DODGE CITY, Kan. – Boudreaux Campbell is just 18 years old, but he proved he has plenty of talent to earn a trip to Las Vegas in December for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Steve Woolsey is a veteran at 31 years old, and he’s eager to return to ProRodeo’s grand championship. Both men made the moves necessary Tuesday night by sharing the victory at the Dodge City Roundup’s Xtreme Bulls competition.
“I’m happy to finally be No. 1 and split it with Boudreaux,” said Woolsey, a six-time NFR qualifier from Payson, Utah. “That was a good little bull that I didn’t know anything about. I talked to Sage (Kimzey) before the bull riding, and he said he’s pretty sweet. He was.”
The bull was JK Rodeo’s Reaper, and Woolsey knows a lot more about him after scoring 87 points to tie Campbell, who rode 4L and Diamond S Rodeo’s House of Pain. Both cowboys earned $4,459.
“I didn’t know that bull at all, but everybody else said he was good,” said Campbell of Crockett, Texas. “He fit me, and it all worked out.
“This is my first year. I grew up watching some of Steve’s tapes, so it’s awesome to split the win in Dodge City with him.”
He is on the verge of earning that trip to Vegas. Heading into Tuesday’s event, he was 20th in the world standings. The money he earned in Dodge City will shoot his season earnings to more than $55,000. As it stands, he is already up to 16th – only the top 15 contestants in each event at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the NFR.
“Making the NFR was my goal coming into this year,” Campbell said. “If I could make the NFR this year as a rookie, then I could make my dream come true.”
Woolsey has lived that dream half a dozen times in his career. He’s not ranked among the top 50 bull riders as of Aug. 1, but he knows there are plenty of opportunities to move up.
“It’s been a pretty slow year,” he said. I’ve been healthy and felt good, but I’ve been riding a lot for 7.5 seconds. I’ve just not been breaking over that hump. I finally feel like I’ve got it figured out and got my old mojo back.”
Dodge City Roundup Xtreme Bulls
Dodge City, Kan.
Aug. 1, 2017
1. (tie) Boudreaux Campbell, on 4L and Diamond S’s House of Pain, and Steve Woolsey, on JK Rodeo’s Reaper, 87 points, $4,459 each; 3. (tie) Jeston Mead and Trevor Reiste, 86.5, $2,356 each; 5. (tie) Jordan Wacey Spears and Eli Vastbinder, 84, $1,010 each; 7. (tie) Dustin Boquet and Chase Hamlin, 83.5, $589 each.