Jeremiah Peek secured his first-ever Mountain States Circuit Finals Average Championship Oct. 21-21, 2023, in Loveland, Colorado, with a time of 30.1 seconds on three head.
Peek began his ProRodeo career back in 2004, one of three roping and rodeoing brothers. Oldest brother Josh made the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) seven times and Peek nearly joined him in 2012, finishing close at 22nd in the PRCA World Standings.
Then, in 2014, he walked away from the sport he grew up in and didn’t return until just over a year ago.
While brother Josh’s name is all over rodeo’s record books for circuit titles, and middle brother Jon racked up a few as well, the score in 2023 was a first for the baby of the family.
“One of my brothers always beat me out [before],” Peek, 39, joked. “Back before I retired the first time, I probably went to seven or more circuit finals rodeos, but this was my first win.”
Peek entered the 2023 event ranked 10th in the circuit and was solid in the opening go round with a run of 9.5 seconds. Though it didn’t catch a check, it kept Peek in the mix.
“I’m not always a big fan of walking fresh calves,” Peek said. “But actually, this was a really good set, one of the better sets of calves we’ve had at the circuit finals.”
Credit to “Jet”
Part of Peek’s resurgence can be credited to Jet, the 12-year-old gelding he bought in December of 2022.
“He came from Allen Good, they’d used him at some high school rodeos and he was still pretty green this year,” Peek said. “We didn’t get along at first but it’s really starting to come together.”
“He’s also big enough to pack me around,” Peek added. “I’m 6’4” and 250 pounds so I need something that can carry me every day.”
On the second day in Loveland, Peek delivered a 9.4 in round two to earn his first check of the weekend for second in the round.
“I played it pretty safe on the barrier on all three runs,” he admitted, “but I just went and made my three runs in the field.”
Going into the final round, Peek held the average lead by half a second over Riley Pruitt with three more guys within a second and a half of the lead. Despite the tight nature of the race, Peek stuck to his game plan on the final calf.
“I just played it smart,” he said. “I had a little room because Riley made a mistake on the last one and went out. But I’m glad I played it smart because the last calf ran and had some ducks and dives to her, so it was good to wait it out and get a good look.”
After going 11.2 on the final calf, Peek won the average with 30.1 seconds on three head, one tenth ahead of Seth Peterson.
“My family said I gave them a heart attack,” Peek recalled. “It was a little too close to the wire for them.”
All tallied up, Peek earned $4,135 and a trip to the NFR Open held with Pikes Peak or Bust in Colorado Springs in July. Although the lucrative championship event is held less than an hour from his home in Pueblo, he admits a bit of regret about not qualifying when the event was held in Florida.
“I’ve been to the regular season, the Silver Spurs, rodeo in that building and I really like it,” he said. “Plus, the chance to go places you don’t normally get to. Last time Josh qualified down there, Mom and Dad went and they all went to Disney World.”
“I’ve never been to Disney World,” he joked.
Still, Peek relishes the chance to earn the big money now that he is venturing back out on the road again.
“I’ve been working for my brother’s construction company and just practicing a lot,” he said. “I’ve got the best coaches in the world with my brothers.”
“Now, we just need a year end title,” he said. “I can’t wait for next year.”
Mountain States Circuit Finals Results
First round: 1. Owen Wahlert, 8.5 seconds, $2,068; 2. Seth Peterson, 9.0, $1,551; 3. Tyler Boxleitner, 9.2, $1,034; 4. Jase Staudt, 9.3, $517.
Second round: 1. J.D. McCuistion, 8.5 seconds, $2,068; 2. Riley Pruitt, 9.0, $1,551; 3. Jeremiah Peek, 9.4, $1,034; 4. Tyler Boxleitner, 10.9, $517.
Third round: 1. Cason Kingsbury, 8.8 seconds, $2,068; 2. (tie) J.D. McCuistion and Jase Staudt, 9.2, $1,292 each; 4. Seth Peterson, 9.9, $517.
Average: 1. Jeremiah Peek, 30.1 seconds on three head, $3,101; 2. Seth Peterson, 30.2, $2,326; 3. Owen Wahlert, 30.5, $1,551; 4. J.D. McCuistion, 30.7, $775.
