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Leg Injuries End Smidt’s Season

by ProRodeo.com | May 21, 2014
Caleb Smidt out for the rest of the 2014 rodeo season with leg injuries

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Caleb Smidt, the 2013 PRCA Resistol Overall and Tie-down Rookie of the Year, will miss the remainder of the 2014 season after suffering a severe injury to his right leg on May 7.

Smidt was practicing on a steer wrestling dummy at his place in Bellville, Texas and he was sliding with the apparatus when there was an equipment malfunction.

Caleb Smidt 2014 Wrangler NFR“I dislocated my ankle and broke my tibia and fibula in three spots,” said Smidt, 24. “The pin broke on the steer wrestling dummy and the dummy came loose and shot over to the right. My body went to the left and my legs went to the right and I rolled over my right leg. My (right) foot was turned completely sideways and the bone was sticking out through the bottom of my leg.”

Smidt had two surgeries –on May 8 and May 19 – to repair the damage.

“During the surgery (May 19), they put three plates and like 27 screws in my ankle,” Smidt said. “The injury is under my knee, like halfway down my shin. I’m not going to be able to go to any more rodeos this season. I will be out probably until the first of October.”

Smidt was seventh in tie-down roping in the Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings at the time of the injury with $26,873 in winnings. He also was third in the all-around standings at $31,047.

“Stuff happens,” Smidt said. “It’s not very fun, but it will be all right. This was just a freak deal.”

A year ago, Smidt qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas and finished 10th in the tie-down roping season standings with $110,628. He won $34,255 at the Wrangler NFR, highlighted by second-place finishes in the second and 10th rounds.

Smidt also placed seventh in the 2013 all-around standings with $116,079.

Courtesy of PRCA

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