Rookie Cooper James came into the National Finals Rodeo sitting eighth in the World. Since debuting at the Thomas and Mack, he has placed in three Go-Rounds but his biggest accomplishment in professional rodeo came when he won Round 5 to claim his first ever buckle in professional rodeo in a big way.
“It means everything. It’s awesome. Like you said, I’ve never won a buckle in a pro rodeo. I’ve won hundreds of them from the time I was three through high school but never in the pros and having my first one be a round win at the NFR, oh I can’t explain it,” James said.
His win came after a match up with Sutton Rodeo’s Schott in the Dark was worth 88.5 points and one of only three qualified rides of the night.
James is now the No. 4 ranked bull rider in the World with four Go-Rounds left at his first NFR.
