SEBRA rookie wins fair rodeo

XENIA — Briar Schultheisz showed nearly two dozen other bull riders why he is the favorite to win the Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association’s rookie of the year belt buckle.

The 21-year-old from Marietta was one of just two riders to make it long enough to score during the Fox Hollow Rodeo-produced show Aug. 1 at the Greene County Fair. While others were flipping and flopping off their bulls, Schultheisz stayed on Disorderly Conduct in the long go round and scored 79 points, enough to edge Ralph Hobson of Bremen, who scored 76 on Blue Bolt in the short go round.

With the first-place earnings of $1,041, Schultheisz should remain in the top 10 on the SEBRA money list and tops among all rookies.

“He was pretty good,” a sweaty and exhausted Schultheisz said of his first bull. “When he was spinning left, he was rolling that outside shoulder. When he came to the right, that felt pretty good. Good honest bull.”

Five advanced to the short-go on time, including Dylan Harless of Beavercreek, who made it 7.1 seconds on Black Boy. Schultheisz didn’t make it the requisite eight seconds on his second bull, Shakedown, but his first effort was good enough.

“I really thought after I bucked off that second, somebody would get me,” he admitted.

Schultheisz has scored as high as 85 and he’s been around 79 points several times as well. He was more than pleased with Tuesday’s effort.

“This is right up there,” said Schultheisz, who has been a full-time bull rider for four years.

Hobson walked away with $694 for his second-place ride.

— Prior to the main event, a plethora of novice riders gave it a shot, including Fairborn Firefighter Colton Trego, who rode to help spread awareness for the fight against cancer.

Trego lasted about as long as the Cincinnati Bengals in the playoffs and appeared a tad disoriented after Black Betty bucked him off within seconds. But Trego wasn’t complaining one bit.

“It was a rush,” he said. “The actual anticipation leading up to it was the worst. I’ve never done anything like this before. You don’t realize how truly hard it is until you get on one. (But) anything we can do to help promote the Turning up the Heat on Breast Cancer is a good deal.”

Cameron Wray of Hebron is a regular at the Fox Hollow Rodeo in Waynesville. He drew Goldust. Advantage bull.

“This is the rankest (most difficult) I have ridden so far,” he said. “For as rank as he is, I actually lasted longer than I expected.”

Wray, 19, had a moderately scraped forearm and a small bloody spot on his forehead.

— Two of the top 10 money leaders on the SEBRA barrel racing circuit participated in a one-run event between the long-go and short-go bull riding. Kati Ream of Maysville, Ky., finished first in 13.55 seconds. She entered the race No. 4 on the money list with earnings of a little more than $2,000. Top money leader Megan Wilkin, of Clarksville, was second in 13.58 and added to to her season total of $5,128.

Barb Slone | Greene County News Fairborn Firefighter Colton Trego fights to stay on a bull during the novice division of the Greene County Fair’s rodeo. Trego rode to help bring awareness to breast cancer.
https://www.fairborndailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2017/08/web1_bulls04.jpgBarb Slone | Greene County News Fairborn Firefighter Colton Trego fights to stay on a bull during the novice division of the Greene County Fair’s rodeo. Trego rode to help bring awareness to breast cancer.

Briar Schultheisz rides Disorderly Conduct during the rodeo’s main event. Schultheisz, 21, scored 79 points and came in first.
https://www.fairborndailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2017/08/web1_extreme03.jpgBriar Schultheisz rides Disorderly Conduct during the rodeo’s main event. Schultheisz, 21, scored 79 points and came in first.

A novice bull rider tries to hang on.
https://www.fairborndailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2017/08/web1_extreme.jpgA novice bull rider tries to hang on.

By Scott Halasz

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Contact Scott Halasz at 937-502-4507.