PRORODEO Sports News, April 4, 2025

T.J. GRAY MAKING NAME FOR HIMSELF WITH XTREME BULLS WIN BY LEXI GIECK

When he received his draw, Schalla knew he had something special. Among a pen of promising young bulls, Warlock stood out as a veteran, a bull that knew his job in the arena. “I knew with a group of bulls that are out of the young ones, I had the vet eran bull that knew what to do,” Schalla said. Schalla is currently leading the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford Bull Riding World Stand ings and holds the second spot in the World All Around leaderboard, just behind eight-time world champion Stetson Wright. With nearly $20,000 earned from one event, Schalla is eager for what’s ahead. “There’s a lot of opportu nities in bull riding to get a big jump in the world standings,” Schalla said. “These definitely help, especially when they got so much added money to stay on and do your job.” After making his Wran gler National Finals Rodeo debut last year, Schalla uses each victory as fuel to re turn to Las Vegas - this time chasing a gold buckle. “It made me want to go back but I didn’t have a great finals,” Schalla said. “That was just more fuel in the fire. I want a gold buckle this year.”

T.J. Gray has become a household name in PRORODEO, drawing cheers from fans when the chutes open. During the PRCA Bull Riding at Tuacahn in Ivins, Utah, the 23-year-old Dairy, Ore., cow boy gave the Xtreme Bulls crowd something to remember, with a 90.5-point ride on March 29 aboard a bull that only a few have endured.

Gray made his Wrangler National Finals Rodeo debut in 2024, where he led the pack going into the largest 10-day rodeo. Since December, Gray has had a slower start to his 2025 PRORODEO season. Getting beat up towards the end of the NFR and struggling at the first few rodeos of the year, including just days before his ride at Rodeo Austin, Gray decided it was time to change things up, and the change-up worked in his favor. "I tried to change how I left the Utah chute," Gray said. "I honestly didn't like it because I couldn't see the bull the first three jumps, but it all worked out." Diamond G Rodeo's Admiral Hustle is a bull that 18 of the sport's best athletes have at tempted to cover since 2022. Only three competitors before Gray have conquered him. "I don't usually look up the stats, but I was curious, and the last time I saw he was rid den, Josh Frost had ridden him in 2023," Gray said. "I watched the video, and he didn't turn back. He was just jump kicking, so that was all I had to go off of." Not knowing what you're about to face is often part of the game regarding roughstock athletes, but Gray expressed his unique approach to the mindset he carries into each ride throughout his career. "I don't think of it as how other guys have fared on certain bulls, whether it's the first time he's been ridden or the 50th," Gray said. "I just like to nod my head, and if it works out, then I feel blessed, and if it doesn't work out, I still feel blessed." Not only did Gray earn a significant payday of $16,356 to add to his season earnings, but he also got to share the evening with great friends, demonstrating just how import ant it is to always have fun when riding bulls. "I had a lot of great buddies there that night, and my brother (Levi) was entered there, too," Gray said. "We were having fun, joking around, and not as worried about the com petition. I ride better when I'm loose and having fun like we were that night." The fun that Gray experienced that night, both behind the chutes with his friends and inside the arena on a powerhouse of an athlete, has built some momentum for this young bull rider as he continues down the road for his campaign to the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. T.J. Gray had a 90.5-point ride on Diamond G Rodeo’s Admiral Hustle to win at Tuacahn Xtreme Bulls event in Ivins, Utah. PRCA photo by Andrea Kausi

PRORODEO Sports News 31