ProRodeo Sports News - Sept. 3, 2021

first NFR berth. “I told my partner the other day that I’m not going to look at the standings anymore,” said Crites, trailing No. 15 Justin Davis by $309. “I’m just going to try and rope two feet every time you turn a steer, and if on Sept. 30 that’s not good enough, we’ll have to reevaluate the next year.” It’s not like the money won’t be there this month. Among the more significant rodeos remaining in September are ProRodeo Tour presented by PendletonWhisky stops inWalla Walla, Wash., Ellensburg, Wash., Filer, Idaho, Puyallup, Wash., Lewiston, Idaho, Pendleton, Ore., and Albuquerque, N.M. In 2019, those rodeos paid a combined $1.8 million. Throw in the ProRodeo Tour Finale in Salinas, Calif., and there’s nearly $3 million up for grabs at just those eight rodeos. While Crites and Henry are in their first real NFR battles, bareback rider Wyatt Denny has been there before. He’s in it again, too. The three- to make the NFR in 2019 until he was injured at the end of August and missed the rest of the season. Despite missing two months this summer, Denny is in position for his fourth NFR journey. Having been through the battle before, he understands the pressure and knows how to handle the month of September. “The first year I made the NFR, Bill Tutor and I and two other guys were (competing for the final spot) and I don’t think I slept for a week,” said Denny, 26. “I could not sleep, my Green Crites time NFR qualifier (2016-18) was 16th after earning $783 in Pueblo, Colo., with a split of fourth place. Denny was also in position

CHASING THE MONEY Entering the final month of the 2021 regular season, the competition for each event’s Wrangler NFR qualifiers is tight. A look at the amount of money separating places 13th-17th.

13TH

15TH

17TH

Bareback riding Steer wrestling

+$5,169 +$2,025 +$4,796 +$1,174 +$3,188 +$7,727

$48,583 $49,620 $49,964 $48,074 $62,944 $69,451 $66,298

-$1,593 -$3,829 -$1,631 -$2,972 -$1,711 -$4,092 -$828

Team roping heading Team roping heeling Saddle bronc riding

Tie-down roping

Bull riding

+$584

Lexi Christopher photo Wyatt Denny split fourth place at the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo in Vernal, Utah, in July. While it wasn’t a windfall, cashing checks at places like Vernal have Denny in the hunt for an NFR berth.

up a combined $7,884 at the Golden Spike PRCA Bronc Riding Classic in Tremonton, Utah, and the Horse Heaven/Kennewick (Wash.) Round-Up. “It’s fun. It’s dang sure a lot better being in this boat than being 30th in the world,” Green said. “Some years it’s like, I’m glad I’m not in that boat if you hardly have a chance. But there are a lot worse boats to be in, and I’ve been in them the last three years. I’m just happy to be on the road, and this is the first time I’ve fall rodeoed since I made the NFR. I’m just hanging out with my friends, and seeing all these other Canadians kick butt is fun.” Henry might be among the youngest competitors searching for a trip to Las Vegas, but his sentiments sounded wise beyond his years. “I’d rather be third in the world than where I’m at, but when I look at the big picture, I’m like, I’m 19 years old, I’m 15th in the world and we’ve got a month left, that’s awesome,” he said. “I’ve dreamed of this moment my whole life. Being in this position to make the NFR, it’s something I’ve dreamed of my whole life. Now I just have to go do this.”

stomach didn’t feel right, I wasn’t drawing good horses. It plays a mind roll on you. There are guys who are rookies who are lower than that (16th), and I’m hoping that’s not happening to them, but I know somewhere in the back of their head they are stressing pretty hard.” ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES Layton Green understands Denny’s take. Green is gunning for NFR trip No. 2, what would be his first since 2017. The last three seasons have been riddled with injuries for the Canadian saddle bronc rider. After narrowly missing in 2016 (he finished 19th) and reaching in 2017, Green dislocated the head of his fibula in August 2018, shattered his tibia and fibula in 2019, came back in the winter of 2020 only to separate his shoulder that year. He’s healthy now and sitting in 12th with $67,638. He was 14th with less than $2,000 between himself and No. 16 Lefty Holman until picking

ProRodeo Sports News 9/3/2021

ProRodeo.com

49