PRORODEO Sports News - July 26, 2024

SALINAS, CALIF.

CALIFORNIA RODEO SALINAS

Saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper nets first Salinas win California Dreamin’ TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY EARNER

BY PRCA STAFF A t 28 years old, Miami, Texas, cowboy Wyatt Casper has found his niche in ProRodeo. When, Casper won RFD-TV’s The American in 2020, he earned life-changing money – $600,000 to be exact and his career in rodeo took off. Since March 8, 2020, when he walked away victorious at AT&T Stadium, he has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo four consecutive years – 2020-23. “Winning that helped me and my wife and my kids buy a place and be able to come out here and rodeo without too big of a worry about being broke all the time and having to go home and work,” Casper said. “I was pretty blessed to win The American.” Well, Casper seized the moment recently at the storied California Rodeo Salinas, which concluded July 21. After splitting second in Round 1, with an 85-point trip on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Indian Country, Casper delivered an electric 87-point ride on Flying 5 Rodeo’s Spotted Blues to win the short round and the average with 172 points on two head. “To get the win there is awesome,” Casper said. “That’s a buckle that everybody talks about. You walk up with a Salinas belt buckle and people know you have done something. I was pretty excited to win that one.” Casper departed the key Playoff Series Rodeo stop after earning $11,432. A check like that makes the hard work worth it. “I had never been on either one of those horses before,” Casper said. “I really don’t do a whole lot of thinking, I just kind of go out and do my job as good as I can. I call my buddies and see what they try for rein. I knew that first horse would kind of be a little harder than normal. He didn’t feel as good as my short round horse did. You just call around to your buddies and get a gameplan of what you’re going to do and go out and do your job as good as you can.” Casper, who finished a career-best second in the 2020 PRCA | RAM World Standings, acknowledged he had been waiting to get aboard Spotted Blues. “That horse was awesome,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to get on Spotted Blues. I have seen him a bunch and my buddies have been on him, and I knew he was a really good horse. I knew if I had him, I would have a chance to be able to win that short round and the average. I’m just glad it all worked out.” Casper’s focus moving forward is making a return trip to the yellow bucking chutes in Las Vegas in December. “I just need to keep drawing these good horses and keep on keeping on,” Casper said. “I need to keep my foot on the gas pedal. You can’t slack off or these guys will pass you and beat you. I have to keep playing defense where I can and try and make as much money as I can before the NFR. That’s my goal.”

Jeter Lawrence ($19,458, bull riding) BAREBACK RIDING

Lawrence

1. Cole Franks ............... 171.5 pts. on 2 2. Richmond Champion ............... 168.5 3. Luke Thrash ............................. 166.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Levi Rudd .................. 22.2 sec. on 3 2. Tucker Allen ............................... 23.9 (Tie) Trisyn Kalawaia .................. 23.9 TEAM ROPING 1. E. Rogers/P. Eaves ..... 46.5 sec. on 5 2. W. Bray/P. Bray .......................... 48.7 3. D. Begay/C. Todd ....................... 49.0 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Wyatt Casper ............... 172 pts. on 2 2. Dawson Hay ............................. 169.5 3. Brody Cress ................................ 169 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Marty Yates ................ 31.3 sec. on 3 2. Bryce Derrer .............................. 31.8 3. Ty Harris .................................... 33.1 BARREL RACING 1. Tiany Schuster ......... 64.01 sec. on 4 2. Halyn Lide ................................ 65.01 3. Sara Winkelman ....................... 65.05 BULL RIDING 1. Jeter Lawrence ......... 174.5 pts. on 2 2. Trevor Reiste ................................ 89 3. Jackson Ward ............................ 80.5

Phil Doyle photo

Complete results/Page 102

Saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper had an 87-point ride on Flying 5 Rodeo’s Spotted Blues in the short round, vaulting himself to his first career average win at California Rodeo Salinas on July 21.

ProRodeo Sports News 7/26/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 7/26/2024

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

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