Kimzey Comes up Big at Redding WCC Event
REDDING Calif. – Sage Kimzey’s 2014 rookie season was one for the ages.
The Strong City, Okla., cowboy capped his amazing campaign with a gold buckle after winning $318,631.
This year, he hasn’t missed a beat.
Kimzey is atop the latest Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings and he will remain there after he won the Wrangler Champions Challenge, presented by Justin Boots with an 84-point ride on Growney Brothers Rodeo Company’s Mr. Big May 16.
“I had been on him (Mr. Big) before, I got on him at Puyallup last year but he bucked me off,” Kimzey, 20, said. “He’s a good bull and he usually is out to the left, and that’s kind of what I was expecting, but bucking bulls are animals and they have a mind of their own. He actually went to the right and was a good bull to get on.”
Kimzey, who had $54,526 in the May 11 standings will stay in the No. 1 position after collecting a $5,440 check at the WCC Redding rodeo.
“This year has been awesome,” Kimzey said. “I haven’t gone to as many rodeos and it has kept me real fresh for the ones I’ve been to and I’ve made the ones I’ve been to really count, so it has been really great. Last year I got on over 300 head of bulls and it definitely took a toll on my body and this year I’m just picking and choosing the (rodeos) I’m going to and it’s really working out.”
Although Kimzey has had immense success the last 18 months, he hasn’t quenched his thirst at all.
“I’m taking care of myself and getting ready for the summer run,” Kimzey said. “I’m craving bull riding like I’ve never craved the sport before. It’s something I have a fire inside me right now and it can’t be matched as far as my motivation to ride bulls right now.”
Other winners at the $123,600 rodeo were all-around cowboy Trevor Brazile ($1,280, tie-down roping and team roping), bareback rider Seth Hardwick (87.5 points on Growney Brothers Rodeo’s Raggidy Ann), steer wrestler Ty Erickson (4.4 seconds), team ropers Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill (5.2 seconds), saddle bronc rider Heith DeMoss (86.50 points on Big Stone, Moreno & Growney Rodeo’s Big Muddy), tie-down roper Matt Shiozawa (7.8 seconds), barrel racers Nancy Hunter (17.50 seconds), and Meghan Johnson (17.50 seconds).
Courtesy of PRCA