Coach Now in Title Contention

By: Ted Harbin

DUNCAN, Okla. – Christi Braudrick knew she had a bit of an advantage when she got ready to compete Friday night.

“That was the calf that Taylor (Munsell) won the round on last night,” said Braudrick, who posted a 2.3-second run to win the second go-round at the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo; it was the fastest run of the 24 that have been made in two nights at the Stephens County Arena. “I knew that calf a little bit, and I really think that helped.

“I was also going for it, because I have nothing to lose. I wanted to draw an exceptional calf, and I did. It’s not too often to draw the calf you need. When you do, you need to capitalize on it.”

She knows a thing or two about competition. Not only is she a veteran cowgirl, she also is the rodeo coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. When she’s not coaching her team or recruiting, she’s working on her own game. If that didn’t keep her busy enough, she’s also one of two breakaway-roping directors in the WPRA.

Because of that, she does a lot of practicing with a roping dummy. Why doesn’t she make regular runs? She has a lot of faith in her horse, Mighty Mouse, a 7-year-old black mare she’s had for three years.

“I’ve done well since I’ve gotten her, so I give a lot of credit to this horse,” Braudrick said. “My husband named her because she’s little and deceiving. She’s very quick across the line and has a short neck, so I can see, and it makes my job easier.”

Because of all the other things going on in her life, she doesn’t have the time to travel extensively. That’s why competing in the Prairie Circuit is important to her, since the region is made up of contestants and events primarily in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.

This is her major championship, and Braudrick wants to capitalize on it. She came into the finale in second place in the circuit standings, about $3,000 behind Munsell. They’ve each won a go-round, so it may come down to Saturday night to decide who will win the region. Though she didn’t place in the opening round, Braudrick made a clean run; meanwhile, Munsell settled for a no-time Friday night. That could make all the difference when the dust settles.

“Trying to do the coaching and competing at the same time is very time-consuming,” she said. “In March, I became the roping director, so I juggle all that, and it is a lot to do. Honestly, this comes last on my list. I rope the dummy a lot, because I know my horse is going to work. I don’t have to worry. She’s going to give me the start. She’s honest, and if I have a no-time, it’s because of me and something I did.”

When Braudrick and Mighty Mouse go to work, they tend to find success, especially in the Prairie Circuit.

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Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo
Oct. 12-14
Duncan, Okla.

Bareback riding: First round: 1. Jayco Roper, 84.5 points on Big Rafter Rodeo’s Family Traditions, $2,149; 2. Yance Day, 78, $1,612; 3. Ty Blessing, 76, $1,074; 4. Colt Eck, 75.5, $537. Second round: 1. Jayco Roper, 84.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Prime News, $2,149; 2. Quintonn Lunsford, 79, $1,612; 3. Ty Blessing, 78.5, $1,074; 4. Colt Eck, 77.5, $537.

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Tanner Brunner, 4.2 seconds, $2,149; 2. Travis Munro, 4.4, $1,612; 3. Cody Devers, 4.5, $1,074; 4. Jerek VanPettan, 4.9, $537. Second round: 1. Riley Duvall, 4.3 seconds, $2.149; 2. Trisyn Kalavaia, 4.7, $1,612; 3. Travis Munro, 5.0, $1,074; 4. Gus Franzen, 5.2, $537.

Breakaway roping: First round: 1. Taylor Munsell, 2.7 seconds, $2,149; 2. (tie) Chayenne McCartney and Ari-Anna Flynn, 2.9, $1,343; 4. Sierra Heinert, 3.0, $537. Second round: 1. Christi Braudrick, 2.4 seconds, $2,149; 2. Paige Wiseman, 2.7, $1,612; 3. Beau Peterson, 2.8, $1,074; 4. Ari-Anna Flynn, 3.0, $537.

Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Ean Price, 85 points on Big Rafter Rodeo’s Cheap Sunglasses, $2,149; 2. Weston Patterson, 81, $1,612; 3. Jacob Benham, 77.5, $1,074; 4. Caleb Newell, 72, $537. Second round: 1. Sam Martin, 83 points on Frontier Rodeos Big News, $2,149; 2. Tyrel Larsen, 82, $1,612; 3. Trent Burd, 81, $1,074; 4. Ean Price, 78.5, $537.
Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Riley O’Rourke, 8.6 seconds, $2,149; 2. Tom Crouse, 8.9, $1,612; 3. Denton Oestmann, 9.0, $1,074; 4. Ryan Jarrett, 9.1, $537. Second round: 1. Riley O’Rourke, 8.4 seconds, $2,149; 2. Tom Crouse, 8.8, $1,612; 3. Cash Fuesz, 8.9, $1,074; 4. Glenn Jackson, 9.1, $537.

Team roping: First round: 1. (tie) Bubba Buckaloo/Gavin Foster and Brye Crites/Rance Doyal, 4.9 seconds, $1,880 each; 3. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 5.7, $1,074; 4. Curry Kirchner/Billie Jack Saebens, 5.9, $537. Second round: 1. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.1 seconds, $2,149; 2. Tyler Hobert/Shannon Frascht, 5.1, $1,612; 3. Rowdy Jones/Gage Williams, 6.0, $1,074; 4. Cam Hoelting/Dawson McMaster, 10.5, $537.

Barrel racing: First round: 1. Emily Beisel, 16.02 seconds, $2,149; 2. (tie) Tracy Nowlin and Emma Charleston, 16.17, $1,43; 4. Ivy Hurst, 16.38, $537. Second round: 1. Suzanne Brooks, 16.04 seconds, $2,149; 2. Sadie Wolaver, 16.09, $1,612; 3. Ivy Hurst, 16.13, $1,074; 4. Tracy Nowlin, 16.15, $537.

Steer roping: First round: 1. Cole Patterson, 9.6 seconds, $1,882; 2. Mike Chase, 10.9, $1,412; 3. Luke Blanton, 11.4, $941; 4. (tie) Roger Branch and Coleman Proctor, 11.7, $236 each. Second round: 1. Cole Patterson, 11.6, $1,882; 2. Rocky Patterson, 12.6, $1,412; 3. Luke Blanton, 12.9, $941; 4. Zac Parrington, 13.4, $471. Third round: 1. Rocky Patterson, 9.7 seconds, $1,882; 2. Brodie Poppino, 10.1, $1,412; 3. Mike Chase, 10.6, $941; 4. Cole Patterson, 12.0, $471. Average: 1. Cole Patterson, 33.2 seconds on three runs, $2,824; 2. Coleman Proctor, 38.9, $2,118; 3. Roger Branch, 39.1, $1,412; 4. Chet Herren, 39.6, $706.

Bull riding: First round: 1. Cody Hazelton, 85 points on New Frontier Rodeo’s Fire Code, $2,955; 2. Fulton Rutland, 83.5, $2,417; no other qualified rides. Second round: 1. Coy Pollmeier, 86 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Six Shooter, $2,955; 2. Creek Young, 83.5, $2,417.

Courtesy of twisTED Rodeo