PRORODEO Sports News - August 9, 2024

XTREME BRONCS SENTINEL BUTTE, N.D.

On a Roll

Champions Ride win highlights huge week for Cress

BY ALEX RILEY, Special to ProRodeo Sports News B rody Cress’ homecoming didn’t quite go as expected. Riding at the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo in late July, the Hillsdale, Wyo., product got hit with a markout violation on his first ride, ending his time at the rodeo. After a few days at home to refocus and reset, Cress returned to competition. What happened next should surprise no one who knows the veteran saddle bronc rider. The three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo average champion picked up more than $23,000 over the first weekend in August, including a huge win at the Home on the Range Champions Ride in Sentinel Butte, N.D. Cress came into the event familiar with his first-go opponent, J Bar J’s Stacked Deck. The two had met previously with Cress coming away victorious. “The one I had in the first round I had been on before, so I knew he was going to be a really good chance in that round,” Cress said following his 86-point effort to tie for third in the round. “He always takes that run, but once he does decide to break and set up, he’s always awesome. “So, I just needed to do my job and be prepared to get the most out of him that I could.” His short-round matchup was a little more difficult to read. Cress had never seen J Bar J bucking horse Straight Moonshine in-person, so he relied on intel from his fellow saddle bronc competitors to understand what he was about to face.

The information – hang on tight and this one could be good. “I knew she was going to be plenty of horsepower for me to go out there and win that short-round, so I just needed to be able to do my job and it worked out,” Cress said. Cress’ 90-point ride edged out Brody Wells by one-point to win the short-go and his aggregate total of 176 on two head was three points ahead of Sage Newman for the title. In total, the one-day, saddle bronc event put $13,676 in his ledger. From there, Cress parlayed his momentum to a win at the Dodge City (Kan.) Roundup Rodeo, again taking both the final round and average title. When factoring in a third-place finish at the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo in Castle Rock, Colo., the seven-time NFR qualifier earned $23,241 to start the month of August. While there is still a lot of rodeo left to unfold in the coming weeks, Cress now has $127,361 compiled for the season and was sitting ninth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. Even though he’s on the cusp of locking up an eighth straight trip to Las Vegas this December, Cress isn’t letting himself think too far ahead just yet. “I try not to look at the standings at all just because I know how much money is out there still and guys are riding good. I’m just trying to focus on taking it one horse at a time,” Cress said. “I’ve lucked out and been able to draw some really good horses this week. So, I’m just trying to stay focused and make sure to take it one day at a time and not put the cart before the horse and think I’ve got stuff won before I go get on bucking horses.”

Cress speaks

with Beni

Paulson after his winning ride at the Xtreme Broncs event. Cress pock eted $13,673 in Sentinel Butte.

Complete results/ Page 86

Alaina Stangle photos Brody Cress captured the win at the Home on the Range Champions Ride in Sentinel Butte, N.D., with a 90-point ride on J Bar J’s Straight Moon shine in the short round.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/9/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 8/9/2024

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