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Tie-Down Roper Bo Pickett Finds Passion for Tennis

With rodeos on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic, tie-down roper Bo Pickett has found a new outlet.

“I’ve been playing a lot of tennis,” said Pickett, 23. “I don’t know if I’m any good, but I’m getting better. It’s frustrating because I’m not quite as good as I want to be. It’s frustrating because I feel like I’m a pretty good roper and my tennis game just isn’t where I want to be. I’ve been working on my backhand. That’s my biggest weakness right now. My backhand is a block for me and I hope it goes in.”

The Caldwell, Idaho, cowboy said he recently picked up tennis. Pickett played football and basketball in high school. He was a center and defensive lineman on the gridiron.

“A couple of (tie-down ropers) kind of got me into it, and I love it,” said the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Pickett. “Matt Shiozawa plays quite a bit with me. My rookie year I rodeoed with Taylor Santos and he plays tennis, and some circuit guys from around here play. There are four or five of us so we can get some good matches going. It’s great exercise, gets your legs going and doesn’t beat your body up. It is not like a basketball game where someone is trying to roll your ankle or elbow you in the nose.”

Pickett also has been helping his parents run their online Pickett Auction Service in nearby Wilder, Idaho, that deals primarily with farm equipment and heavy equipment.

“I enjoy working with my parents, and then I have four or five horses I own, and I have been riding them,” Bo said. “I’m just trying to do what I can to stay busy.”

Bo’s uncle is ProRodeo Hall of Famer Dee Pickett.

Courtesy of PRCA

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