Dymmek Survives Scare to Win Southeastern Circuit
by Bob Stephens
DAVIE, Fla. – Steer wrestler Kamry Dymmek seemed to have lost his chance to win the RAM Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo, but appeared to have wrapped up the circuit’s year-end championship.
As it turned out, neither scenario was true.
In a rare mix-up, Dymmek’s bulldogging run in Round 3 Saturday night was with a team roping steer. He managed to complete the run, although it took 13 seconds.
“That gave me the year-end (championship),” Dymmek said.
Well, not so fast.
“I ran steer (number) 50, but I guess it wasn’t the bulldogging steer,” Dymmek said. “It was the team roping (steer number) 50. It didn’t go exactly as planned; that steer didn’t have the normal travel pattern and it’s not used to going down like that. The judges said the rules forced me to do a re-run.”
That made Dymmek nervous, since he needed a qualified run to clinch the year-end championship. Suddenly, it was possible that he might not win anything. His re-run didn’t come until after the bull riding, so he had plenty of time to fret about the situation.
But he came through like a champ and made a solid run of 4.6 seconds to earn fourth place in Round 3. And suddenly, he was a double winner as that not only won him the year-end title but also made him the rodeo’s average champion with a time of 13.2 seconds on three head.
Dymmek said he was overcome with relief and joy.
“It was a great moment of excitement and a feeling of how blessed I am,” Dymmek said. “There are so many good bulldoggers down here, it’s quite an honor to be known as either the year-end or the average champion. To win both is just amazing.”
Dymmek, 31, is a repeat winner for the Southeastern Circuit year-end championship. The Kissimmee, Fla., cowboy competed at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in his hometown last March and is thrilled to have the chance to be at that prestigious rodeo again next April.
At his first RNCFR, Dymmek was hampered by a torn pectoral muscle suffered at the 2014 RAM Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo.
At this year’s three-day RSCFR, Dymmek suffered no such misfortune. His consistency served him well, as he took fourth in Round 1 with a time of 4.6 seconds before winning Round 2 in 4.0 seconds.
“I was fortunate and had a couple things go our way,” he said. “I had a little luck.”
He was thankful to have his parents – Gary and Se’Belle – and other family in the stands to cheer him on and lend support.
“My whole family was here to watch,” he said. “I owe so much to my dad and my mom. Dad taught me how to bulldog, and my mom (a noted horse breeder) has given me great horses to ride.”
He rode Honey Bell Wonder, 11, while winning the RSCFR average title.
“She’s been absolutely amazing for me,” he said.
Other winners at the $189,133 rodeo were bareback rider Winn Ratliff (239 points on three head), team ropers Bradley Massey and Shane Hester (29.5 seconds on three head), saddle bronc riders Heith DeMoss and Curtis Garton (242 points each on three head), tie-down roper Tim Pharr (28.5 seconds on three head), barrel racer Megan Swint (45.19 seconds on three head) and bull rider Jeffrey Ramagos (143 points on two head).
Read more about the RAM Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo in the Jan. 15 ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA