Gray draws aces, wins collegiate title
Ryan Gray was on top of the rodeo world Saturday night, capturing the bareback riding championship at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo.
Less than 48 hours later the Cheney cowboy was just another young buck chasing a buck at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo in Reno, Nev.
Being a champion didn’t count for much in Reno, where his score of 74 had him buried in the pack.
That was a far cry from the 88 on Saturday night that gave Gray the college title, with his accumulative score of 330 points for four rides setting a CNFR record.
“It was a pretty neat deal to be blessed like that,” said Gray, 20, in a telephone interview Monday night. “I drew real well. In fact, I drew outstanding.”
Gray was representing Odessa Junior College (Texas) and he was the second-straight bareback champion from the small school.
But last year when he watched teammate Cimmaron Gerke win the title, Gray didn’t have the good fortune to draw horses like Touch of Silver for his first ride or Spotted Bird for his last, both of which produced 88 point rides. In between he was 78.5 for second in the second go-round and 75.5 for sixth in the third. No one was within 140 points of Gray.
“This year they did a lot better job than other years bringing in good horses,” said Gray, who didn’t make the championship round last year. “It’s still a drawing game, you have to match up with good horses.”
Gray has been riding bucking animals for years and despite being a successful wrestler at Cheney – he was second in state at 140 pounds for the Blackhawks as a senior – there was never a doubt where his future was. There was a doubt if that future would include school. But when Gray let it slip that his plan was to attend the School of Hard Knocks and pursue a coveted spot in the National Finals Rodeo, his mother intervened.
“I kind of hemmed and hawed about going to school at first,” Gray said. “I’m sure glad I did.”
He has parlayed his scholarship to Odessa — “I wanted to get out of Washington for a while and I liked the idea of going to Texas” — into another at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders may be better known for basketball coach Bobby Knight than their rodeo team, but Gray said he couldn’t pass up the reputation that comes with a degree from Texas Tech.
Gray is majoring in agriculture leadership, which is an extension of an ag business degree.
But now he is hitting the road hard, working toward every cowboy’s dream of making the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
He is traveling with Zach Dishman of Beaumont, Texas, which is an interesting pair to probably anyone but a cowboy. Dishman, who attended Tarleton State in Stephensville, Texas., edged Gray for the Southwest Regional bareback title on the last ride of the season.
“He’s a good rider, it was a good competition,” Gray said. “It was pretty awesome, going down to the last ride.”
Gray had the last laugh with Dishman fourth at the CNFR. Dishman is also going to Tech next fall.
Gray’s younger brother Kayle is also at Odessa but came up just short of qualifying for the CNFR in saddle bronc riding. The tough Southwest Region produced national champions in five of six events.
Gray is currently 42nd in the PRCA standings with more than $8,000 in earnings. Dishman is 25 spots and $10,000 higher, which is impressive with the demands of college. Gerke, who didn’t attend a four-year school, is sixth.
“My summer is just beginning. I’m going to take it one ride at a time,” Gray said. “(College students making the NFR) has been done time and time again. As long as you stay on top of your homework and talk with your teachers … what it comes down to is taking care of business, making good decisions.”