Proctor/Motes have Memorable Day at the American
By Tracy Renck
ARLINGTON, Texas – Lifelong memories were made for team roping header Coleman Proctor and heeler Ryan Motes on Sunday at The American.
The duo won the four-team shootout round with a 4.24-second time that triggered a money windfall for them at AT&T Stadium.
Proctor and Coleman each won $100,000 for winning the event and each earned an additional $333,333. As qualifiers for The American, Proctor and Coleman had a chance to win $1 million, taking home $333,333 as they shared the $1 million with bull rider Joao Ricado Vieira.
“I finally did my job today, and I’m just so excited,” Proctor said. “Ryan did a great job. He reads the situation so well. Having a great heeler and a great horse and a veteran in this type of situation was huge. I was just glad I was able to get it done there in the final round.”
By winning The American, Proctor and Motes will have $50,000 of their winnings go toward the PRCA | RAM World Standings this season.
“For the PRCA letting it count (in the standings) is a big deal,” Motes said. “It’s awesome to have $50,000 count. It was an up-and-down week for us, and the last round was tough. The Minors were winning, and we had to beat them to take the lead, so we went at them.”
Proctor and Motes edged the team of Riley and Brady Minor, who came in second place in the shootout after stopping the clock in 4.75 seconds.
“When you come to a rodeo like this you want to join a league of champions that we’ve watched the last five years before us,” Proctor said. “I had the discussion with my wife coming in, it feels like when you try and get on a level and really believe that you can win something like this, it becomes a goal and not just a dream, you start making plans. I told my wife good thing we have a good CPA because I plan on bringing that big check home.
“The first thing I want to do is pay off my living quarters trailer, so I don’t have to make that payment every month. But, I think right now, I’m just going to look at that check in amazement.”
Proctor entered the week 31st in the world standings with $9,387, but he should rocket up to the top of the world standings after The American. Proctor has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo four times (2014-17). He placed 18th in the world standings last year. Motes also has made four appearances at the Wrangler NFR (2007, 2012-13 and 2015).
Motes was riding Rockstar to claim the victory in AT&T Stadium. Like Proctor, he finished 18th last season.
“Coleman and I started roping together last summer, and neither one of us had a very good chance to make the NFR,” Motes said. “We really hit a pretty good lick, and we went all the way to the end and we just missed the NFR by a little bit. It seems devastating when you miss the NFR, that’s what you all look for, but God has his plan. Then, we had this happen at The American, and it is crazy.”
For more information about The American check out the March 8 issue of the ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA