BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN
Whether it was injuries or the COVID-19 pandemic, something had been in 23-year-old Sage Newman’s way since he started rodeoing in 2018.
After getting healthy and off to a great start in 2021, Newman was able to make good on his first full-go attempt at the Wrangler NFR and qualify in 11th place in the PRCA Saddle Bronc Roding World Standings with $82,718.
Newman won $7,250 at The American Rodeo in March and from there, things kept going well. In April, he was 83 and 87 points to finish fourth in total money at San Angelo with $5,400 and then in May, he broke through with his first 90-point ride in the PRCA, which won him the Xtreme Bronc Match in Miles City, Montana and put him into the Top 15.
“I’ve been blessed to be drawing really good and I feel better than I ever have. I’m just having fun riding bucking horses,” he told ProRodeo.com after his win in Montana.
Near the end of June, Newman sat No. 12 in the World Standings, but he’d move up one spot by Aug. 3 thanks to winning around $25,000 in July, $18,500 of that coming at The Calgary Stampede.
In Calgary, Newman was 4-for-5 in his pool and rode for an average of 87.8 points per qualified ride. He won two Go-Rounds by riding Wild Cherry for 89.5 points and Business Girl for 90 points.
NEWMAN ON WILD CHERRY
NEWMAN ON BUSINESS GIRL
Newman also started July by finishing third at the Cody Stampede and second at Mandan Rodeo Days (North Dakota).
The Montana Cowboy finished the season with a strong push by winning a round in Ellensburg and finishing second at the Meagher County Labor Day Rodeo (Montana). Both of those rodeos were in early September.
On the last weekend of the season, he won the Omaha River City Rodeo to give him four wins in 2021. The others were the Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo (Colorado), Wild Rides Rodeo (North Dakota) and the Tri-State Rodeo (Iowa), where he was 90.5 points in the clean slate Shootout to win a $7,500 check.
Newman won a total of 10 Go-Rounds in 2021 and registered 23 rides of 85 points or more.
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