DODGE CITY, Kan. – Kodie Jang needed something positive to come his way.
Sitting 36th in the world standings and not having many rodeos at which to compete because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the 27-year-old Australian steer wrestler was hungering for circumstances to roll his way. It happened during Friday’s third performance of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo.
“I get to ride really good horses of Matt Reeves and travel with really good guys,” said Jang, who knocked his steer to the ground in 3.8 seconds to move into a three-way tie for third place in the second round and also move into a tie for fourth place in the aggregate with a two-run cumulative time of 9.0 seconds.
Reeves is a seven-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who leads the world standings this season, and he’s been known to have some of the top bulldogging horses in the sport. He is the captain of the ship of traveling partners, which also includes Cade Staton and Jacob Edler, the latter of whom sits fifth in the world standings.
“Having Matt with us is really important, because he’s been there and done so much,” Jang said. “He’s been to places you want to go if you want to be a success.”
In fact, Reeves is the reigning NFR average champion, one of the most prestigious prizes in rodeo that is awarded to the cowboy that has the best cumulative time or score over 10 nights in Las Vegas.
Earlier this year, though, Reeves and others in the sport were hit hard with the sudden death of his top horse, an 8-year-old bay mare he called Rattle. She was the 2019 PRCA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year.
“Losing her was definitely hard on all of us emotionally,” said Jang of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. “She was an amazing animal. It seemed like no matter who you put on her, they won. She let everyone win.
“Matt’s horse, Roy, is great. We’ve won a lot of money on him the past three years.”
In fact, Jang and Edler rode Roy toward the top of the Dodge City leaderboard Friday – Edler is eighth in the aggregate, and only the top 12 times advance to Sunday’s championship round.
“I’m not going to count my chickens, but I’d for Edler or me to come out on top,” Jang said. “This is one of the best rodeos of the year. It’s one of the few two-headers we go to, and the money’s awesome.”
Dodge City Roundup Rodeo
Dodge City, Kan.
July 29-Aug. 2
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Jamie Howlett, 88 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Southern Star; 2. Orin Larsen, 87; 3. (tie) Chad Rutherford and Nate McFadden, 86; 5. Jesse Pope, 85; 6. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Zach Hibler, 84; 8. Paden Hurst, 83; 9. (tie) Craig Wisehart and Cole Reiner, 82.5; 11. (tie) Ty Breuer and Richmond Champion, 82; 9. Joel Schlegel, 78.5; 10. (tie) Trenton Montero and Tim O’Connell, 77; 12. Anthony Thomas, 75.
Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dirk Tavenner, 3.6 seconds; 2. Luke Branquinho, 3.8; 3. (tie) Hunter Cure and Clayton Hass, 3.9 each; 5. Dalton Massey, 4.2; 6. (tie) Blake Knowles, Eli Lord, 4.6 and Tory Johnson, 4.6. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Jacob Talley and Stetson Jorgensen, 3.7 seconds; 3. (tie) Will Lummus, Dalton Massey and Kodie Jang, 3.8; 6. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Jacob Edler, 4.1; 6. (tie) Tyke Kipp, Zack Jongbloed and Shade Etherton, 4.3. Average leaders: 1. Dalton Massey, 8.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Luke Branquinho, 8.4; 3. Stetson Jorgenson, 8.5; 4. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Kodie Jang, 9.0; 6. Zack Jongbloed, 9.2; 7. Ryan Shuckburgh, 9.3; 8. Jacob Edler, 9.5; 9. Tom Littell, 9.7; 10. Kalane Anders, 10.1; 11. Denell Henderson, 10.4; 12. Weston Taylor, 10.5.
Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 5.2 seconds; 2. Casey Hicks/Steve Orth, 5.7; 3. (tie) Cale Markham/Cody Doescher and Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 5.8; 5. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 5.9; 6. (tie) Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley and Britt Smith/Jake Smith, 6.1; 8. (tie) Blake Teixeira/Jerren Johnson and Bubba Buckaloo/Cole Davison, 6.3. Second round leaders: 1. Matt Sherwood/Trey Yates, 4.3 seconds; 2. J.B. James Jr/Brock Hanson, 4.5; 3. Lightning Aguilera/Michael Fortenberry, 5.0; 4. Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch, 5.2; 5. Cory Kidd/Clay Futrell, 5.5; 6. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 5.7; 7. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 6.0; 8. Bubba Buckaloo/Cole Davison, 6.3. Average leaders: 1. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 12.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Casey Hicks/Steve Orth, 12.3; 3. (tie) Jake Orman/Brye Crites and Bubba Buckaloo/Cole Davison, 12.6; 5. Cole Markham/Cody Doescher, 12.7; 6. (tie) Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford, Coy Rahlmann/Ryan Von Ahn and Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch, 13.0; 9. Britt Smith/Jake Smith, 13.3; 10. Curry Kirchner/Chad Mathes, 13.6; 11. Ken McKibben/Riley Pedro, 14.1; 12. Adam Wallace/Cody Southerland, 14.8.
Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 85.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Bay Watch; 2. Taos Muncy, 84; 3. Ryder Wright, 83.5; 4. (tie) Brody Cress and Cole Elshere, 83; 6. (tie) Ross Griffin, Jacobs Crawley and Spencer Wright, 82.5; 9. Jake Finlay, 81.5; 10. Cody DeMoss, 81; 11. (tie) Brady Hill and Dusty Hausauer, 80.5.
Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Riley Pruitt, 8.1 seconds; 2. Haven Meged, 8.3; 3. Reid Zapalac, 8.5; 4. (tie) Cooper Martin and Catfish Brown, 8.6; 6. Reese Riemer, 8.7; 7. (tie) Ike Fontenot and Cade Swor, 8.8. Second round leaders: 1. Zack Jongbloed, 7.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Kincade Henry and Bo Pickett, 8.0; 4. Ty Harris, 8.1; 5. (tie) Cody McCartney, L.D. Meier and Ben Robinson, 8.3; 8. (tie) Marcos Costa, Adam Gray and Jake Pratt, 8.5. Average leaders: 1. Ty Harris, 17.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Haven Meged, 17.3; 3. Cooper Martin, 17.4; 4. Ike Fontenot, 17.8; 5. Blake Deckard, 18.5; 6. Ryan Jarrett, 18.6; 7. Glenn Jackson, 18.7; 8. Reid Zapalac, 18.8; 9. Ben Robinson, 19.2; 10. Will Howell, 19.3; 11. Marty Yates, 19.6; 12. Bo Pickett, 19.9.
Barrel racing: First round leaders: 1. BryAnna Haluptzok, 16.94 seconds; 2. Emily Miller, 16.95; 3. Jordon Briggs, 16.99; 4. Kathy Grimes, 17.10; 5. Sarah Rau, 17.12; 6. Erin Zoucha, 17.15; 7. Jennifer Sharp, 17.19; 8. Ceri Ward, 17.21; 9. Shannon Lillard, 17.23; 10. Ryann Pedone, 17.25; 11. (tie) Tillar Murray, Jackie Ganter and Shali Lord, 17.27. Second round leaders: 1. Cheyenne Wimberley, 16.80 seconds; 2. BryAnna Haluptzok, 16.88; 3. Stevi Hillman, 16.96; 4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 16.98; 5. Shannon Lillard, 17.00; 6. Lois Ferguson, 17.02; 7. Leia Pluemer, 17.06; 8. Sabra O’Quinn, 17.08; 9. Tami Semas, 17.12 ; 10. Kathy Grimes, 17.13. Average leaders: 1. BryAnna Haluptzok, 33.82 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Kathy Grimes and Shannon Lillard, 34.23; 4. Stevi Hillman, 34.38; 5. Cheyenne Wimberley, 34.39; 6. Sabra O’Quinn, 34.47; 7. Jordon Briggs, 34.49; 8. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 34.50; 9. Dona Kay Rule, 34.58; 10. Lois Ferguson, 34.59; 11. Tami Semas, 34.74; 12. Abby Phillips, 34.85; 11. Lacinda Rose, 34.89.
Bull riding leaders: 1. Chase Dougherty, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s 23+2; 2. Chance Ekins, 84.5; 3. (tie) Cole Meloncon and Brady Portenier, 84; 5. Roscoe Jarboe, 83; 6. Braden Richardson, 79; 7. (tie) Eli Vastbinder and Fulton Rutland, 78; 9. Tristan Mize, 77; 10. Creek Young, 76; 11. Colton Byram, 74; 12. (tie) Trevor Reiste and Connor Murnion, 72.