GET SOCIAL 
SHOP NOW AT:
WRANGLER.COM

Sechrist Takes Early Lead in Coffeyville

By Ruth Nicolaus/for the Inter-State Rodeo

COFFEYVILLE, Kan. – The top tie-down roper in the Prairie Circuit came to Coffeyville Aug. 13, and left in first place.

Bryson Sechrist roped his calf in 9.3 seconds to lead the first go-round of the Inter-State Rodeo.

The Apache, Okla. cowboy stands on top of the Prairie Circuit, the regional designation for rodeos in Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska, with $10,571 in earnings. Only $1,200 separates him from the number three man in the standings, Jerome Schneeberger, and a win at a rodeo can move the second and third man past Sechrist.

“I’ve got four or five guys on my butt,” he said. “The standings are tight. Any weekend, they could pass me. You stub your toe, there’s going to be someone coming to get you.”

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association season ends September 30, and whoever is in the top 12 in the Circuit at that time goes on to compete at the RAM Prairie Circuit Finals in Duncan, Okla. in October. Between now and then, Sechrist and his traveling partner Perry Dietz will hit the rodeo road hard.

“We’re in Freedom (Okla.) Friday morning, Eureka (Kan.) Friday night, Coffeyville (for the second go-round) Saturday morning, then Altus (Okla.), Hastings (Neb.), Elk City (Okla.), and Longford (Kan.) We’ll hit all of them. Perry is on the edge (in 11th place) so I’m going to try to help him get” to the circuit finals.

Sechrist, who is 22, will be a junior at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant this fall. He ropes in the collegiate ranks as well as in the PRCA. He’s working on an agriculture degree and when he’s through with college, will rope full time.

He rides a five-year-old horse named Spiderman who was purchased as a three-year-old and trained by his dad.

Leaders in the other events include bareback rider Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb. (82); steer wrestler Shane Frey, Duncan, Okla. (4.0 seconds); saddle bronc rider Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La. (75); team ropers Andrew Ward and Reagan Ward, Edmond, Okla. (10.5); steer roper Keith Swan, Vinita, Okla. (12.6); barrel racer Sarah Rose McDonald, Brunswick, Ga. (17.93) and bull rider Sam Wyatt, Fittstown, Okla. (78).

The Aug. 14 edition of the Inter-State Rodeo is Tough Enough to Wear Pink night. Fans are asked to wear pink and voluntary donations will be picked up to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.fairandrodeo.com.

Courtesy of PRCA

Related Content