Sundell in sight of rare sweep

Wade Sundell is threatening to run the (saddle-bronc) table.

The Boxholm, Iowa, cowboy won the first go-round of Pool B. Then the second go-round. And now the third go-round. Friday, he can complete the oh-so rare sweep.

“I’m going to give everything I’ve got to do it,” said Sundell. “That would be an amazing accomplishment, to do that at this rodeo. You’ve got Chad Ferley and Taos Muncy, guys like that, and they’re amazing. They’re all among the best in the world, you know, and to beat them guys three days in a row, it makes a guy feel pretty good about himself.

“You get on a roll and win a bunch of rodeos in a row, but to win three days in a row here is amazing.” Nothing scientific, mind you. “I just keep nodding my head,” he said, “doing what I’m doing and keep having fun.”

In bagging his latest of three $5,500 cheques, Sundell rattled 88.0 points out of Holly Blues. News of this sticky-fingered cash grab isn’t lost on his chums.

“They’ve said, ‘You’ve got to stop taking all the dang money,’” said Sundell. “I said, ‘I’m sorry, but I’m just doing what I’m doing.’”

(Although the evening’s beers, surely, were going to be on him? “You know they are.”)

It is worth noting that the scruffy 29-year-old is no stranger to victory laps in Calgary.

Sundell won the Stampede in 2010, again in 2012. And this being 2014 … “Just having fun, man,” said Sundell, cackling. “Just doing what I do. I love this rodeo and when I come here, I feel like ain’t nothing can beat me. You’ve got to have that attitude to go on and do it.

“This is awesome.”