Sundell scores 92 to win Dodge City

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Wade Sundell has ridden a lot of great bucking horses in his seven year saddle bronc riding career.

On Sunday night, the Iowa-born cowboy added another storied bronc to his victory list, dancing across the arena dirt with Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman for 92 points to win the championship round and the overall bronc riding title at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo.

“I’ve been waiting a long, long time to draw that horse,” Sundell said, noting the random draw that matches cowboy vs. animals. “I knew if I kept my chin down and kept pressure on my rein, it would be awesome. That was the buckingest horse I’ve been on.

“When I nodded my head until I got off, I felt like I was bucked off every jump.”

Despite Medicine Woman’s style, Sundell continued the classic spurring motion that has guided him to five-straight qualifications to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and within millimeters of that elusive world championship. He finished eighth in his first trip to Las Vegas in 2009, and since has been a fixture among the top six.

He knew doing well in Dodge City could make a big difference in the final tally; in rodeo, dollars equal points, so every paycheck is vital. This marks the first time in Sundell’s career that he has found success inside Roundup Arena.

“I’ve done horrible in Dodge City,” said Sundell, who finished tied for seventh in the first round with an 81. “I was coming back to the short round tonight way in the back, so I had to let it all hang out and try to make something happen, and it worked.”

He finished with 173 points on two rides and earned $3,603 at the largest rodeo in Kansas.

“This rodeo has helped a lot of people make the finals and win the world,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to do good at this rodeo, and I’ve done bad at it every year. This is awesome to win it now.”

Sundell was joined in the winner’s circle by bull rider J.W. Harris, a four-time world champion; barrel racer Christine Laughlin; steer roper Tyrel Taton; tie-down roper Cody Ohl, a six-time world champ; bareback rider Richie Champion; team ropers Kaleb Driggers and Patrick Smith; and a trio of steer wrestlers: K.C. Jones, Timmy Sparing and Bray Armes.

In fact, Jones’ horse, Tebow, guided both him and Sparing to the Roundup title.

“He worked awesome,” Jones said of the sorrel gelding. “Tim and I both got a buckle on him, so our plan worked out.”

Jones, who lives in Decatur, Texas, grew up less than three hours west of Dodge City in Las Animas, Colo.

“I remember coming here for the Dodge City Little Britches Rodeo, so we’ve spent a lot of time in this arena,” he said.

That time has paid off.

Dodge City Roundup Rodeo
Dodge City, Kan.
July 30-Aug. 3

All-around: Landon McClaugherty, $1,050 won in steer roping and team roping.
Bareback riding: First round: 1. Casey Colletti, on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Painted Coast, and Casey Breuer, on Vold’s Hot Valley, 85 points, $2,320 each; 3. Richmond Champion, 84, $1,489; 4. Jared Smith, 83. $963; 5. (tie) Orin Larsen and Steven Dent, 81, $525 each; 7. (tie) Tim O’Connell and Tanner Phipps, 80, $306 each; 9.Tilden Hooper, 78; 10. (tie) Winn Ratliff and Taylor Price, 77. Final round: 1.Tilden Hooper, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Show Stomper, $1,650; 2. (tie) Steven Dent and Richmond Champion, 82, $1,075 each; 4. Winn Ratliff, 81, $600; 5. (tie) Orin Larsen and Casey Breuer, 79, $300 each. Average: 1. Richmond Champion, 166 points on two rides, $2,627; 2. Tilden Hooper, 165, $2,014; 3. Casey Breuer, 164, $1,489; 4. Steven Dent, 163, $963; 5. Orin Larsen, 160, $613; 6. Winn Ratliff, 158, $438; 7. Tanner Phipps, 152, $350; 8. Jared Smith, 83 points on one ride, $263.

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Bray Armes, 4.0 seconds, $2,611; 2. Tom Lewis, 4.3, $2,271; 3. Brandon Volker, 4.4, $1,930; 4. (tie) Casey Martin and Tom Duvall, 4.5, $1,419 each; 6. (tie) Jeff Miller, Timmy Sparing and Richy Coats, 4.6, $568 each. Second round: 1. Ty Lang, 3.9 seconds, $2,611; 2. K.C. Jones, 4.0, $2,271; 3. Tooter Silver, 4.1, $1,930; 4. Gabe Burrows, 4.2, $1,590; 5. Tie) Rowdy Parrott, Sean Santucci and Jeff Miller, $908, 4.3; 8. (tie) Timmy Sparing and Stewart Gulager, 4.4, $114. Final round: 1. Sean Stancucci, 3.8 seconds, $1,247; 2. Tom Lewis, 4.2, $1,032; 3. (tie) Cody Devers, Tommy Cook and Casey Martin, 4.3, $602 each; 6. K.C. Jones, 4.4, $215. Average: 1. (tie) K.C. Jones, Timmy Sparing and Bray Armes, 13.5 seconds on three runs, $3,406 each; 4. Sean Stancucci, 14.1, $2,384; 5. Casey Martin, 14.4, $1,873; 6. Tommy Cook, 15.0, $1,362; 7. Tom Lewis, 15.1, $852; 8. Tyler Waguespack, 16.3, $341.

Team roping: First round: 1. Arky Rogers/Travis Woodard, 5.0 seconds, $2,577 each; 2. (tie) Nick Sartain/Rich Skelton and Kaleb Driggers/Patrick Smith, 5.1, $2,073 each; 4. Erich Rogers/Cory Petska, 5.4, $1,569; 5. Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres, 5.5, $1,233; 6. (tie) Landon McClaugherty/Caleb Twisselman and Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 5.6, $728 each; 8. Coleman Proctor/Jake Long, 5.7, $224. Second round: 1. Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes, 4.5 seconds, $2,577; 2. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 4.9, $2,241; 3. Dustin Bird/Paul Eaves, 5.0, $1,905; 4. (tie) Keven Daniel/York Gill, Jake Pancost/Austin Rogers and David Key/Kory Koontz, 5.2 each, $1,233 each; 7. Casey Hicks/Jake Pianalto, 5.3, $560; 8. Charly Crawford/Shay Carroll, 5.4, $244. Final round: 1. Charly Crawford/Shay Carrol, 6.2 seconds, $1,044; 2. Joel Bach/Allen Bach, 8.6, $864; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Patrick Smith, 6.7, $684; 4. (tie) Miles Baker/Dustin Searcy and Adam Rose/Billie Saebens, 6.8, $414 each; 6. (tie) Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward and Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres, 7.8, $90 each. Average: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Patrick Smith, 17.4 seconds on three runs, $3,866; 2. Charly Crawford/Shay Carroll, 18.3, $3,361; 3. Adam Rose/Billie Saebens, 18.8, $2,857; 4. Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres, 19.0, $2,353; 5. Joel Bach/Allen Bach, 20.1, $1,849; 6. Turtle Powell/Dakota Kirchenslager, 23.5; 7. Miles Baker/Dustin Searcy, 23.8, $840; 8. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 24.3, $336.   

Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. (tie) Sterling Crawley, on Frontier Rodeo’s Short Stop, and Heith DeMoss, on Frontier Rodeo’s Midnight Delight, 87 points, $2,034 each; 3. Cody Wright, 85, $1,305; 4. (tie) Jesse Wright and Jacobs Crawley, 83, $691 each; 6. (tie) Taos Muncy and Isaac Diaz, 82, $345; 8. (tie) Troy Crowser, Wade Sundell and Ty Thompson, 81, $77; 11. (tie) Doug Aldridge and Steven Dent, 79. Final round: 1. Wade Sundell, 92 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman, $1,650; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 89, $1,250; 3. (tie) Jesse Wright and Cody Wright, 87, $750 each; 5. Isaac Diaz, 85, $350; 6. Heith DeMoss, 84, $250. Average: 1. Wade Sundell, 173 points on two rides, $2,303; 2. (tie) Jacobs Crawley and Cody Wright, 172, $1,535; 4. Heith DeMoss, 171, $844; 5. Jesse Wright, 170, $537; 6. Sterling Crawley, 168, $384; 7. Isaac Diaz, 167, $307; 8. Ty Thompson, 159, $230.

Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Scott Kormos, 9.2 seconds, $2,300; 2. Caddo Lewallen, 11.3, $2,000; 3. Jerome Schneeberger, 11.8, $1,700; 4. Cody Ohl, 12.0, $1,400; 5. Ace Slone, 12.7, $1,100; 6. EJ Roberts, 13.0, $800; 7. Reese Riemer, 13.4, $500; 8. (tie) Jake Pratt and Thomas Merritt, 13.5, $100 each. Second round: 1. Justin Macha, 9.0 seconds, $2,300; 2. (tie) L.D. Meier and Marshall Leonard, 9.2, $1,850 each; 4. Marcos Costa, 10.2, $1,400; 5. Ace Slone, 10.3, $1,100; 6. Trent Creager, 10.9, $800; 4. (tie) Cody Ohl and Sterling Smith, 11.0, $350. Final round: 1. Cody Ohl, 8.2 seconds, $1,001; 2. L.D. Meier, 8.5, $828; 3. Ryan W@atkins, 9.3, $656; 4. Cory Solomon, 9.6, $483; 5. (tie) Reese Riemer and Ace Slone, 10.5, $242. Average: 1. Cody Ohl, 31.2 seconds on three runs, $3,450; 2. Ace Sloan, 33.5, $3,000; 3. Marshall Leonard, 34.4, $2,550; 4. Reese Riemer, 35.0, $2,100; 5. Ryan Watkins, 36.0, $1,650; 6. L.D. Meier, 39.4, $1,200; 7. Adam Gray, 41.6, $750; 8. Cory Solomon, 44.3, $300.

Barrel racing: First round: 1. Christine Laughlin, 17.24 seconds, $2,117; 2. Mary Walker, 17.53, $1,815; 3. Cheyenne Shipps, 17.57, $1,512; 4. Jeanne Anderson, 17.58, $1,311; 5. Kaley Bass, 17.68, $1,008; 6. Taylor Jacob, 17.72, $807; 7. Shada Brazile, 17.87, $605; 8. Lynette Landis, 17.88, $403; 9. Jean Winters, 17.92, $302; 10. Jessi Fish, 17.96, $202. Second round: 1. Carlee Pierce, 16.92 seconds, $2,117; 2. Kaley Bass, 17.14, $1,815; 3. Christy Loflin, 17.25, $1,512; 4. Cheyenne Shipps, 17.32, $1,311; 5. Christine Laughlin, 17.41, $1,008; 6. Shelby Frasier, 17.50, $807; 4. Lacinda Rose, 17.67, $605; 8. Jeanne Anderson, 17.76, $403; 9. Gretchen Benbenek, 17.78, $302; 10. (tie) Jessi Meadand Lynette Landis, 17.89, $101. Final round: 1. Christine Laughlin, 17.04 seconds, $1,568; 2. Gretchen Benbenek, 17.32, $1,176; 3. Kaley Bass, 17.36, $784; 4. Cheyenne Shipps, 17.42, $392. Average: 1. Christine Laughlin, 51.69 seconds on three runs, $3,176; 2. Kaley Bass, 52.18, $2,722; 3. Cheyenne Shipps, 52.31, $2,268; 4. Gretchen Benbenek, 53.52, $1,966; 5. Jill Beaty, 54.01, $1,512; 6. Jessi Mead, $1,210; 7. Lacinda Rose, 54.22, $907; 8. Jeanne Anderson, 57.82, $605; 9. Shelby Frasier, 58.17, $454; 10. Lynette Landis, 58.59, $302.   

Steer roping: First round: 1. (tie) Neal Wood and Travis Mills, 12.7 seconds, $1,705 each; 3. Tony Reina, 13.2, $1,222; 4. Roger Branch, 13.5, $901; 5. Jess Tierney, 13.8, $579; 6. Landon McClaugherty, 14.0, $322. Second round: 1. J.B. Whatley, 11.2 seconds, $1,866; 2. Tuf Cooper, 11.5, $1,544; 3. (tie) Tom Smith and Chet Herren, 12.0, $1,062; 5. Jason Evans, 12.1, $579; 6. Brodie Poppino, 12.2, $322. Third round: 1. Trevor Brazile, 10.3 seconds, $1,866; 2. (tie) J. Tom Fisher and Joe Wells, 12.0, $1,383 each; 4. Corey Ross, 12.2, $901; 5. Mike Chase, 12.3, $979; 6. Rocky Patterson, 12.4, $322. Average: 1. Tyrel Taton, 43.0 seconds on three runs, $2,799; 2. Brodie Poppino, 43.6, $2,316; 3. Jess Tierney, 45.3, $1,834; 4. C.A. Lauer, 46.1, $1,351; 5. Martin Poindexter, 46.3, $869; 6. Tom Smith, 49.4, $483.

Bull riding: First round: 1. Bart Miller, 85 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Sweet Tater, $2,599; 2. Tyler Smith, 84, $1,992; 3. (tie) J.W. Harris and Jacob O’Mara, 83, $$1,213 each; 5. (tie) Clayton Foltyn, Wes Wahlert and Corey Navarre, 81, $462; 8. Sage Kimzey, 80, $260; 9. Josh Koschel, 76; 10. (tie) Dillon Tyler, Lane Wilhelm and Dustin Bowen, 75.  Final round: 1. J.W. Harris, 89 points on Four L and Diamond S Rodeo’s Sandi’s Dream, $1,650; no other qualified rides. Average: 1. J.W. Harris, 172 points on two rides, $2,599; 2. Bart Miller, 85 points on one ride, $1,992; 3. Tyler Smith, 84, $1,473; 4. Jacob O’Mara, 83, $953; 5. (tie) Corey Navarre, Wes Wahlert and Clayton Foltyn, 81, $462 each; 8. Sage Kimzey, $260.