The WRANGLER Horse and Rodeo News is an equine and rodeo publication with circulation in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, Utah and Idaho.
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4 The WRANGLER, Horse and Rodeo News • July 5-19, 2019 Wri en by Hope Raley A true champion is someone who defends things that ma er. They defend values; not just trophies, belts or objects. A true champion is one who, a er victory, thanks their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When I asked 21-year-old Chance Ames who he wanted to give thanks to a er being crowned the na onal champion in the bareback riding at the College Na onals Final Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, without a moments hesita on he answered: I'd like to first and foremost thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That my friends, is a true champion. A na ve of quaint Big Piney, Wyoming, Ames had been chasing that championship for three years, and now it was finally his. "It is a win that I will always remember," said Ames. "It's a huge deal; it is one of the first hills that I wanted to conquer on my way to the mountaintop, so it was wonderful reassurance that I am on the right track and where I am supposed to be." Ames was represen ng Sheridan College at the CNFR and just graduated SC with an associate degree in construc on technologies. With one more year of eligibility le to college The Amazing rodeo, Ames made the decision to hit the professional circuit full- me and see where that might take him. "I am happy and confident with the degree that I obtained from Sheridan College and know that if somewhere along the line I get broke and have to go back to a 9-5 job, someone will always need a house built." With such a natural talent on the back of a bronc, you would take one look at Ames doing his 'thing' and you would guess that he came from a long line of roughstock riders, however that couldn't be farther from the truth. When asked how he got his start in bareback riding, Ames was quick to praise his friend and mentor Jus n Gibson for ge ng him started in bareback riding in the first place. "I actually rode bulls before I ever rode bucking horses. Jus n (Gibson) then got me hooked on bareback and it has taken precedence ever since." Ames dad used to team rope and he explained that when he was younger, he and his dad would do day- Ames AMES with this champion saddle TEAMMATES AND THEIR COACH; Bullrider Coby Johnson from Firth, Idaho who finished 3rd in the na on in the bull riding, coach Marc Gilkerson and son Rio, and Ames work here and there for other ranchers, but that was the extent of his ranching and rodeo upbringing. But even though Ames didn't grow up in a typical rodeo-family, he is forever grateful for his families support along the way and always believing that he could achieve his dreams. When Ames stepped foot back in the Casper Events Center this June, he had his eye set on the prize. "I pre y much came with redemp on from the last three years that I rode in that building," Ames explained. Although he described his precious three trips as learning experiences, he also categorized them as disappoin ng finishes. I definitely went in there with the mentality that I was going to win it." Ames won round 1 with a solid ride that scored him a 79.5 to take the win. In round 2, Ames scored a 78.5 to place fi h, and again came out on top in round 3 with an electric ride of 81.5. In the fourth and final round, Ames wanted to 'let it all hang out' and did just that when he finished in the top 3 with his best ride of the week of 82.5. From his first ride to his last, Ames treated every performance as a business trip and it paid off when they totaled his aggregate score to 319, giving him a comfortable lead ahead of the pack. He had achieved victory and enjoyed the victory lap that had his name on it the last three years. "I waited a long me for that victory lap and I am grateful that I was finally able to enjoy it." Jus n Gibson, Chance Ames and Bre Carlson