PRCA for the Record: Oakley City
Relatively new to the ProRodeo scene compared to the rest of the Fourth of July lineup, the Oakley Independence Day Rodeo in Oakley City, Utah, has grown in size and reputation since 1984, as ProRodeo’s biggest contenders added this centrally located competition to their early July rodeo itineraries.
Team ropers Dustin Egusquiza and Kory Koontz set the Oakley City record in 2018 with their 3.5-second run that netted each $3,946, helping the duo qualify for the 2018 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Now 24, Egusquiza was the 2016 PRCA | Resistol Team Roping Header Rookie of the Year. He went on to qualify for the NFR in 2017-18 with Koontz as his partner.
Koontz, 48, has been a serious contender in ProRodeo since before Egusquiza was born. So far, Koontz has made 22 NFR qualifications (1992-2007, 2010-12, 2015, 2017-18) and accrued more than $2.5 million in career earnings since 1991.
Although they’re no longer roping together, Egusquiza and Koontz continue to rake in the winnings.
Egusquiza is third in the PRCA | RAM World Standings for heading, largely thanks to winning the San Antonio (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo with Travis Graves. Egusquiza also won the Waller County Fair & Rodeo in Hempstead, Texas, and the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo in Waco with Jake Long.
Koontz picked up $1,746 by placing second in round 2 at the Heart O’ Texas Fair.
On July 2-4, ProRodeo athletes will be competing for valuable ProRodeo Tour Points in Oakley City. Fans can catch the action on the PRCA on the Cowboy Channel Plus App, July 2-4 at 9 p.m. (ET).
Rodeo records
• Total payout: $176,640, 2016
• All-around: $4,195, Trevor Brazile, 2017, tie-down roping and team roping
• Bareback riding: 88 points, Steven Peebles, 2011
• Steer wrestling: 3.3 seconds, Dean Gorsuch, 2006
• Team roping: 3.5 seconds Dustin Egusquiza/Kory Koontz, 2018
• Saddle bronc riding: *89 points, Billy Etbauer, 2004; 88 points, Scott Miller, 2010; Bryan Martinat, 2013; Zeke Thurston, 2015
• Tie-down roping: 6.8 seconds, Marcos Costa, 2016; Matt Shiozawa, 2016
• Barrel racing: 14.86 seconds, Kelly Larson, 2012
• Bull riding: 93 points, Scottie Knapp, 2014
*Etbauer’s 2004 record is the only Oakley City record that was set before moving to its current facility in 2005.
Courtesy of PRCA