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2007 WNFR Average Winner Announced!

There must be something about being a teacher that contributes to the equation needed to win the $20,000 ProFantasy Rodeo Average Winner.  Kelly Williams, sixth grade language arts teacher from Katy, Texas, is second teacher to win Profantasy Rodeo’s grand payoff by picking the winning team for the 2007 NFR game.  She follows in the footsteps of kindergarten teacher, Kim Kammenzind, of Touchet, Washington who was the winner of the ProFantasy Rodeo inaugural game in 2003.  There must also be something about having a partner who helps in the selection as Williams built teams with long-time friend Brady Rutledge of Louisiana whereas Kammenzind accepted guidance from her stepfather, Kevin Brown.

As with other ProFantasy Rodeo winners, Williams and Rutledge had heard of the ProFantasy Rodeo game and logged onto the website at www.ProfantasyRodeo.com to build a team and pay the $89 fee.  It didn’t hurt that Williams was familiar with some of the WNFR contestants and Rutledge  had rodeoed with many of the contestants in the top 15 who qualified for the 2007 NFR.  They figured they had as good a chance as anyone at winning a share of the $109,500 purse, so they each picked a team, then built one together, purchasing three teams in all. 

Their strategy behind choosing their team was to look at how each competitor had done in the past at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.  As the game states, each PFR player is given a $500,000 salary budget to purchase one rodeo competitor (or team in the team roping) from each of the seven events.  Competitors are assigned a price according to how they were ranked in the Crusher Rentals World Standings. 

“We decided which events we were going to spend the most money on and we also considered which veterans had been to the NFR in the past and how well they’d performed in picking our teams,” stated Williams.

Their winning team “Geaux Tigers 2,” consisted of bareback rider Will Lowe, steer wrestler Sean Mulligan, team ropers Trevor Brazile and Britt Bockius, saddle bronc rider Billy Etbauer, tie-down roper Cody Ohl, barrel racer Lindsay Sears, and bull rider Wesley Silcox.

 “It’s a lot of fun and keeps you really excited and motivated about watching the national finals,” said Williams.  “Although I’ve been to the national finals in the past, I couldn’t go this year and ProFantasy Rodeo was a way to stay excited and involved.  I could hardly wait each morning to see if any of our teams were doing any good.  We didn’t win any go-around money all week, but our team just did really well in the average.  We didn’t think we even had a chance until the results from the last go-around were figured.  Brady was the numbers cruncher in our partnership, and he called me at my Dad’s 60th birthday party to tell me our team had won.  Boy! Was I excited!”

Williams said the money won was certainly welcome as she paid off a student loan, paid down some other bills, put a little away, then went on a shopping spree.  What was her “guilty pleasure” as she called it?  A $300 purse!  Probably one she’ll plan to take the national finals if she gets to go to the 2008 WNFR!

Said Williams, I’m going to play Profantasy Rodeo again this year.  The price is reasonable and it sure is fun to be involved.  I doubt if I can be lucky enough to win a second year, but I’m sure going to try.” 

ProFantasy Rodeo is the official fantasy sports game of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA)
and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR).