Wisehart Snares Bareback Crown at RMSCFR
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. – Upon his own admission, Craig Wisehart rodeos for fun.
Well the cowboy who grew up in Kersey, Colo., had plenty of fun this past weekend.
Wisehart won the bareback average crown at the RAM Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo (Oct. 22-24) with a score of 233 points on three head.
“I was just trying to ride better every day,” said Wisehart, 28.
This is the second time Wisehart won the bareback average crown at the RMSCFR the other time coming in 2009.
Wisehart’s consistency is what paid dividends for him at the Sweetwater Events Complex. Wisehart was second in the first round with 79 points and then he won the second round with a 78-point ride on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Sun Pop. In the third round, Wisehart clinched the average with a 76-point ride on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Painted Coast.
Wisehart left Rock Springs with $6,273 in winnings, including a $2,689 check for capturing the average.
“I didn’t even know what score I needed to win the average,” Wisehart said. “I just wanted to ride my best. I had never been on that horse before. I saw it on the list and I knew it would be a good one so I was happy when I had it. I was hoping to score better, but when I caught my breath they announced that I won the average and it was amazing.”
The victory was even more special because of the family he had in the crowd watching the action.
“My mom (Nancy) and two nieces (Jacey, 11, and Karsyn, 9) got to witness the whole thing, it was pretty exciting,” Wisehart said. “It was cool they were there. I think the rest of the family will probably come on down to Florida.”
Kissimmee, Fla., is where Wisehart will be April 7-10 to compete in the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo. This is the second year the RNCFR will be held in Kissimmee.
“I’m tickled to be going there, I couldn’t ask for more,” Wisehart said.
When Wisehart isn’t rodeoing he spends most of his time as an assistant rodeo coach at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.
“I got tired of waking up sore and I have been the assistant rodeo coach at Tarleton for the last four years,” Wisehart said. “The men’s team won the (2015) national championship and we just got our rings in the other day and it was pretty awesome.”
Other winners at the $159,154 rodeo were all-around cowboy Josh Peek ($12,415 tie-down roping and steer wrestling), steer wrestler Cody Pratt (21.5 seconds on three head), team ropers Clayton Van Aken and Cullen Teller (21.0 seconds on three head), saddle bronc rider Lyle Welling (214 points on three head), tie-down roper Josh Peek (25.2 seconds on three head), barrel racer Andrea Busby (46.84 seconds on three runs), and bull rider Cody Johansen (160 points on two head)
Courtesy of PRCA