WNFR Regular Will Lowe Wins Sikeston Rodeo
SIKESTON, Mo. – Will Lowe is working hard to keep his impressive streak alive, and winning the Aug. 5-8 Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo will help him accomplish that goal.
The 32-year-old Lowe is a three-time world champion bareback rider (2003, 2005-06) and has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo every year since 2002.
Among bareback riders, that 13-year streak is just one shy of the longest current mark; four-time World Champion Bobby Mote has qualified for rodeo’s Super Bowl each season since 2001.
Lowe won the bareback riding in Sikeston – which is a Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Silver rodeo – with a score of 88 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Storm Cloud.
“That horse went to the NFR last year, and I knew that horse was real good,” Lowe said. “I knew that horse was a little bucky and would have some moves and stuff, and he was real good that night.”
Lowe rode in Sikeston on the first night of the rodeo and grabbed the lead, and his big score stood up through the next three performances.
“It was a little muddy but that ground there is sandy and can hold a lot of water,” Lowe said. “That arena holds water pretty good, and the footing was real good and really didn’t bother the animals. There was no slipping. That committee does a real good job there.
“The weather was nice and cool for Sikeston in August. It was extremely nice and that helped with the livestock, I thought.”
Lowe also won the Aug. 5-8 Lawton (Okla.) Rangers Rodeo when he rode for 86 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Wild Desire on Aug. 7.
Lowe sat 18th in the Aug. 3 Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings but should move up with his win at Sikeston.
“It’s a grind every year,” said the Canyon, Texas, cowboy. “Some years it’s a little easier, some years it’s a little tougher. I wish some of them big rodeos had gone a little better, but it could be worse, too. We’ve still got quite a few rodeos to go to. I just try to stay consistent and strong, and ride each one as good as I can.”
As for his career, Lowe said, “I’ve been pretty consistent, I guess. It’s been a lot of fun. I’ve been extremely blessed and fortunate that I’ve done as well as I have, drawn the right horses at the right time and stayed healthy. I’ve had a lot of fun and I’m still happy to be able to ride bucking horses. I’m feeling good, but I ride bucking horses for a living so it’s no bowl of cherries. I might be sore sometimes, but I’m not injured.”
With the WNFR being in the first year of a new 10-year contract and worth more than $10 million in cash and prizes, Lowe is anxious to keep his streak of Las Vegas appearances alive.
“I dang sure want to win enough to make sure I’m in there, but there’s only so much I can do,” he said. “I just try my hardest each time in the arena, and it is what it is. I’ve been around long enough that it’s not going to destroy me if something goes bad, but I’m going to try my hardest to get there again. This is a year you really want to jump in there because it’s going to be an awesome NFR.”
Other winners at the $182,472 rodeo were all-around cowboy Trevor Brazile ($2,692 in tie-down roping and team roping), steer wrestler Bray Armes (9.4 seconds on two head), team ropers Zac Small and Tyler Worley (9.4 seconds on two head), saddle bronc rider Rusty Wright (84 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s High Country), tie-down roper Ryan Watkins (17.2 seconds on two head), barrel racer Tracy Nowlin (16.18 seconds) and bull rider Corey Atwell (89 points on Rafter H Rodeo Livestock’s Cowboy Cool).
Read more about the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo in the Aug. 28 ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA