ProRodeo Sports News 2022 Wrangler NFR Preview Issue

BULL RIDING Record Run Stetson Wright looks to cap off his record bull riding season

BY BRADY RENCK Special to ProRodeo Sports News W hen it comes to current rodeo cowboys, there’s StetsonWright and everybody else. He boasts five world titles, including three straight all-around crowns. Did we mention he’s 23 years old? He comes from a family of champions, starting with his father Cody and including his brother Ryder. Wright has more hardware than Home Depot, but this season he showed nuance in his excellence. He finished as the season leader in bull riding. “I have always ridden bulls. I feel like I rode super good into my hand, but away from my hand I wasn’t the best,” Wright explained. “I don’t think much can throw me off either way now.” The numbers offer proof. Wright won 12 bull riding events this season. He owns the top four scores of the season with 93s on Andrews Rodeo’s Wild Onion in Austin, Texas, Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Yellowstone in Houston, Powder River Rodeo’s Cold Chill in Rock Springs, Wyo., and Powder River Rodeo’s Domino in Caldwell, Idaho. He’s earned $320,599, a single-season bull riding earnings record before the NFR. The ride on Domino illustrated why Wright enters his fourth NFR in bull riding with competitors chasing him. The ornery bull leaped into the air, spinning 180 degrees. Wright stuck to him tighter than SaranWrap, nothing phasing him as he bounced onto the dirt and twirled his No. 1 finger in the air to the delight of a roaring crowd. Wright operates by the motto that you ride for 90s, or don’t ride at all. What makes this season special is that it has been paved with adversity. He broke his foot, ankle, then popped out his hip and pulled his groin in San Antonio and underwent surgery on his wrist in July. “It’s been a good year, but man, it’s been a crazy year, actually,” saidWright, who hails from Milford, Utah. “I had the crap beaten out of me

2022 BULL RIDING STANDINGS

1. Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah. ............... $320,599 2. Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah........................ 228,557 3. Jeff Askey, Athens, Texas......................... 183,996 4. Garrett Smith, Rexburg, Idaho. ................ 141,658 5. Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, Idaho. ...... 127,983 6. Trevor Kastner, Roff, Okla.. ...................... 123,540 7. Maverick Potter, Waxahachie, Texas......... 116,065 8. Trey Kimzey, Strong City, Okla.................. 113,186 9. Ky John Hamilton, Mackay, Australia....... 112,651 10. Jared Parsonage, Maple Creek, SK. ........ 112,314 11. Trey Holston, Fort Scott, Kan.................. 108,892 12. JR Stratford, Byers, Kan.. ....................... 107,061 13. Creek Young, Rogersville, Mo................. 100,670 14. Lukasey Morris, Union City, Okla............ 100,667 15. Reid Oftedahl, Raymond, Minn................. 97,944

FROM THE CHAMP

A chance to tie Donny Gay as the all-time leader vanished in June when Sage Kimzey injured his left shoulder, requiring season ending surgery. Kimzey had been competing for

nearly a decade in pain. His absence hurts but comes with perspective. His recovery has provided time to spend with his wife Alexis and infant son Steele. “I am not the 18-year-old kid with no responsibilities anymore. That was the biggest thing for me was trying to figure out how to juggle life and rodeo. For years, the only priority I had was to be the best bull rider in the world. I have different priorities now with my wife and son at the top of the list. But my motivation is still there. I will for sure be back in 2023 better than ever.” – Sage Kimzey Kimzey

QUOTABLE “It’s been a good year, but man, it’s been a crazy year, actually. I had the crap beaten out of me this year. But through all that, and being limited in rodeos, I have stayed on rides and done a lot of winning.” – Stetson Wright

Stetson Wright celebrates after a successful ride at Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2022. Wright will try and win his second PRCA Bull Riding World Championship at the Thomas & Mack Center. Jason Suntych photo

this year. But through all that, and being limited in rodeos, I have stayed on rides and done a lot of winning.” When looking at Wright’s bio page, victories define him. His success in Xtreme Bulls events this season set him apart. “I honestly had never entered Fort Worth, and told my dad to enter it (and he won $25,880). And of course, everyone goes to San Antonio. Then I got hurt. My dad said, ‘You need to make it count when you get on.’ It was

about the only advice he could give me, or I could take,” Wright said. “I could either pout about it or accept it. I accepted and moved forward.” Finishing as a season leader will never get old. But Wright’s career, brief as it might be, centers around adding gold buckles to his resume. “I want one in bull riding,” saidWright, aiming to add to his 2020 title. “And I want another one in the all around and bronc riding.”

ProRodeo Sports News 11/18/2022

WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

DEC. 1-10, 2022

ProRodeo Sports News 11/18/2022

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