ProRodeo Sports News | 2020 Year-End Edition | Dec.18, 2020

6 The number of times a

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Roseanna Sales

saddle bronc rider has won five rounds at the NFR. Billy Etbauer did it three times – 1992, 1999, 2005 – Dan Mortensen did it in 1998 and Ryder Wright did it for the second time at the 2020 Wrangler NFR. His first time accomplishing the feat came in 2016.

$358,471, a record in saddle bronc riding for most money won in a year including the NFR. And he did it in a year that numerous rodeos were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Making his fifth consecutive NFR appearance, Wright knew drawing the right horses would play a key role in determining the world title. “I’ve had an awesome week,” Wright said. “Couldn’t have drawn any better than I did. That’s a huge part of winning world titles, is drawing good horses. I was lucky enough to capitalize on them.” Ryder won Rounds 2, 4, 6 and 8 outright, then put away all doubt of who would be the world champion when he posted a 91-point ride aboard Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Big Tex to split Round 10 with his brother Stetson. Winning five rounds tied him with Billy Etbauer (1992, 1999, 2005), Dan Mortensen (1998) and himself (2016) for most go-round wins at a single

NFR. Etbauer and Mortensen are in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Going into the final round, Wright had no nerves. “No, I was feeling pretty good today,” he said. “I was confident and just let it play out, and it worked out in my favor.” Before heading to Globe Life Field felt like any other day preparing to drive home after a rodeo for the Milford, Utah, cowboy. “We packed all our stuff up, got ready to head home,” he said. “Come over here and got on a bucking horse.” Wright won the average title with 876.5 points on 10 head. He was the only saddle bronc rider this year to cover all 10 horses. That average earned him a $67,269 boost in the world standings to help him lock up his second world title. The soft-spokenWright put it succinctly: “(It feels) twice as good, I guess.”

ProRodeo Sports News 12/18/2020

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