4-2-21 Digital PSN - Hi Res

SOUTHEASTERN LIVESTOCK EXPO & RODEO

Wyatt Casper’s hot run continues Storming BY JOLEE JORDAN, Special to ProRodeo Sports News

W hen he’s introduced at ProRodeos as a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier, saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper just smiles. Casper qualified for his first NFR in 2020 and finished the season as the reserve world champion after earning $320,984. “It’s a cool feeling,” he said,” knowing what I’ve accomplished in a small amount of time. “It just puts a smile on my face to hear them announce it.” The Miami, Texas, cowboy is gunning for a second appearance inside the famous yellow bucking chutes as the 2021 season rolls into spring. Casper has nearly $20,000 won already and is comfortably ranked inside the top 10 in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. Much of his early season success has come in the Southeastern Circuit: he won Jackson, Miss., in February and followed that with back-to-back wins at the Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo (splitting first) and the Southeastern Livestock Exposition & Rodeo in Montgomery, Ala. Both rodeos were stops on the 2021 ProRodeo Tour. “It’s been crazy,” Casper said. “My buddy was telling me if I had claimed Southeastern Circuit, I would have probably already won the circuit. “I’ve sure enjoyed it.” The win in Montgomery almost didn’t happen. Casper and his hauling partners were on the road, traveling through Louisiana when reports of severe weather crossing Alabama hit them. They debated turning back toward home rather than risk driving through tornadoes and thunderstorms but chose to push on. “We decided if there were going to be horses in the chutes for us to ride, then we were going to be around there to get on,” Casper said. “That’s the rodeo mentality you have to have.” Waiting in the chutes for Casper inside Garrett Coliseum was Championship Pro Rodeo’s PowWow Nights, a horse with a long résumé. He made an appearance in saddle bronc riding at the 2016 NFR and then consecutive trips in the bareback riding in 2017-18. “I’d seen that horse a bunch but never been on him,” said Casper, who posted an 87-point ride aboard PowWow Nights. “They had him out a couple of times in Arcadia in the bares (bareback) and he looked really good.” “I was tickled to draw him,” Casper said. “They said he is pretty strong, kind of hard to ride in the broncs. I don’t know if he just had a good trip, but he didn’t feel too strong with me, just had good timing and it was a fun ride.” Casper earned $4,681 in Montgomery along with important Tour points. As of March 25, Casper was seventh in the Tour standings. The Top 24 in the Tour will earn a trip to the 2021 ProRodeo Tour Finale in Salinas, Calif. With fewer rodeos on schedule due to COVID this winter, Casper has been flying more than he likes, but he is planning to make the drive to Florida again, this time to compete at the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee April 9-10. Casper will have wife, Lesley, and kids Cooper, 2, and Cheyenne, 16 months, along for the RAMNCFR with an eye at visiting Sea World. “We’ll definitely drive down there; I can’t imagine trying to fly with the kids, they’re too wild,” he joked. “It’s all we can do to contain them in the pick-up.”

TOP MONEY & ALL-AROUND WINNER TOP SCORES

Stetson Wright ($7,555, saddle bronc riding, bull riding) BAREBACK RIDING

Wright

1. Clayton Biglow..........................88 pts. 2. Caleb Bennett. ..............................85.5 3. Waylon Bourgeois. .......................84.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Hunter Cure............................ 3.4 sec. 2. Luke Branquinho............................3.6 3. Two tied at .................................... 3.8 TEAM ROPING 1. L. Aguilera/E. Arnold............... 4.1 sec. (Tie) C. Summers/R. Ashford.........4.1 (Tie) Kirchenschlager/Davison........4.1 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Wyatt Casper............................87 pts. 2. Chase Brooks. ..............................85.5 (Tie) Stetson Wright.....................85.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Ryle Smith............................. 6.9 sec. 2. Adam Gray..................................... 7.2 3. Two tied at .................................... 7.5 BARREL RACING 1. Cassidy Kruse Deen............ 15.11 sec. 2. Michelle Alley. ............................15.20 3. Ivy Saebens................................15.24 BULL RIDING Laramie Mosley................................90.5 (Tie) Stetson Wright.........................90.5 3. Matt Palmer..................................88.5

Clay Guardipee photo

Complete results/Page 44

ProRodeo Sports News 4/2/2021

ProRodeo.com

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