Injured Ohl accepts all-around cowboy title

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ Facing major knee surgery and a six-month layoff, Cody Ohl will certainly get a chance to savor his first all-around cowboy title and fourth calf roping crown. <br><br>The Stephenville,

Monday, December 17th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ Facing major knee surgery and a six-month layoff, Cody Ohl will certainly get a chance to savor his first all-around cowboy title and fourth calf roping crown.

The Stephenville, Texas, cowboy will have surgery Wednesday in Dallas to repair torn anterior cruciate and medial colateral ligaments in his right knee.

Ohl missed the final round of the National Finals Rodeo on Sunday after tearing up the knee on his dismount Saturday night. He fought his way through the run, finishing in 40.9 seconds, before collapsing to the ground in pain.

``I don't plan on doing much tonight,'' Ohl said Sunday as he accepted his awards to a standing ovation at the Thomas and Mack Center. ``At least I'll get to spend some time with my family.''

Ohl finished the season with $296,418, edging Scott Johnston of Gustine, Texas, by $50,717. Ohl clinched calf roping title with victories in five of the first six rounds of the 10-round rodeo.

``I'm just so tickled to win the all around,'' Ohl said. ``To do it in front of 17,000 people every night. It was the greatest feeling knowing there were 17,000 people pulling for me (Saturday night).''

Ohl was one of seven cowboys to claim world titles Sunday.

Tom Reeves of Stephenville, Texas, won his first saddle bronc title after 17 years of qualifying for the NFR. Reeves won the average to overtake Glen O'Neill of Water Valley, Alberta, with $204,008. Billy Etbauer of Edmond, Okla., won the final round with an 89-point ride.

``I've had some great finals and I've had some really bad finals,'' Reeves said. ``I've had the reins pulled out for a world championships. I've been bucked off for a world championship. I've missed out for a world championship.

``So many times I've had a shot. I kept telling myself to do whatever I've got to do for 8 seconds.''

Lan Lajeunesse of Morgan, Utah, won his second world bareback title when leader Bobby Mote of Remond, Wash., missed his horse out of the chute Sunday. Lajeunesse finished with $185,556, including $28,134 for leading the NFR average. Forest Bramwell of Pagosa Springs, S.D., won the final round with an 88.

``Things just seem to work out the way it had to,'' Lajeunesse said. ``I had drawn some bad horses early in the week, so I guess it all balances out.''

Blue Stone of Ogden, Utah, won his first bull riding title, and also his first average crown, with $174,771 in earnings. Cody Hancock of Taylor, Ariz., won the round with a 96.

``Winning the title is awesome, I don't know what to think right now,'' said Stone, who took home $112,321 in NFR earnings. ``I'm leaving Vegas right after I leave (the arena), so I won't spend any of the money.''

Rope Myers of Van, Texas, completed his run from 14th to first in steer wrestling. Myers also won the average and finished with $117,774 in season earnings. Jason Lahr of Emporia, Kan., won the final round with a 3.7-second run.

Speed Williams and Rich Skelton, both of Llano, Texas, won their fifth straight team roping title, finishing with $165,190 in season earnings, including a first-place finish in the average. Frank Graves of Poplarville, Miss., and Monty Petska of Turlock, Calif., won the final round with a 4.8-second run.

Janet Stover of Rusk, Texas, won the final round with a 13.90- second run to finish off a week in which she won money every night for a total $186,812. Stover finished second in the average behind Kappy Allen of Austin, Texas.

Jerome Schneeberger of Ponca City, Okla., was the average winner in calf roping after Ohl was injured. Trevor Brazile of Pueblo, Colo., won the final round with a 7-second run.