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Matt Shiozawa

Matt Shiozawa – Chubbock, Idaho ($84,153)
11-time WNFR qualifier

Matt Shiozawa doesn’t spend much time on the couch. He is a father, husband, businessman and last but not least, one of the best tie-down ropers in the PRCA.

His success in the arena can be attributed to hard work, dedication, hours of practice, horsemanship and athletic ability – most of the things he has in common with his fellow competitors. What sets him apart from all the rest of the competition is his heritage.

Matt’s father, Kent Shiozawa is Japanese and has had a huge influence over Matt and several other competitors’ careers. When Matt got his first pony, it came with a rope. He also participated in other sports, but when he got spread too thin, he chose the activities he excelled in. One of those was roping.

His early years were spent in Idaho then they moved to Logandale, Nevada, just an hour away from Las Vegas. That where he went to high school where he would practice sports after classes, then come home and practice roping. He won the National High School Rodeo Association tie-down and all-around titles in 1998 and then the next year won the team roping with Randon Adams in 1999.

That same year he joined the PRCA. This year, he has crossed the $2 million mark in career earnings and has qualified for his 11th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 12th place with $85,153 earned during the regular season rodeos.

That has come with a price. Matt and his wife, Ali, have three daughters. The oldest, Stella turned 8 last March. Lorelei is 6 and Ivory is 4. As the girls are getting older, their activities keep them busy and Matt has had to travel more by himself than with the family.

They do have a family tradition of all being in Las Vegas for the NFR for the past four years. This will be Matt’s fifth consecutive NFR and the girls and his many fans are hoping that great things happen for the Shiozawas in the Thomas and Mack Center in December.

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