In September, former University of Wyoming steer wrestler Levi Wisness finished two places and $1,500 short of qualifying for the 2007 National Finals Rodeo.

But he was more concerned about his continuing dizzy spells and headaches.

His season complete, Wisness saw a doctor in Fort Collins, Colo. The prognosis was far more alarming than winding up on the bubble of rodeo's most lucrative event: Wisness had a tumor on the base of his skull.

The 2003 College National Finals Rodeo bulldogging champion underwent surgery on Oct. 2 to remove the malignant mass.

"It was just out of the blue," Wisness said this week. "One of them things, I guess. No real explanation for it."

The past nine months have tested the cowboy's resolve and thus far he's succeeded.

Wisness, who turned 27 in April, endured a feeding tube for six weeks followed by speech therapy. He temporarily lost his ability to speak, swallow and walk. He is still finding his voice, sounding slightly slurred and deeper than before.

Wisness also saw a radiation specialist in Phoenix, then spent a month hanging out in Texas. He continues to practice physical therapy, with a return to bulldogging and an NFR berth his ultimate goals.

"I ain't made the finals yet in Vegas and that's what I'm still shooting for," he said.

The native of Keene, N.D., currently is working on rodeo cowboy Brian Fulton's horse and cattle ranch in South Dakota.

"I've been between here and home all spring, trying to get back to everyday stuff - riding horses and getting my strength up," he said. "I've been chute dogging a little bit. Hopefully I'll get back to steers and get back to bulldogging."

Wisness went to Denver in April for a check-up and MRI and "all was good." He has another check-up scheduled for July.

"There are some complications still," he said. "Some double vision from when they were in there, nerve damage from surgery. But that's kinda coming back, just pretty slow."