CePRA steer wrestler, Jake Ritz, has made quite a hand when it comes to leaving the box. Having started back in with the association last season, after taking a couple of years off to focus on additional ambitions, Jake finished as the reserve champion steer wrestler and has already begun to climb the 2015 standings. While the bulldogger’s list of accomplishments include a 2007 year-end championship title within the CePRA, he expands his talents to occasionally entering the calf roping. “The CePRA offers rodeos closer to home, which enables me to keep my business going in the process of not having to travel too far,” he said.
Growing up in Michigan, Jake was introduced to steer wrestling by a family friend who showed him the original ropes. He then got involved throughout high school and carried on through a rodeo scholarship to Pratt Community College. His 15 year progression has led him to a membership with the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association (KPRA), where he took to his first year, last season, to capture the reserve champion steer wrestling title. “It was a very good year for me. I hope to have another good year and be able to go to as many rodeos as I did last year,” he said.
As things fell into place, Jake found himself staying in Kansas, where he and his wife (Hannah) have made a home with their two children (Lainey, 5, and Wyatt, 3). “Hannah and I met at college. She was at Pratt on a golf scholarship and is now a stay-at-home mom,” Jake explained. Working mostly in residential remodeling for approximately 10 years, Jake keeps ends met with his company, Ritz Construction. The couple have already introduced their kids to rodeo, where Lainey is a second-year member of the Heartland Youth Rodeo Association and competes in the barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying and dummy roping. Until Wyatt is old enough to take to the arena, Jake says that his interest in the sport is extensive. “He wants to do it all, even the rough stock,” he said. A tight-knit support system gives the Ritz family the opportunity to hit rodeos together. “There are times that we all load up and I take them all with me. It’s great family time to enjoy together, which is what rodeo is all about,” Jake says.
When his family can’t go, Jake often takes the road with his powerhouse steer wrestling traveling partners; Kyle Van Doren, Joe Ross, Grant Heller and Travis Thimesch. “We try to enter together to make traveling that much more easier,” Jake said. Adding together the company of old friends, Jake also credit’s the Van Doren family for much of his feats. “I wouldn’t have the success that I have had without the Van Doren’s. I ride their horse and practice at their house while using their steers. They are truly a great family and it has been great to be associated with them,” Jake said.
With the 2015 season coming on strong, Jake has set his mind and body in determination mode. “I had a very blessed year last year and I figure that I need to be in the right position for it to happen again. I hope to stay healthy and have been hitting the gym, riding more and doing my homework, so to speak, that goes along with steer wrestling,” he said.
story by Lindsay King Third generation rodeo competitor 13-year-old Libby Berger from Udall, Kansas, has a need for speed. “Barrels or breakaway roping is my […]
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August 9, 2019
Bareback Riding
1 Danny Weil 3015.55
2 Ty Pope 665.36
3 Dakota Procobio 331.82
4 Mike Fred 253.8
5 Colt Eck 167.63
Sadde Bronc Riding
1 Tim Williams 1457.4
2 Luke Rush 735.44
3 Sage Dierks 371
4 Cable Wareham 324.3
5 Bryce Eck 248.16
Bull Riding
1 Cash Toews 2649.83
2 Brylen Dees 1194.97
3 Richard Schleicher 998.75
4 Ivan Gutierrez 916.5
5 Jackson Ward 472.82
6 Luke Mast 161.91
Team Roping Heading
1 Jake McCullough 5416.64
2 Kelton Hill 4240.63
3 Cole Pearson 3761.53
4 Curry Kirchner 2400.83
5 Tyler Hobert 2316.61
6 Nick Becker 2069.97
7 Layne Lagasse 1724.48
8 Cole Remington 1707.04
9 Brett Christensen 1528.41
10 Troy Boone 1526.31
11 Zane Leftwich 1160.9
12 Billy Peters 1091.6
13 Ethan McDowell 812.25
14 Justin Brown 699.12
15 Kass Bittle 630.38
Team Roping Heeling
1 Linden Stueve 4647.14
2 Raylen Stueve 3761.53
3 Jaydon Laubhan 3648.96
4 Dawson McMaster 2069.97
5 Derrick Jantzen 1910.78
6 Taylor Schotte 1724.48
7 Tyler Mahlandt 1709.91
8 Mitch Murray 1707.04
9 Chase Boekhaus 1528.41
10 Tanner Nall 1526.31
11 Toby Mentzer 1369.59
12 Kyle Pontious 1160.9
13 Troy Gaston 769.5
14 Aaron Paul 699.12
15 Shawn Hollenbeck 182.4
Steer Wrestling
1 Brandon Volker 2458.88
2 Tyler Garten 1336.42
3 Ryan Swayze 963.68
4 Hunter Crawford 647.66
5 Scott Schaefer 532.98
6 Riley Westhaver 522.87
7 Joby Allen 485.74
8 Logan Mullin 355.32
9 Kyle Van Doren 155.4
Calf Roping
1 Tyler Garten 1357.38
2 Taylor Donaldson 752.89
3 Joe Macoubrie 718.16
4 Kyle Winslow 689.1
5 Zane Arnold 638.73
6 Jerome Schneeberger 611.82
7 Bryce Loyd 503.72
8 Kelly Wood 446.5
9 Travis Tetrick 384.22
10 Luke Blanton 267.9
11 Kelton Hill 142.02
Barrel Racing
1 Sarah Johnson 1379.28
2 Shauni Leftwich 1178
3 Libby Berger 1053.07
4 Amber Scales 967
5 Toni Shaw 893.55
6 Marsha Nelson 742.83
7 Cheyenne Larson 681.13
8 Jacey Bair 647.96
9 Ashley Forred 616.64
10 Katie Larson 498.31
11 Prairie Rose Robbins 474.7
12 Deb Massey 462.48
13 Britt Widrig 386.82
14 Kim Harland 344.44
15 Melissa Wanger 272.62
All Around
1 Kelton Hill 3158.77
2 Tyler Garten 2693.8
3 Joe Macourbie 1316.26
