Bradlee Miller Wins Battle Born Broncs in Fallon, Nev.
Professional sports remain a passion business. Success at the highest level requires commitment and enthusiasm for the process.
Bradlee Miller is transitioning from college star to a PRCA card-carrying bareback rider. It has been challenging and exciting. Both could be heard in his voice Wednesday night as he exited the arena following his eye-opening 89-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics Shoutin Shoes to capture the title at the Battle Born Broncs in Fallon, Nev.
“The environment was awesome. The crowd was really into it. The weather was great. That horse, she took a couple of strikes like she normally does, then broke and bucked and was jumping high,” said Miller, who had intel on the stock after watching it perform in the Clark County Fair & Rodeo in Logandale, Nev., earlier this season. “I knew it could be a good score.”
Lefty Holman won the saddle bronc riding at the event, delivering a 90-point ride on Powder River Rodeo’s Miss Valley. While Holman is a proven veteran, Miller, 20, is aiming to reach the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the first time. He felt in his gut this could be a breakthrough year, and his instincts were right. He has won multiple times.
“That is the goal to get to the NFR. Earlier this year, I was trying to figure out if I wanted to stay on my permit for another year or get on my card,” Miller said. “And it basically came down to that if I am going to be a wolf, I have to play with the wolves. So, I decided to get my card, and I am really happy I did.”
This doesn’t mean Miller has left college in his rearview mirror. He rodeos for his father, coach Bubba Miller, at Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas. He is a sophomore athletically and a junior academically, majoring in construction management. After Wednesday’s win, Miller headed back to Casper, Wyo., to compete in the bareback riding finals at the College National Finals Rodeo.
“Last year I made the finals in bull riding and bareback. But I am focusing just on bareback this year,” Miller said. “It’s been a busy time. But I am done for the semester for school and those finals couldn’t have come at a better time. Now I am free for a couple of months to focus on rodeo. My dad being the coach, he wants me to rodeo, but he stays on me. He needs me back in school to compete as well. I look forward to it.”
Courtesy of PRCA