Dean Gorsuch has experienced almost everything in a career that has earned the Nebraska cowboy two steer wrestling world championships.
On Friday night, Gorsuch didn’t make a run on the steer that was selected for him during the random draw at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. There was a problem, so Gorsuch had to wait until all the other nine bulldoggers had completed their semifinal run; then Gorsuch was matched against another steer, an extra, in an effort to qualify for Saturday’s championship shootout.
But going last might’ve been a tremendous advantage. Looking at times of 4.6, 4.7 and 4.8 seconds in front of him, Gorsuch knew he had to be quick. A 3.8-second run did the trick, helping the champ collect an additional $2,350. More importantly, it guaranteed Gorsuch a chance to run at the $50,000 prize that goes to the shootout winners in each event.
Friday’s 18th performance of RodeoHouston will feature the 12 contestants in each event who did not advance out of the two semifinals. The Wild Card round gives those cowboys and cowgirls another opportunity, but just the top two contestants advance to Saturday’s proceedings.
Those who advanced from Thursday’s second semifinals were:
Tie-down roping: 1. Tuf Cooper, 2. Shane Hanchey, 3. Josh Peek, 4. Clint Robinson
Bareback riding: 1. Jessy Davis, 2. Dusty LaValley, 3. Steven Dent, 4. Royce Ford.
Team roping: 1. Jay Adams/Randon Adams, 2. Ty Blasingame/Cody Hintz, 3. Brady Minor/Riley Minor, 4. Cody Doescher/Tommy Edens.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jesse Wright, 2. Chad Ferley, 3. Chuck Schmidt, 4. Isaac Diaz.
Steer wrestling: 1. Stockton Graves, 2. Dean Gorsuch, 3. Clayton Morrison, 4. Olin Hannum.
Bull riding: 1. Bobby Welsh, 2. Steve Woolsey, 3. Kanin Asay, 4. Howdy Cloud.
Barrel racing: 1. Jill Moody, 2. Kenna Squires, 3. Brittany Pozzi, 4. Lisa Lockhart.