GUYMON, Okla. – The dirt under Bridger Andeson’s feet inside Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena is familiar.

Yes, he’s originally from Carrington, North Dakota, and now lives near Stephenville, Texas, but he returned to his old stomping grounds this week for the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo and has found success. He hopes it continues.

“It’s been a good rodeo,” said Anderson, the 2019 college national champion steer wrestler from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, just 170 miles east. “I think we have well over 100 bulldoggers, and that makes it a tough bulldogging and a good bulldogging. We ended up winning the first round.”

That 4.0-second run made Wednesday was worth more than $2,500 and served as a starting point. He was then 5.3 seconds Thursday and came into the four weekend performances tied for the lead with Cody Devers of Perryton, Texas. After making a 5.2-second run Saturday afternoon, Anderson owns the three-run aggregate with 14.5 seconds.

“It’s a little fresher pen of cattle,” he said, referring to steers that hadn’t been run much prior to this rodeo. “I made a business run today on the steer we had. Hopefully we end up somewhere decent. There are a lot of good bulldoggers and good steers left, so we’ll see how it shakes out.”

Anderson has competed in Hitch Arena since his freshman year in college. He earned three qualifications to the College National Finals Rodeo and would have made it four had COVID not forced the cancellation to the 2020 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association season. He made up for it a little in ProRodeo by earning a bid to his first National Finals Rodeo that year.

He returned to ProRodeo’s grand finale this past December and excelled. He earned nearly $121,000 over 10 days in Las Vegas and finished the year seventh in the world standings with $206,450. Like everyone who makes a living on the rodeo trail, he’d love to return to the NFR, but he has some ground to make up. He’s not among the top 50 on the money list.

There is no concern in the way he handles his business, though. Anderson knows it’s a long season that requires patience and stamina to be among the best. He still has some aspirations he wants to accomplish, especially when they’re well within reach.

“Guymon gives away a really cool belt, and one of these times, I want to win that belt,” Anderson said.

Devers will run his third steer Sunday afternoon. Like Anderson, Devers is one of several bulldoggers with ties to Northwestern competing in Guymon this week. In Saturday afternoon’s performance alone, five of the 10 steer wrestlers have attended the Alva school.

“Northwestern Oklahoma State University has a pretty solid bulldogging program under (coach) Stockton Graves,” Anderson said. “I lived in Alva for six or seven years, and Guymon was not too far away, so it’s nice to be back in this part of the country.

“This rodeo is continuing to try to get better. It’s a rodeo that every year just tries to get a little better, and they were putting on a great rodeo already. It’s cool to see them try so hard and put on a great rodeo.”

Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo
May 3-5
Bareback riding leaders: 1. (tie) Jess Pope, on Frontier Rodeo’s Breaking News, and Dean Thompson, on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire, 90 points; 3. Kade Sonnier, 88.5; 4. (tie) Garrett Shadbolt and Donny Proffit, 87.5; 6. (tie) Cole Franks and Orin Larsen, 87; 8. Kashton Ford, 86.5.

Team roping: First round: 1. Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, 6.4 seconds, $2,397 each; 2. Paul David Tierney/Billie Jack Saebens, 6.7, $2,085; 3. (tie) Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves and Adam Rose/Gralyn Elkins, 6.8, $1,459 each; 6. Casey Hicks/Steve Orth, 6.9, $834; 7. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, Kreece Thompson/Cooper Freeman and Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 7.0, $243 each. Second round: 1. Curry Kirchner/Jake Edwards, 6.9 seconds, $2,397 each; 2. Jhett Trenary/Jake South, 7.4, $2,085; 3. Corben Culley/J.D. Yates, 7.5, $1,772; 4. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 7.6, $1,459; 5. Zack Woods/Gavin Foster, 7.7, $1,147; 6. Seth Hall/Pace Blanchard, 7.9, $834; 7. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 8.4, $521; 8. (tie) Payden Emmett/Jace Davis and Britton Grinstead/Scott Daily, 8.5, $104 each. Third round leaders: 1. Paul David Tierney/Billie Jack Saebens, 6.4 seconds; 2. J7 Brand/Tyson Thompsoin, 6.7; 3. Aaron Tsinigine/Denton Dunning, 6.9; 4. Jake Cooper/Chase Graves, 7.1; 5. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 7.6; 6. Chet Weitz/Clay Futrell, 7.8; 7. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 8.0; 8. Mason Appleton/Rance Doyle, 9.2. Average leaders: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 22.6 seconds on three runs; 2. Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, 27.4; 3. J7 Brand/Tyson Thompson, 27.6; 4. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 27.8; 5. Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, 33.6; 6. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 34.4; 7. Max Kuttler/Cashton Weidenbener, 43.8; 8. Chet Weitz/Clay Futrell, 53.7.

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Bridger Anderson, 4.0 seconds, $2,516; 2. Trell Etbauer, 4.1, $2,188; 3. Justin Shaffer, 4.4, $1,860; 4. (tie) Emmett Edler, Mason Couch and Jacob Edler, 4.6, $1,203 each; 7. (tie) Justice Johnson and Cody Devers, 4.7, $383 each. Second round: 1. Jake Shelton, 3.8 seconds, $2,516; 2. Jake Nelson, 4.3, $2,188; 3. Quint Bell, 4.5, $1,860; 4. (tie) Cody Devers, Chase Crane and Darcy Kersh, 4.6, $1,203 each; 7. Tyke Kipp, 4.8, $547; 8. (tie) Jace Melvin and J.D. Struxness, 4.9, $109 each. Third round leaders: 1. Tyler Scheevel, 4.1 seconds; 2. (tie) Ty Baurele and J.D. Struxness, 4.3; 4. Justin Shaffer, 4.4; 5. Logan Kenline, 4.5; 6. Cash Robb, 4.7; 7. (tie) Logan Mullin and Gus Franzen, 4.9. Average leaders: 1. Bridger Anderson, 14.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Jake Nelson, 15.0; 3. (tie) Ty Bauerle and J.D. Struxness, 15.3; 5. Rowdy Parrott, 15.4; 6. Tyke Kipp, 16.2; 7. Coy Johnston, 16.5; 8. Gus Franzen, 17.0.  

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Traylin Martin, 86 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Smoke Wagon; 2. Skinny Parsons, 84.5; 3. (tie) Chase Brooks, Logan Cook, Zac Dallas and Jake Clark, 84; 7. Sam Martin, 82; 8. Thayme Elshere, 81.5.

Breakaway roping: First round: 1. (tie) Montana Brown and Amanda Coleman, 2.4 seconds, $1,963 each; 3. (tie) Tiffany Schieck and Jill Tanner, 2.5, $1,415 each; 5. (tie) Mataya Eklund, J J Hampton, Cheyanne McCartney, Brandi McDowell and Madison Outhier, 2.6, $475 each. Second round leaders: 1. Shaya Biever, 2.3 seconds; 2. (tie) Cassidy Boggs, Jill Tanner and Braylee Shepherd, 2.8; 5. Aspen Miller, 2.9; 6. Cheyanne McCartney, 3.2; 7. Tiffany Schieck, 3.3; 8. Jackie Crawford, 3.5. Average leaders: 1. Jill Tanner, 5.3 seconds on two runs; 2. Shaya Biever, 5.5; 3. (tie) Cheyanne McCartney and Tiffany Schieck, 5.8; 5. Cassidy Boggs, 6.0; 6. (tie) Aspen Miller and Mataya Eklund, 6.2; 8. Braylee Shepherd, 6.3.

Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Shad Mayfield, 7.1 seconds, $4,252; 2. Chet Weitz, 7.4, $3,697; 3. (tie) Marty Yates and Seth Hall, 7.5, $2,865 each; 5. (tie) Pecos Tatum and Cooper Martin, 7.6, $1,756 each; 7. Howard Green IV, 7.7, $924; 8. Cory Solomon, 7.8, $370. Second round: 1. Riley Mason Webb, 6.9 seconds, $4,252; 2. Cash Hooper, 7.4, $3,697; 3. Tanner Green, 7.5, $3,143; 4. (tie) Hunter Herrin and Colten Wallis, 7.6, $2,311 each; 6. Tuf Case Cooper, 7.8, $1,479; 7. (tie) Marcos Costa and Cooper Martin, 7.9, $647 each. Third round leaders: 1. Cory Solomon, 7.1 seconds; 2. Marty Yates, 7.6; 3. Ty Harris, 8.1; 4. Pecos Tatum, 8.2; 5. (tie) Corbin James Fisher and Zack Jongbloed, 8.3; 7. (tie) Cash Enderli and Kincade Henry, 8.6. Average leaders: 1. Ty Harris, 24.2 seconds on three runs; 2. Pecos Tatum, 24.8; 3. Kincade Henry, 26.6; 4. Zack Jongbloed, 27.5; 5. Seth Hall, 27.8; 6. Cash Enderli, 27.9; 7. Cory Solomon, 28.6; 8. Marty Yates, 29.8.

Barrel racing: First round: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 16.99 seconds, $2,550; 2. Jymmy Kay Cox, 17.03, $2,186; 3. Wenda Johnson, 17.08, $1,822; 4. Leslie Smalygo, 17.09, $1,579; 5. Michelle Alley, 17.14, $1,214; 6. Shelley Morgan, 17.19, $972; 7. Carlee Otero, 17.21, $729; 8. Ivy Hurst, 17.22, $486; 9. Keyla Costa, 17.24, $364; 10. (tie) Natalie Bland and Loni Kay Yates, 17.25, $121 each. Second round leaders: 1. Carlee Otero, 17.27 seconds; 2. Loni Kay Yates, 17.30; 3. (tie) Stevi Hillman and Ashley Castleberry, 17.40; 5. Cindy Smith, 17.41; 6. LaTricia Duke, 17,45; 7. Quincy Sullivan, 17.48; 8. Wenda Johnson, 17.50; 4. Molly Otto, 17.57; 5. (Itie) Kim Squires and Caley Walkoviak, 17.59; 7. Kalli McCall, 17.62; 8. Timber Allenbrand, 17.65; 9. Tracy Nowlin, 17.66; 10. Kallie Gates, 17.67. Average leaders: 1. Carlee Otero, 24.48 seconds on two runs; 2. Loni Kay Yates, 34.55; 3. Wenda Johnson, 34.56; 4. Ashley Castleberry, 34.72; 5. Ivy Hurst, 34.79; 6. Cindy Smith, 34.90; 7. LaTricia Duke, 34.93; 8. Quincy Sullivan, 34.99.

Bull riding leaders: 1. J.R. Stratford, 89.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Moon Flower; 2. Coy Pollmeier, 88; 3. Cash Toews, 86.5; 4. Colton Byram, 85.5; 5. Hudson Bolton, 84; 6. Falcon McConnell, 83.5; 7. Riley Shippy, 80; 8. (tie) Creek Young and Riggin Shippy, 76.