Berry in search of a fifth title

Thursday, Dec. 5, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Ote Berry is back. Way back.

When Berry, 34, won the 1995 steer wrestling world championships, he became only the third cowboy in the history of professional rodeo to claim four or more world titles in his event.

After sitting out much of the 1994 season with a back injury, Berry returned last year with fire in his eyes. He performed powerfully throughout the '95 season, then tore up the competition at the National Finals Rodeo to win the gold buckle.

Berry, who was born in Rapid City, S.D., but now lives in Checotah, Okla., has competed in 10 NFRs. He won his first world championship in 1985, then earned back-to-back championships in 1990-91.

"It feels great to win one, let alone four," Berry said.

Perhaps more remarkable than his 10 NFR qualifications is Berry's record of excellence when it comes to crunch time at the Finals. Seven times he has won the 10th round of an NFR. One of those final-round wins helped him earn the world title last year.

Berry opened the '95 NFR by tying for the first-round win, then placing in rounds two, five and six. He clocked a winning 3.8-second run in the 10th round to boost his season total another $12,670. When it was all over, not other steer wrestler was within $17,000 of Berry.

Prior to the NFR, Berry finished the regular season ranked third in the Crown Royal world steer wrestling standings. By the time the last steer was turfed at the NFR in Las Vegas, Berry's season total had climbed to $117,987, edging past his four-year-old record of $116,674. Berry earned $58,719 at the 1995 NFR.

Perhaps Berry's ability to perform under pressure comes from the fact that he's been at this game a long time.

Inspired by his brothers and his dad, Berry started competing in the National Little Britches Rodeo Association when he was only 7 years old. He was just 13 when he started wrestling steers, and he won a national high school championship in 1980.

In 1983 Berry was barely out of his teens when he won almost $11,000 at the famed Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.

But in 1993 Berry herniated a disc in his back when he missed a steer. He underwent surgery in March 1994, and was competing again three months later. Then in July, while wrestling a steer in Casper, Wyo., Berry strained a knee, broke a hand and headed home to heal.

The time off turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

"My wife (Jamie) gave birth to twins last November (1994) and I was there to see my babies born," Berry said.

"I was fortunate to be home when they took some of their first steps and said some of their first words. It's so hard to leave home now."