Oklahoma bull rider Lukasey Morris did extraordinary things in his first year of ProRodeo, winning Resistol Rookie of the Year and reaching the National Finals as a 19-year-old.
Morris’ start in bull riding came at a young age. His father rode bulls and was raising bulls himself by the time Morris was born. On top of that, he was also judging PBR events.
“In the house, all of the pictures on the wall were bull riding,” he said. “I was 4-years-old and got on my first sheep and just kept on with it.”
He also got help from six-time NFR qualifier and 1992 World Champion Cody Custer. Morris said Custer teaches you how to win and the expectations you can have for yourself. From sheep to bulls, Morris’ mindset is to dominate.
“It’s amazing to have someone who has been there and done that to be in your corner,” Morris said. “He called me (during the NFR) and we had a talk and he coached me on some stuff I was doing wrong. That just means the world to have somebody that good that is still such a good friend.”
Morris’ rookie year started as a highlight reel. After going to a bunch of small winter rodeos, he won had $35,000 won in the first two months of the season. His favorite win, however, came later in the summer.
“My favorite win of probably the whole year is probably St. Paul, Oregon, or it wasn’t a win, I won third on Ugly Wish. I was 88 points. That’s probably my favorite bull ride of all year,” Morris said.
His rookie year also came with a race for the Resistol Rookie of the Year title with a good friend, Bubba Greig.
The two occasionally traveled together and fed off of each others’ success when they were at the same rodeo.
“He knew I was going to stay on and I knew he was going to stay on, so it just made us both want to be better,” Morris said.
Injuries eventually sidelined both rookie cowboys, meaning they couldn’t finish their exciting season long race the way they wanted. Greig had hip surgery while Morris broke his leg on July 3 in Livingston, Montana.
“The first couple of weeks (after I broke my leg), I woke up and I would check the standings. And I just saw myself go from 7th and start bumping down,” Morris said. “I was a wreck, it was not good.”
He had surgery, which was supposed to take him out for six months, but he came back two months early to ensure he could clinch that coveted trip to Las Vegas.
“Outside of the bull riding, away from the rodeo, it was pretty stressful but once we all got to the rodeo I just had to put that out of my mind and just focus on riding that bull,” Morris said. “I kind of liked it, having my back against the wall at the last one, but it was sure stressful.”