Branquinho Out with Shoulder Injury

by Justin Shaw | Apr 17, 2015

Luke Branquinho, the five-time and defending world champion steer wrestler, is expected to be out until at least the Redding (Calif.) Rodeo (Wrangler MDT Silver) May 13-15 with a shoulder injury.

Branquinho dislocated his left shoulder while competing at the Clark County Fair & Rodeo in Logandale, Nev., April 8, and had a second MRI taken April 15 at the Santa Barbara (Calif.) Cottage Hospital.

“Everything got a little tight and I missed the steer and the steer stepped on my shoulder when I was on the ground,” Branquinho said of the injury. “(Dr.) Tandy (Freeman) looked at the MRI and said there is a chance it may need surgery, but right now we are going to stick to rehab and see how that goes. I’m planning on being back for the Redding Rodeo (May 13-15) and the Redding Rodeo Champions Challenge (May 16). If I’m not ready then, I will try and be ready for the Santa Maria (Calif.) Elks Rodeo (May 28-31) and the Champions Challenge (May 30) in Spanish Fork (Utah).”

Branquinho was seventh in the April 13 Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings with $22,554.

“You don’t really worry about what you are missing, just make sure you are strong when you come back,” Branquinho said.

Battling through injuries is nothing new to Branquinho. Last season, he was injured July 18 at California Rodeo Salinas and had to have surgery to repair the lat (latissimus dorsi) muscle under his right arm.

Branquinho didn’t return to action until Dec. 4, the opening night of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. By the time the WNFR ended Dec. 13 in Las Vegas, Branquinho won both the gold buckle and the average.

Courtesy of PRCA