RODEO ATHLETE PROFILE
PRCA Tie Down Roper
JOHN DOUCH MAJOR REGULAR SEASON RODEO WINS: • • • • •
Reno (Nevada) Rodeo, $3,988 St. Paul (Oregon) Rodeo, $12,750 Mountain Valley Stampede (Heber City, Utah), $4,399 Canby (Oregon) Rodeo, $6,406 Ellensburg (Washington) Rodeo, $7,520
ohn Douch held the number one spot in the world going into the 2022 summer rodeo run. He attended his first National Finals Rodeo last year and has his eyes set on the world championship this year at the NFR. Something that many people who keep up with rodeo often overlook is that he was raised around this sport his entire life. With a family full of competitive rodeo athletes, Douch has always had the support and upbringing to become a successful cowboy. “A lot of people think that Joe (Beaver) was the reason I got into this sport, but my dad taught me how to rope when I was a kid. He’s the reason I started, and the way I am today is largely because of him,” Douch explained. “All of my family rodeoed when I was growing up, so I kind of had no choice, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. My mom ran barrels, I have sisters that rodeoed and I have an older brother that goes to a lot of amateur rodeos. Then, my youngest brother won the Texas High School Rodeo Association Finals last year.” In 2012, Douch won the National Junior High Finals tie-down roping, and that was one of those pivotal moments for the young athlete. He credits much of his success during that stage of his career to his size. “I can’t say I was the biggest kid, but I was big enough to handle my calves for that age,” Douch said. “After winning Junior High Nationals, I knew I was doing something good. After winning the state title, I knew I was on to something good because it’s pretty tough competition here in Texas. That’s when I really started to work harder at it.” In eighth grade, Douch had a horse that he didn’t click with, no matter how hard he tried. From this horse, a relationship blossomed with eight-time world champion Joe Beaver, who lived in Douch’s hometown of Huntsville, Texas. “I had this horse for sale that I was scared of and that I couldn’t ride for anything,” Douch said. “Joe sells horses so we called him up and he wanted me to bring this horse out to his house. After that, Joe invited me to start coming out to hang out and rope at his place. All of a sudden, I was out there every day, and now, we’re family!”
28