the end, but it was still good. He’s a dream to get on. We just want to keep building on it. Tomorrow I will be shooting for higher, better, more every time. You keep pushing to the top until you get there.”

He’s been close already. In his rookie season and his first trip to the NFR in 2021, he finished third in the world standings. He is 12th on the money list but has nine more nights to cash in. Each night offers a different challenge, and bareback riders will face the top 100 animals from this year’s season.

He will be matched with Rafter G Rodeo’s Ankle Biter on a night when the cowboys will face the semi-eliminator pen of bucking horses. The Round 2 horses will be a big test, but it’s also a stepping stone; the third round features the hardest-to-ride broncs in rodeo.

“I have yet to get on Ankle Biter, but I’m excited for that,” he said. “He’s awesome for that pen, too.”

Broncos fall to New Home in Regional game

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Bronco Lyric Smith gains yard last week against New Home. Enterprise Photo / Roger Estlack

The Broncos had a great season and playoff run, but it came to an end against New Home in Floydada last Friday in the Region 1-2A Division II Semifinals.

The Leopards were able to get the 14-8 win to move on, and the Broncos finished at 9-4 overall.

The Broncos were the first to score when Lyric Wilson took it in from nine yards out, and Wilson Ward added the two-point bonus. New Home would not score until the second quarter of play.

The battle was defensive from the beginning as senior Jmaury Davis struggled to find the holes. Davis could only muster 58 yards rushing on 27 carries which is not his usual yardage for a game.

“We just couldn’t move the ball like we’re normally used to,” head coach Clint Conkin said. “They were tough up front, and it was a defensive battle.”

The Bronco defense did all they could to hold the Leopards at bay with QB sacks and interceptions. Junior Colton Benson had a solid game from his position and sacked the quarterback more than once.

The Broncos dominated the time of possession but hit a New Home roadblock when they got the momentum going in their favor.

Lady Broncos beat Claude, 28-15

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The Lady Broncos defeated the Claude Lady Mustangs in a low-scoring game last week that ended at 28-15.

Six different Lady Broncos hit big three-pointers when they needed to and let their defense dictate the tempo of the game.

The Lady Broncos’ defense played aggressively and sent Claude to the line 10 times for 60 percent. The ladies only saw the bonus line four times and converted 50 percent of them.

According to coach Korey Conkin, the girls did a great job stopping Claude’s biggest scorers.

“The girls played really well against Claude,” Conkin said. “Nothing but threes from six different girls in the first three quarters. (Hayden) Elam and (Kenidee) Hayes had a solid effort shutting down their leading scorer while holding her to only free throws. (Courtlyn) Conkin and (Kennadie) Cummins were able to shut down their 6’2” inside threat and hold her to only two points”

Lady Bronco newcomer Baylee Gabel is a former Lady Mustang and had an outstanding performance according to Conkin.

“It was an emotional matchup with her former teammates,” Conkin said. “We are so blessed to get to play with her and not against her anymore.”

Gabel finished with two three’s and six total points, and Finley Cunningham ended with two three pointers. Elam ended with seven points that included going two for two from the free throw line and one three, while Hayes, Conkin, and Makenna Shadle had one three each.

The ladies will participate in the Miami Tournament December 1-3 and host Vega on December 6 at 6:30.

Franks ready for return to Vegas for NFR

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Cole Franks riding at the 2021 NFR. Courtesy Photo / Robby Freeman

By Ted Harbin, TwisTed Rodeo

Cole Franks made an impressive statement in 2021 during his inaugural season in ProRodeo: He’d claimed the collegiate all-around and bareback riding titles. He was named the Bareback Riding Resistol Rookie of the Year. He qualified for his first National Finals Rodeo and finished third in the world standings.

It was a remarkable beginning for the second-generation cowboy from Clarendon, and he bounded into his sophomore campaign during the 2022 season with plenty of confidence and talent. With that, he’ll make his return to the sport’s biggest stage, the NFR, set for December 1-10 in Las Vegas.

“This year was a little more challenging in a way,” said Franks, 21, who won the intercollegiate title while competing for Clarendon Colleges. “It was a lot different. They changed the rule to where we couldn’t double up on rodeos on the same day. It was easier in that sense, because we didn’t have to decide between two rodeos, but it made it a little harder.

“When we were rodeoing, because of that rule, everyone else was in the same places we were. It made it to where sometimes it was so crammed full of people that it was a lot harder to win.”

He found his way to the winner’s circle anyway, proving talent and a powerful mindset can go a long way. Through the course of the campaign, he picked up 10 victories and earned $116,426; he heads to Las Vegas No. 10 in the world standings and will have a chance to battle for the coveted world championship.

“I honestly think the key was staying at it, making every horse count,” said Franks, who credits much of his success to his sponsors, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, Cinch, Western Legacy Co. and 287 Ag. “You want to do the best you can with what horse you’ve drawn. If you don’t have one you can typically win on, then you’ve got to flash it up and do what you can.”

It takes a combination of key victories and making the most of one’s rides count in order to qualify for the NFR. He is $45,500 behind the leader, Wyoming cowboy Cole Reiner, but that deficit can be surpassed in just two rounds in Vegas, where go-round winners pocket just shy of $29,000 each night.

Just a few years ago, round winners were making $10,000 less. It’s a good trend in a sport where there are no guarantees. Unlike other professional sports where athletes have surefire contracts that pay them whether they’re in the game or not, rodeo cowboys make their livings eight seconds at a time. They don’t get paid unless they score better than most others in the field.

The rise in payouts is a boon for the men and women who are part of the rodeo trail as a business.

“We do this because we love it, but it does make it a lot more fun to have a shot at that much more money every day,” he said. “Every rodeo I went to this past year, they just keep raising the stakes. That’s what keeps you wanting to go more.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been ready to go home; I like staying out on the road. You may get worn out a little bit, but you know there’s all that money out there you can get.”

Money is vital in rodeo. It’s not only how the contestants pay their bills, but it’s also how points are tallied. Only the top 15 on the money list in each event advance to the NFR. The contestants in each event who conclude the season with the most earnings will be crowned world champions.

Last year, Franks earned more than $150,000 over 10 December nights in the Nevada desert, finishing the season with more than $225,000. He’ll need a similar showing this season if he hopes to earn the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle.

“I’d say I improved quite a bit,” said Franks, whose father, Bret, was a three-time NFR qualifier in saddle bronc riding and whose brother, Clint, is a PRCA bronc rider. “Mainly, I’d say, I’ve gotten better at being able to handle those big, strong bucking horses, the ones that everybody wants and the ones you can win on.

“Last year, I dropped the ball sometimes on those kinds of horses. I feel like I’ve gotten better at keeping the ball in my court on those horses while being able to flash up on the weaker end of horses and making them look better.”

It’s a formula that has worked quite well. He made his second straight NFR even though a broken wrist in May and a damaged finger on free hand in July put him on injured reserve for nearly two months. The latter injury was actually scarier and happened at one of the largest regular-season rodeos in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

“One thing I realized was that you don’t take your good draw as a sure sign you’ll win,” he said. “At Cheyenne, I knew I had it in the bag based on paper. That went out the window a bit during the short round. The horse flipped all the way upside down on top of me, and I was laying in the bottom of the chute. I don’t know for sure what happened, but it ripped my finger open.”

He rebounded well, built up some style points and closed out his campaign in fine fashion by winning his last rodeo of the regular season in Stephenville, Texas. A week later, he won the first rodeo of the 2023 season in Hempstead, Texas.
He’s been doing the things he needs to stay in shape. He’s been riding some practice horses to prepare his body for the rigorous week and a half in Las Vegas, which will pit the best 15 bareback riders of the year against 100 of the greatest bucking horses in 2022.

“This is why I do this,” Franks said. “I love it, and to have a chance to compete at that level just makes it that much better.”

Casper ready to roll at NFR in Vegas

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Wyatt Casper riding at the NFR in 2021. Courtesy Photo / Robby Freeman

By Ted Harbin, TwisTed Rodeo

Clarendon College alumnus Wyatt Casper learned a valuable lesson through the course of ProRodeo’s 2022 regular season: Don’t try to rush back from an injury.

Casper is a saddle bronc rider who makes a living riding dynamite in the form of bucking horses. In early July, he suffered a partially torn right hamstring. He tried to ride through it, but that just didn’t work. He took two weeks off, returned, then spent two more weeks back on the injured list before trying it again.

He found his way back to the game by the end of that month and rode through the next two weeks, picking up checks along the way. In Heber City, Utah, though, he tore the muscle completely and had to finish out the season on injured reserve. It was back home to the Texas Panhandle to recuperate and hang out with his wife, Lesley, and their two children, Cooper, 4, and Cheyenne, who will be 3 in December.

“With one negative, there’s a positive, and that was being able to come home and hang with the wife and kids and doing stuff I don’t normally get to do,” said Casper, 26, of Miami. “I don’t know what they’re going to do when I’m out rodeoing again.”

Since that day in early August, Casper has been going through rehabilitation and getting himself prepared. His season isn’t over. He’s earned his third straight qualification to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale that takes place Dec. 1-10 in Las Vegas. He finished his campaign with $123,802 and will enter the competition in the Nevada desert as the 11th-ranked bronc rider in the world standings.

“It’s been a pretty cool year,” he said. “I would take every year like this if I could have a good start to the year like I did and still make the NFR even missing the last two months of the season.

“I’m still rehabbing my hamstring, slowly getting it ready for the finals. Shawn Scott (with the Justin Sportsmedicine team) and I got together, and he wanted me to give it 60 days off without getting on any broncs. We’ve been doing regular stuff, stretching it, band work and light lifting. I’m just trying ot get it 100 percent again. It feels really good.”

That bodes well for the Texas cowboy, who was raised on a place near Balko, Okla., and moved to Texas to attend Clarendon College; he remained in the Texas Panhandle upon getting married in 2017. He finished the 2020 season as the reserve world champion to titlist Ryder Wright, then closed out the 2021 season eighth in the world standings.

There were plenty of bright spots through his latest campaign. One doesn’t miss a good portion of the final three months of the regular season and still make the NFR without that. Only the top 15 contestants on the money list advance to the sport’s grand championship, and doing it three times in a row is quite an accomplishment.

“I don’t feel like I changed anything from what I’ve been doing that last couple of years,” Casper said. “I just kept a positive attitude and had good traveling partners.”

That’s helpful. He made his way along the ProRodeo trail with fellow bronc busters Jake Clark, Brody Cress and Lefty Holman. Cress and Holman will join Casper in Las Vegas.

“To be a good bronc rider, you’ve got to surround yourself with other good bronc riders,” said Casper, who is sponsored by Priefert, Superior Livestock, Resistol, Cinch, TD Angus, MVP Exceed 6 Way and Western Hauler. “We’re all a little different in our own ways, but at the end of the day, we all feed off each other and always try to have a positive attitude. If one guy’s down, we try to pick him up.

“Being able to qualify for the NFR three times consecutively is a feat in itself. The group of bronc riders you have to ride against day in and day out are the best in the world. To be able to say you’ve made it three times is pretty darn cool.”

A half-dozen years ago, Casper brought home the most cherished prize in college rodeo while attending school at Clarendon. He became the college’s first national champion and has built upon that since arriving in ProRodeo.
In a typical year when he’s not away from home, he rides and trains horses at his place near Miami. The injury put a damper on that a bit this year, but he’s been back at it and working himself into a frenzy to get back in the bronc saddle again. His body feels good.

“I haven’t been on a bronc since August, so I don’t have a lot of bumps and bruises,” he said. “I’m just ready to get out there and battle for 10 days.”

It’s a rugged schedule once he arrives in Sin City. There are bucking horses for 10 straight nights, and there are appearances and obligations when he’s not spurring an 1,100-pound bronc. He’s been part of it before, and each experience has offered him a bit of on-the-job training.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is you need to ride all your horses,” Casper said. “I’ve been there two times, and I have yet to get them all rode. I’m going through the preparation, and I’m trying to get that all figured out before the NFR. I’m also trying to figure out how to take care of myself at the NFR.

“There’s a lot that goes into it, but I’m ready for it.”

Broncos breeze past Ralls to play for Regional title

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Bronco Bryce Williams goes in for the tackle last week in Tulia against Ralls. Enterprise Photo /Roger Estlack

The 9-3 Broncos won the Area championship with a huge win over Ralls in Tulia last Friday.

They breezed to the 48-14 win and gained another step in the play-off race.

The Broncos will take on New Home in Floydada on Friday, November 25, at 2:00 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the gate.

Lyric Smith did what he’s been doing all season as he scored the first six points for the Broncos on a sweep around the left side from the five-yard line after a strong 13-yard gain a few plays before.

On the Jackrabbits’ first play from scrimmage after the kickoff, the Bronco defensive line stripped the ball to get great field position to set up the Broncos’ second score of the game. Jmaury Davis picked out a hole in the Ralls’ defense and waltzed into the endzone around the right side just a few minutes after their first score.

Harrison Howard hit Quay Brown for the two-point bonus to go up by 14. Davis broke loose once again after a Ralls fumble on their 23-yard line to run the field 77 yards and score again in the second quarter.

The second half belonged to the Broncos as well as they were able to seal the win with touchdowns on a 49-yard run by Davis and a 26-yard pass from Howard to Smith. Howard then found Mason Sims on a 23-yard pass who was able to get into the endzone from 70 yards out for six points.

Davis earned the final score of the game when he busted through several defenders from 16 yards out.

Lady Broncos beat Dumas, 65-41

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The Lady Broncos did not hesitate in their 65-41 win over the Dumas Demonettes at home November 15. They took charge early and left their opponent helpless to stop them.

Lady Bronco Hayden Elam looks for an open teammate last week against Dumas. Courtesy Photo / Adelita Elam

The Lady Broncos shot 73 percent from the bonus line and were on fire from the arc as they hit 12 three-pointers between six players. Senior Finley Cunningham led the way with five long shots.

Taking a 16-6 lead after eight minutes, the Lady Broncos played consistent and took advantage of several open shots. At the end of three, Clarendon led by 26 points to secure the win. Cunningham and Bailey Gabel finished in double figures with 15 and 13 respectively.

The ladies were not only on their game on the offensive end, their hustle defense earned them several turnovers that they were able to convert into points. Along with hustle comes fouls, but they managed to stay out of foul trouble. Dumas attempted 29 shots from the free throw line, but only made less than half of those shots.

Adding to the point total was Makenna Shadle with nine, Gracie Smith hit eight from under the basket, and Hayden Elam posted seven. Courtlyn Conkin put in five, Berkley Moore had five and Kennadie Cummins, Tandie Cummins, and Kenidee Hayes had one each.

Broncos to play New Home for Regional title

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2022 Area Champion Clarendon Broncos

The Clarendon Broncos are advancing in the playoffs after they defeated Ralls last Friday night in Tulia to claim the Area Championship.

Playing in below freezing temperatures, the Broncos fended off the Jack Rabbits and secured a 48-14 victory.

Clarendon will now play New Home for the Regional Championship on Friday, November 25, in Floydada. Game time will be 2 p.m., and tickets will be $5 at the gate. Clarendon will be the visitor.

Follow us at Facebook.com/TheEnterprise for live updates from the game.

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