Franks Drinks to his Success

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Cole Franks has some fond memories of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, some of which are approved by his mother; some are not.

“It’s cool to come here to this rodeo and do good, especially with the history with it,” said Franks, 22, the 2021 Roundup Rodeo champion bareback rider. “I’m just excited to be back.”

That’s the Darla Franks-approved version. The other story comes from years ago when his father, Bret, was still riding bucking horses. The family came to Dodge City to see him compete, and Cole and his older brother, Clint, found their way into trouble.

“We broke into the beer stand, and I drank my first beer when I was pretty little,” he said with a bit of a smirk. “When I was a kid, you remember this one the most because you were hearing stories about Dodge City, and then I told everybody that I drank my first beer at this rodeo.”

That was 2004; Cole Franks was 3 years old; the next day, the proud toddler told his pastor and another church member about his beer-drinking experience.

The Texan hopes to continue his hot streak at the hottest time of the year. He rode Frontier Rodeo’s Big League for 86.5-points to take the first-round lead at the historic Roundup Arena, the biggest rodeo in Kansas and one of the richest events in ProRodeo.

“I’d been on him one time before, and we were 85 or 86 in Montgomery, Alabama,” said Franks, a two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Clarendon, Texas. “I knew it would be a really good ride and a lot of fun. It’s good to come to big rodeos and get on good horses.”

Franks will likely earn a nice first-round payday, but the biggest aspect of his ride is his qualification to Sunday’s championship round, which will feature only the top 12 contestants in each event through the four preliminary performances. Two years ago when he claimed his first Roundup buckle, Franks won the first round, the short round and the overall title.

That was a magical season, one that saw him win the intercollegiate all-around, bareback riding and team titles for Clarendon College, which is coached by his dad. Cole Franks also was named the Resistol Rookie of the Year, qualified for his first NFR and finished third in the world standings. He returned to Las Vegas last year and finished the campaign fourth on the money list.

With two months remaining in ProRodeo’s regular season, he’s a bit behind his goals of finishing among the top 15. He is 21st in the world standings with $58,000. A good run this week could catapult him into the sweet spot, and he’d be good with that. Franks spent two months on injured reserve while receiving treatments for a neck injury, but he understands just what needs to happen in the final weeks of the of 2023 to see himself back in the Nevada desert come December.

“My neck feels good, especially when you’re winning,” he said. “It’s getting better; it’s taking some time, so I just have to deal with it. You have to power through mainly. When you know you have something good, you forget about the pain.”

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Dodge City Roundup Rodeo
Dodge City, Kan.
Aug. 2-6, 2022

Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 86.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Big League; 2. Tim O’Connell, 85.5; 3. (tie) Jayco Roper, Andy Gingerich and Chad Rutherford, 85; 6. Ty Pope, 84; 7. Jess Pope, 83.5; 8. Jacob Lees, 83; 9. Dean Thompson, 82; 10. Bil Tutor, 81; 11. (tie) Donny Proffit, Quinton Lee Lundsford and Mark Kreder, 79.

Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Gage Hesse, 3.5 seconds; 2. Jace Melvin, 4.0; 3. Cyler Dowling, 4.2; 4. Cameron Morman, 4.4; 5. Stockton Graves, 4.5; 6. (tie) Kalane Anders and Brandon Volker, 4.6; 8. (tie) Nick Guy, Dirk Tavenner and Olin Hannum, 4.7. Second round leaders: 1. Olin Han num, 3.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Stephen Mullins, Blake Knowles and Stan Branco, 4.1; 5. (tie) Cameron Morman, Ty Cochrane and Kalane Anders, 4.2; 8. Dirk Tavenner, 4.3. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Olin Hannum and Cameron Morman, 8.6 seconds on two runs; 3. Kalane Anders, 8.8; 4. Dirk Tavenner, 9.0; 5. (tie) Gage Hesse and Stan Branco, 9.1; 7. Brandon Volker, 9.4; 8. Cyler Dowling, 11.2; 9. Colt Honey, 11.3; 10. Stetson Jorgensen, 11.9; 11. Blake Knowles, 12.9; 12. Mason Couch, 13.0.

Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Dustin Equsquiza, 5.0 seconds; 2. Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake, 5.6; 3. Garrett Tonozzi/Jace Davis, 5.7; 4. Zack Woods/Gavin Foster, 5.9; 5. Kyon Kruetzer/Clancey Kreutzer, 6.1; 6. (tie) Ben Jordan/Scott Lauaki and Corben Culley/Blayne Horne, 6.2; 8. Curry Kirchner/Billy Jack Saebens, 6.3. Second round leaders: 1. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 4.2 seconds; 2. Jr. Dees/Ross Ashford, 4.4; 3. Cole Smith/Reed Boos, 4.8; 4. Cooper White/Tucker James White, 6.5; 5. Garrett Tonozzi/Jace Davis, 5.9; 6. Dustin Equsquiza/Levi Lord, 6.0; 7. (tie) Cooper White/Tucker James White and Curry Kirchner/Billy Jack Saebens, 6.5. Average leaders: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 11.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Garrett Tonozzi/Jace Davis, 11.6; 3. Kyon Kreutzer/Clancey Kreutzer, 11.7; 4. Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake, 12.2; 5. Curry Kirchner/Billie Jack Saebens, 12.8; 6. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 14.2; 7. Cooper White/Tucker James White, 18.0; 8. Coy Rahlmann/Jonathan Torres, 18.3; 9. Clay Holz/Matt Zancanella, 21.2; 10. Cooper Bruce/Wyatt Kanan, 21.7; 11. Camden Hoelting/Dawson McMaster, 27.1; 12. Jr. Dees/Ross Ashford, 4.4 seconds on one run.

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Brody Cress, 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s No. 777; 2. (tie) Wade Sundell and Jake Finlay, 85; 4. Sterling Crawley, 83; 5. (tie) Lefty Holman and Tegan Smith, 82.5; 7. (tie) Riggin Smith, Parker Fleet and Will Pollock, 81.5; 10. Ryder Sanford, 80; 11. (tie) Trent Burd and Logan Cook, 79.

Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Kenzie Kelton, 2.3 seconds; 2. Kelsie Domer, 2.5; 3. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli, Josey Murphy and Quincy Sullivan, 2.8; 6. Kassidy Dennison, 2.9; 7. Erika Frost, 3.0; 8. (tie) Bethany Stallons and Taylor Raupe, 3.1; 10. Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, 3.3. Second round leaders: 1. Erin Johnson, 2.4 seconds; 2. Alli Masters, 2.6; 3. Quincy Sullivan, 2.7; 4. Bethany Stallons, 3.0; 5. Shelby Boisjoli, 3.1; 6. Kendal Pierson, 3.2; 7. (tie) Amber Coleman and Hannah Cline, 3.4; 9. (tie) Kinlie Brennise and Nicole Hadley, 3.5. Average leaders: 1. Quincy Sullivan, 5.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Shelby Boisjoli, 5.9; 3. Bethany Stallons, 6.1;4. (tie) Josey Murphy and Nicole Hadley, 6.9; 6. (tie) Amber Coleman and Erin Johnson, 7.0; 8. Taylor Raupe, 8.3; 9. Rebekah Davis, 8.9; 10. Kaylee Etbauer, 9,8; 11. Kenzie Kelton, 15.1; 12. Linsay Rosser Sumpter, 17.1.

Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Haven Meged, 8.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Cory Solomon and Lane Livingston, 9.0; 4. Riley Pruitt, 9.2; 5. Zack Jongbloed, 9.3; 6. Riley Webb, 9.5; 7. Shad Mayfield, 9.6; 8. Quay Howard, 9.9. Second round leaders: 1. Cole Clemons, 7.6 seconds; 2. Randall Carlisle, 7.7; 3. R.J. Straw, 8.5; 4. (tie) John Douch and Dylan Hancock, 8.6; 6. (tie) Quade Hiatt and Shad Mayfield, 8.8; 8. Riley O’Rourke, 9.1. Average leaders: 1. Shad Mayfield, 18.4 seconds; 2. Riley Pruitt, 19.1; 3. John Douch, 19.5; 4. Cory Solomon, 19.6; 5. Cole Clemons, 19.7; 6. Ty Harris, 19.8; 7. Dylan Hancock, 20.9; 8. Randall Carlisle, 21.4; 9. Zack Jongbloed, 21.5; 10. (tie) Zaine Mikita and Blane Cox, 21.8; 12. Quay Howard, 22.4.

Barrel racing: First round leaders: 1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 17.48 seconds; 2. Kassie Mowry, 17.52; 3. Hailey Kinsel, 17.54; 4. Josey Groves, 17.60; 5. (tie) Andrea Busby and Britta Strain, 17.65; 7. Molly Pritchard, 17.68; 8. Sydney Graham, 17.76; 9. Molly Ottto, 17.77; 10. Stacey Hansen, 17.8. Second round leaders: 1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 17.03; 2. Hailey Kinsel, 17.34; 3. Britta Strain, 17.36; 4. Andrea Haden, 17.45; 5. Sydney Graham, 17.54; 6. Jessi Wade, 17.59; 7. Stacey Hansen, 17.62; 8. (tie) Victoria Procter and Andrea Busby, 17.64; 10. Molly Pritchard, 17.67. Average leaders: 1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 34.51; 2. Hailey Kinsel, 34.88; 3. Britta Strain, 35.01; 4. Andrea Busby, 35.29; 5. Sydney Graham, 35.30; 6. Molly Pritchard, 35.35; 7. Jessi Wade, 35.50; 8. Stacey Hansen, 35.42; 9. Andrea Haden, 35.44; 10. Victoria Proctor, 35.60; 11. Kaycee Killingsworth, 35.72; 12. Cheryl Wallace, 35.77.

Bull riding leaders: 1. Victor Vieira Losnake, 86 points on Sutton Rodeo’s Time Traveler; 2. Trevor Reiste, 85.5; 3. Deklan Garland, 85; 4. Riley Harris, 82; 5. Colton Byram, 80; 6. Cullen Teller, 75; no other qualified rides.

Courtesy of twisTEDrodeo.com