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Long overdue

Long overdue

Bates, Kee step up to win Kayenta titles

Navajo Times | Krista Allen Michael Bates lifts a calf off the ground, flips it onto its side, and ties it up in 27.52 seconds on Sunday evening. Bates won the steer wrestling average with a 14.82 aggregate.

Navajo Times | Krista Allen
Michael Bates lifts a calf off the ground, flips it onto its side, and ties it up in 27.52 seconds on Sunday evening. Bates won the steer wrestling average with a 14.82 aggregate.


KAYENTA

It took about 10 years, knee surgery and a stronger game for Michael Bates to walk away a champion from the Kayenta 4th of July Rodeo.

The Mexican Springs, New Mexico, cowboy — who has a rich history in Indian rodeo — was long overdue for a title from one of the top rodeos during Cowboy Christmas.

Bates said something always got in the way of him taking home a saddle from Western Agency.

“A couple of times I’ve come close; barriers cost me or just not stepping up to the plate,” he said. “This year, I stepped up.”

Bates led the steer wrestling event going into the short go in 7.78 seconds. He took the lead in the short go in 7.04 and won the average in the event with a combined time of 14.82 to win the championship saddle.

He was the last to compete and took the lead away.

Bates said thanks to a shift in his approach in the event, he was able to finish on top.

“Just working on my mental game, not trying to think about it to much,” he said. “Just trying to execute on my run, score good and try to get a flat fall on the steer.”

Bates said he’s participated in the rodeo for the last 10 years, but was never fortunate enough to take home a championship saddle.

He also suffered a set back within the least year after having knee surgery. He had the surgery about nine months ago and is in his third month back in the rodeo arena.

Bates said after numerous attempts and the setback, the win was what he needed.

“I was struggling a little bit and it’s starting to pick back up,” he said. “It’s a good confidence builder. Every year I don’t come through and I just keep coming back every year, and I finally came through this year.”


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About The Author

Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi

Sunnie Clahchischiligi has been the sports writer for the Navajo Times since 2008. She has a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the University of New Mexico. Before joining the Times, she worked at the St. Cloud Times (Minn.), the Albuquerque Journal, the Santa Fe New Mexican, Sports Illustrated Magazine in New York City and the Salt Lake Tribune. She can be reached at sunnie@navajotimes.com or via cell at (505) 686-0769.

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