Siblings finish strong

Justin Nokes. Courtesy photo.

DODGE CITY, Kan. - What began more than three decades ago in the southwest
 Plains of Nebraska continues this weekend at Dodge City Roundup Arena.

 Garrett and Justen Nokes were raised on rodeo near McCook, Neb. They've
 competed together and against one another all their lives, and both bring a
championship pedigree to the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association Finals.



"It's awesome to be able to compete alongside your brother; competing
against him is even more fun," said Garrett Nokes, who roped and tied his
 calf in 8.8 seconds to win the second round in tie-down roping Saturday
night. "It's really fun to see him winning. It's a family affair for us. Our
 parents are up in the stands, and we have a bunch of family and friends up
there, too.

 "We're 40 years old, and they're still following us."



Garrett Nokes. Courtesy photo.

Justen Nokes downed his steer in 4.7 seconds to share the round-winning time 
with Gary Collins of Sharon Springs, Kan. Later that night, the Nokes celebrated by each earning a go-round trophy buckle for their work
inside the arena.

 They still had some work to do during Sunday's third round to see if
they can each win the year-end championships.

It won't be easy for either
cowboy, though, as others are higher in the standings heading into the final
day of the season. For example, Cody Devers of Perryton, Texas, owns just a
$100 lead over Justen Nokes in the bulldogging standings, but Devers has the 
lead in the average, which will pay out a considerable bonus when the third
round ends.

Devers was able to hold on and claim the title, but does not diminish a super year for the brothers.

"Cody has done a great job all year," said Justen Nokes, who failed to score
a time in the opening round and likely won't collect a check in the average.
"It's going to come down to one steer tomorrow, and I'm going to have to put
the heat on him. It's going to be a fun third round, and whoever does better
wins."



Garrett Nokes entered the finale fifth in the year-end standings, about
$1,800 behind leader Nick Becker of Garden City, Kan. He knows he is a
long-shot to earn another KPRA championship.



"I'm just trying to make runs without making mistakes, win as much money as
I can and go home with money in my pocket," he said. "If the (year-end
trophy) saddle falls my way, then that's awesome."



He knows what it means to win. Over his career, he's held many titles,
including nearly a dozen KPRA titles.



"I've had a title in every one of the last three decades," Garrett Nokes
said. "I won my first KPRA championship in 1995 in steer wrestling and the
all-around; I did it in the 2000s, and now I'm doing it in the teens."



Both men are coaching intercollegiate programs - Justen at Hastings (Neb.)
 College and Garrett at Mid-Plains (Neb.) Community College. They are passing
along their knowledge of the game and their passion for it to another
generation, including those that are part of the KPRA finale in Dodge City.



"Dodge City Roundup is doing an outstanding job hosting this finals,"
Garrett Nokes said. "This is the most professionally run amateur finals that
I've ever been to. This is an outstanding facility, they've brought in
amazing stock and they're doing their best to put it on for us. It's
phenomenal for us to have this deal here."





Kansas Press Association Finals


Dodge City, Kan.


Sept. 23-25


Second round


Bareback riding: 1. Jake Stemo, 82 points, $490; 2. Wesley Cole, 77, $368;
3. DillonTiede, 74, $245; 4. Logan Patterson, 72, $123.

Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Justen Nokes and Gary Collins, 4.7 seconds, $1,006
each; 3. Brandon Volker, 5.2, $575; 4. Cody Devers, 5.3, $288.



Ranch bronc riding: 1. Reid Green, 79 points, $700; 2. Weston Price, 75,
$525; 3. Clay Vigil, 72, $350; 4. Monte Winkler, 70, $175.



Tie-down roping: 1. Garrett Nokes, 8.8 seconds, $952; 2. (tie) Cody Rieker
and Bryce Loyd, 9.5, $595 each; 4. Kyle Winslow, 9.7, $238.

Breakaway roping: 1. (tie) Shelby Hinkle, Justice Green and Teddi Winslow,
2.7 seconds, $1,072 each; 4. Ashley Sherman, 3.1, $357.



Saddle bronc riding: 1. Shane Hand, 81, $703; 2. Wyatt Barstow, 78, $527; 3.
(tie) Tex Benfer and Ben Engelman, 76, $264 each.



Open team roping: 1. Brian Dunning/Derrick Jantzen, 5.5 seconds, $1,068; 2.
Kyle Winslow/Kingston Chang, 6.2, $801; 3. Nick Becker/Toby Mentzer, 6.7,
$534; 4. Ben Johnsrud/Nate Johnsrud, 7.4, $267.



40-40 team roping: 1. Brian Padilla/Mike Weir, 6.7 seconds, $941; 2. Beau
Blue/Ben Blue, 7.3, $706; 3. Justin Crist/Brian Crist, 7.6, $471; 4. Gene
Jett/Tom Peterson, 10.4, $235.



Barrel racing: 1. Lorie Diodosio, 17.30 seconds, $1,356; 2. Diane Martin,
17.49, $1,017; 3. Amy Prather, 17.53, $678; 4. Ellie Kravig, 17.57, $339.



Bull riding: 1. Jacob Marcel, 86 points, $961; 2. Colton Lewis, 81, $721; 3.
Kane Larsen, 74, $480; 4. Dakota Cator, 72, $240.