DUNCAN —
Dean Gorsuch is in the middle of a race for the steer wrestling world championship.
That crowning will happen two months from now at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. In the interim, he’s got another title on his mind; now he’s hoping a quality performance in Duncan will lead to the Prairie Circuit championship.
“This is a great way to start my circuit finals,” Gorsuch said Thursday night after posting a 3.8-second run to win the opening go-round of the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo at the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center.
The Gering, Neb., owns two Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world titles, having earned the coveted gold buckles in 2006 and 2010. He’s looking to add the 2012 regional championship to his resume.
“I’m really excited about this year,” Gorsuch said. “I get to ride my new horse, Skip. Me and Trell came down together; he’s my youngest boy, my good luck charm. I love having him with me. He’s my best supporter.”
Well, he’s one of the best – older son Taydon and wife Bekah are also big fans, but there are a lot of folks who follow and support the big Nebraskan. Gorsuch won $1,174 and reclaimed the lead in the circuit’s year-end standings, passing Chancey Larson of Manhattan, Kan.
Now Gorsuch is in the driver’s seat with $11,423 in annual earnings. Larson failed to earn a time on his steer – as he made the move to pin the steer to the ground, Larson missed the animal’s nose, and the steer escaped the Kansan’s grasp. Now Gorsuch is full command of his own destiny toward the circuit championship.
“I won decent in the circuit and won most of my money in the circuit early,” he said. “This has been one of those years; there’s been a loss, but there’s been gain.”
In January, Gorsuch lost his great steer wrestling horse Pump Jack when it suffered an injury during a practice run. In March, he lost his hazing horse in a freak accident during the Timed Event championship.
“It’s just been a lot of obstacles to go over,” he said. “I lost a great horse and gained a great horse. God has a plan for us, and we never know what it is.”
Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo
Oct. 18-20
Duncan, Okla.
Bareback riding: 1. Jared Keylon, 86 points on New Frontier Rodeo’s Elvis, $1,155; 2. Codi Myers, 81, $866; 3. Justin McDaniel, 80, $577 4. Caine Riddle, 79, $289.
Steer wrestling: 1. Dean Gorsuch, 3.8 seconds, $1,174; 2. John Kloeckler, 4.1, $880; 3. Beau Clark, 4.7, $587; 4. Stockton Graves, 5.5, $293.
Team roping: 1.Casey Hicks/Jake Pianalto, 4.7 seconds, $1,174; 2. Hunter Munsell/Derrick R. Jantzen, 6.1, $880; 3. Brian Dunning/Derrick Peterson, 6.2, $584; 4. Chase Boekhaus/Jett Hillman, 6.8, $293.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Ryan Bestol, on New Frontier Rodeo’s Old Times, and Robby Freeman, on Frontier Rodeo’s Priefert Rancher, 80 points, $1,027 each; 3. (tie) Cody Hamm and Weston Ireland, 79, $440 each.
Tie-down roping: 1. Caddo Lewallen, 9.7 seconds, $1,174; 2. Trenton Johnson, 10.3, $880; 3. Hunter Herrin, 10.8, $587; 4. Bryson Sechrist, 10.9, $293.
Barrel racing: 1. P.J. Burger, 16.91 seconds, $1,174; 2. Tana Renick, 17.10, $880; 3. Kyra Stierewalt, 17.26, $587; 4. Sherri Dean, 17.32, $293.
Bull riding: 1. Brad D Harris, 90 points on Silver Creek Rodeo’s Rising Sun, $1,272; 2. Trevor Kastner, 83, $978; 3. Guthrie Murray, 81, $685; no other qualified rides.
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