Hermiston Win ‘biggest’ of Wyatt Covington’s Career
HERMISTON, Ore. – In two years on his permit, Wyatt Covington has two PRCA rodeo wins to his name. The second one was a big one, and his first solo title.
Covington rode Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Hunky Dorie for 86.5 points and the victory at the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour’s Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston, Ore., Aug. 11.
Not a bad place to pull down win No. 2.
“It’s pretty awesome, because that’s a big rodeo up here in the Northwest,” said Covington, 19.
Winning in the Northwest means a little extra for Covington, who lives in Omak, Wash.
Covington took a month off this summer to recover from a groin injury. His second rodeo since the injury turned out to be Hermiston.
“It means a lot,” said Covington, who took home $5,161. “It being that big of a rodeo gets my name out there more and gets me recognized a little more. I know I’ve got the talent, it’s just when I put it all together and do it right, everything felt perfect for me. It’s just a matter of being consistent with it.”
Covington sounds like he has a plan for his rodeo future.
“I figured why not go another year, use up my permit, give me a little time to mature,” Covington said. “Hopefully next year will be my rookie year and I’ll try and win Rookie of the Year and make the NFR. That’s the plan.”
With the win, Covington is inside the Top 50 in the Wrangler Tour Standings. The top 24 cowboys in each event at the conclusion of the 22 Tour rodeos qualify for the Justin Finale at Puyallup, Wash., Sept. 6-9.
Covington has tried to go as much as possible this season. Injuries have limited his rodeo count.
“I worked on a ranch in the fall and winter,” he said. “But come the new year, I started rodeoing. I’ve been going to quite a few. I also had to turn out of a few due to doctor’s releases, so not as many as I’d like to get to.”
Covington’s first win was a co-championship with Jordan Spears at the Sisters (Ore.) Rodeo Xtreme Bulls Division 2, June 6.
“This is by far the biggest rodeo I’ve ever won,” Covington said about Hermiston. “I’m pretty excited about it.”
With a little momentum, Covington will be staying busy. In the next several days he’ll be at Lynden, Wash.; Canby, Ore.; Moses Lake, Wash., and Caldwell, Idaho.
“I’ve got a busy week ahead of me,” he said.
Other winners at the $194,619 rodeo were all-around cowboy Steven Dent ($6,144 in bareback riding and saddle bronc riding); bareback rider Orin Larsen (88.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Special Delivery); steer wrestler Blake Knowles (7.4 seconds on two head); team ropers Lane Ivy/Blaine Vick (9.1 seconds on two head); saddle bronc rider Chase Brooks (87.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Yesterdays Delivery); tie-down roper Cimarron Boardman (17.8 seconds on two head); and barrel racer Jennifer Barrett (16.83 seconds).
For more coverage of the Hermiston, Ore., rodeo, check out the Aug. 24 edition of ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA