Steer wrestler doesn't regret football days

Wade Sumpter has no regrets.

No regrets about giving up rodeo for four years to play football. No regrets leaving football behind for good to go back to rodeo.

With good reason, too. In only his second year on the professional rodeo circuit, the former University of Northern Colorado linebacker qualified for the Wrangler National Rodeo Finals in steer wrestling Nov. 30-Dec. 9 where he pocketed $34,971 to finish ninth in the world standings with $107,925.45.

Sumpter, 25, played for the Bears from 2000-2004 and produced 90 career tackles, including 52 his senior season with three interceptions. However, rodeo was always in his heart.

He realized how much while he was playing for the Bears.

"I don't regret playing football," Sumpter said. "I am glad I did, but it was hard knowing that wasn't what I was going to do when I got done."

Rodeo has always been Sumpter's biggest passion since he was a child growing up in Fowler. However, it wasn't until he was a sophomore year in high school that he began competing seriously in the sport.

"After I did it once, I knew it was something I always wanted to do," Sumpter said. "There was never a time in my life where I thought, 'no, I don't think I want to do that anymore."

It was Paul Hughes, a 12-time National Finals rodeo qualifier that really got him into steer wrestling.

"I like physical things and that was a physical sport, I guess," Sumpter said. "It has always been kind of my interest ever since I was little."

He competed in both football and rodeo at Fowler High School, but he decided to put rodeo aside to play college football, knowing he could resume his rodeo career after college.

Now that he is back on the circuit, he misses football "a little," but nothing like he thought he would.

"I don't sit around and say 'wow, I wish I were at football practice right now or that I wish I was riding a bus to DIA with 50 other guys."

Maybe because rodeo has always been geared toward his personality. Sumpter likes the solitary life of a cowboy.

"I have always kind of been like that," Sumpter said. "I have no problem with being alone and this is something that when I am not at a rodeo, I can go be myself and do what I want to do."

He has some of that time by himself right now with the season over, but it won't be long until he is back on the circuit. Now that he's qualified for the NFR for the first time, he wants to make it an annual trip, one that he hopes will one day land him a world title.

"Even this year I had a chance to win the world, but I didn't bulldog well enough at the finals," Sumpter said. "But if a guy can just put himself in that situation where he makes the finals every year, that will be an opportunity that will take care of itself."

Professional

2006 Highlights

* Finished ninth in the world at 2006 Wrangler World Finals

* Won the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Round at the California Rodeo Salinas.

* Won the Kit Carson County Fair & Rodeo (Burlington).

* Won the Black Hills Roundup (Belle Fourche, S.D.).

* Won the Pioneer Days Rodeo (Clovis, N.M.).

* Co-champion of the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Round at Rodeo Austin (Texas).

Amateur

Colorado steer wrestling state champion, 1999-2000.

Personal

Played linebacker at the University of Northern Colorado seeing action in every game during his four years. In his senior season, he had three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown ... His first rodeo competition was in 1998 ... Parents are Rich and Cindy are both school teachers. Has one sister, Casey Yahn.

Source: prorodeo.com