2022 PRCA Media Guide

Saddle Bronc Riding

Wright Comes from Behind to Nab First Saddle Bronc Title

StetsonWright has his sights on becoming one of the best rough stock riders ever. Last December, the Milford, Utah, cowboy claimed his first saddle bronc riding world title. Now, Wright holds a PRCA World Title in each of his events, saddle bronc and bull riding, to pair with his three consecutive all around titles. “I’ve always wanted one in each. I never set out to bemediocre. I set out to be the best,”saidWright. “All of this is just a dream come true.” Wright entered Las Vegas with a slim lead, holding off his brother, Rusty, by nearly $12,000. The lead quickly vanished. After the first four rounds, Wright had been bucked off more times (twice) than he had reached the pay window (once). The all-around star leaned on his family for reassurance. “I was sitting back in the roomwith Rusty, Ryder, my mom and dad and they just reminded me that I’m not riding for the average. That’s not how we were raised to ride. We were raised to go 90 or nothing,”Wright said. “They had to remindme that. They shouldn’t have, but they did. I wouldn’t have any of this without my awesome support system.” It was the turning point inWright’s 2021Wran gler National Finals Rodeo showing. The next night, the cowboy rode Calgary Stampede’s Wild Cherry to a 90.5-point ride, earning himself a Round 5 split second-place finish. The Utah native earned three

more top-two finishes entering the final round, including a split Round 8 victory with a 91-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Foul Motion. Heading into the final round, Wright found himself in an unfamiliar position as the underdog. The cowboy needed help around him to launch to the top. Fellow competitor Cody DeMoss, ahead of Wright in the average, was bucked off. This opened the door for a spot in the average. The saddle bronc rider took advantage, riding Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Ricky Bobby to a 93-point ride. The ride tied an NFR round record and earned a Round 10 victory. “It felt like one of the best rides I’ve ever made but it’s not for me to say,”Wright said. “It’s my job to make the best ride I can, and I felt like I couldn’t have done much more.” Wright won the title by a slim $1,187, over his brother Ryder and finishing with $343,524 in the 2021 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. The announcement he had won caughtWright by surprise. “I’mnot going to lie, when they toldme I won it, I looked at Ryder and I said, ‘I came in here to play defense for you tonight’,”Stetson said. “I didn’t know I even had a chance, but I guess as long as there’s still rounds there’s always a chance.” – Dagin Renck

2021 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Saddle bronc world champion

Stetson Wright rides Calgary

Stampede’s Wild Cherry in Round 5 of the 2021 National Finals Rodeo.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Phillip Kitts

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2022 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE