Ohl rides away to title

Victoria Sun

Monday, Dec. 17, 2001 | 11:53 a.m.

Here are the winners after Sunday's season-ending National Finals Rodeo performance:

All-Around: Cody Ohl, Stephenville, Texas, $296,419

Bull Riding: Blue Stone, Ogden, Utah, $174,772

Bareback: Lan LaJeunesse, Morgan, Utah, $185,556

Steer Wrestling: Rope Myers, Van, Texas, $176,584

Team Roping: Header: Speed Williams, Jacksonville, Fla., $165,190. Heeler: Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, $165,190

Saddle Bronc: Tom Reeves, Stephenville, Texas, $204,008

Calf Roping: Ohl, $222,026

Barrel Racing: Janet Stover, Rusk, Texas, $186,812

Cody Ohl tried to hold back the tears, but they trickled down his face nonetheless.

After he hobbled on crutches to the winner's stage at the Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday, Ohl beamed as he thanked his parents and girlfriend for helping him win the all-around cowboy title and the calf roping world championship at the National Finals Rodeo.

It was a defining moment for Ohl, who wasn't sure he would compete again after last year when his father, Leo, died and he divorced his wife.

"It's the greatest feeling in the world," Ohl said. "I've come close to winning the all-around twice, kind of been teased with it before.

"I wish more than anything (my father) was here to see it, but it's a just great feeling and I know he's here with me."

Ohl, who won the first three go-rounds and tied for first in the fifth and sixth go-rounds, locked up the calf roping title at the conclusion of Friday night's eighth performance.

On Saturday night, he secured the all-around title but tore two knee ligaments while competing in calf roping. He still managed to rope his calf in 40.9 seconds.

"I roped my calf's second loop and I guess I stepped into a hole and got twisted the wrong way," Ohl said. "I knew it was pretty severe, I could feel it.

"When I tried to get up, I put my left foot first because naturally, I wasn't going to put my right foot down.

"When I stepped down, it gave and I knew that it was messed up pretty bad. I didn't know if I was going to be able to do anything else. The Lord was with me and with the adrenaline rush and 17,000 people, it was hard to give up."

Ohl will have knee surgery Wednesday and is expected to be out at least six months. Before the fall, his worse injury was a pulled groin he sustained in 1997.

He said the money he earned at the finals will be helpful during the time he is unable to compete.

Ohl made $85,025 ($69,355 in calf-roping and $15,670 in steer wrestling) at the NFR, bringing his season total to $296,419.

Scott Johnston finished second in the all-around standings with $235,702.

Until the summer series of the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour, Ohl wasn't sure if he could return to the form that helped him become a world champion calf roper in 1997 and 1998.

His father's death and his divorce had taken their toll on the 28-year-old from Stephenville, Texas, and he said he even contemplated quitting.

He said he was close to his father, who taught him how to rope, and during Sunday's awards ceremony, he thanked his parents for shuttling him to junior rodeos across the country.

"After last year, I didn't know if I'd ever get it back," Ohl said. "I was struggling and fighting.

"My confidence sure wasn't there. Come this year right before June, it just started rolling and I knew I had it back.

"I had a great horse underneath me and I was winning."

Ohl entered the 10-day NFR with the lead in calf roping and the all-around standings.

"It's a big letdown if you come here and don't succeed, and it hasn't happened to me yet," Ohl said. "I came in the lead here three times and every time I rose to the occasion."