Nevadan Adams grasps team roping world title

World champion rodeo athletes aren't given bonus checks for winning their prestigious titles.

Throughout the year they pay for thousands of gallons of diesel fuel or gasoline traveling to rodeos, then invest blood and sweat -- as well as countless rolls of athletic tape -- all in pursuit of their goals.

What they received Saturday at the climax of the 50th National Finals Rodeo were decorative belt buckles -- gold ones -- worth a couple of thousand dollars apiece.

The buckles, memories and lofty status in rodeo history, however, are priceless compared to the paychecks.

For the first time since 1946, when Dave Campbell won the steer wrestling world championship, a Southern Nevadan will keep some of that gold in the Silver State.

Logandale's Randon Adams teamed with Arizonan Matt Sherwood to win the team roping world championship, the first time a Nevadan has won a team roping title.

"It's been tense all day," said Adams, 26, who celebrated moments after clinching the championship with his parents, Wes and Elizabeth Adams, fiancee Audrey Fowler and other family members and friends.

"I've been thinking about this run all day," he said.

Actually, it goes back longer than that. Adams has been attending the Finals as far back as he can remember.

"This means a lot. It hasn't sunk in yet," Adams said.

World championships also were celebrated by Steve Dent of Mullen, Neb., in bareback riding; Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif., in steer wrestling; Stran Smith of Childress, Texas, in calf roping; and J.W. Harris of May, Texas, in bull riding.

Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, clinched his sixth all-around championship Tuesday, and Lindsay Sears of Nanton, Alberta, locked up the barrel racing title Thursday.

The Adams family had added reason to celebrate because Smith's horse, Destiny, was raised and trained on an Adams ranch.

But the party to fete Destiny won't begin until the one for Randon Adams finishes, and that might take a few days.

He was competing in his third Finals, and the short arena at the Thomas & Mack had never suited his roping style.

"I haven't done very good in this building before," he said, adding that winning Friday's go-round with Sherwood provided an added lift.

Sherwood, the 2006 world champion header, was quick to catch their steer by the horns Saturday. Adams made the turn, and took an extra swing of his rope before throwing for the animal's hind legs.

Once it was clear Adams had caught both feet, the low-key roper smiled big and waved his hat to the crowd after their time of 4.6 seconds placed fourth in the go-round. That moved them up to fourth in the NFR event standings to clinch the world title.

They each earned $83,834 over the past 10 days and finished the season with $189,568 apiece.

"This is the ultimate of team roping," Sherwood said. "It's not like it's a stepping stone to something else."

Separate standings are kept for headers and heelers during the year, and when Sherwood, 39, won the header title two years ago, his partner didn't finish first in his category.

"It's more special to be able to celebrate with your partner," he said. "We'll remember we won together for the rest of our lives."

Saturday also marked the end of their partnership. Sherwood will rope with Rhemm Richard next year, and Adams said he has yet to settle on a new teammate.

But it shouldn't be difficult for a world champion heeler to find a capable header.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0247.