ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2024

SADDLE BRONC AVERAGE WINNER

Wyatt Casper pairs with Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Stockyards Babe for an 87.5-point ride and second-place finish in Round 4 of the NFR. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Hailey Rae

First-Timer BY TRACY RENCK B ack in 2020, saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper was at a crossroads in his rodeo career. The Miami, Texas, cowboy wasn’t winning enough money to make a living at the sport he loved. That all changed when he had a career-changing moment. Casper won RFD-TV’s The American and 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 five consecutive years – 2020-24. At the 2024 Wrangler NFR presented by Teton Ridge, Casper accomplished a career first – winning the average with 853 points on 10 head at the Thomas & Mack Center. “This is awesome. It’s taken me five years to get 10 head rode out here in Vegas. So, to finally get that done is a dream come true,” Casper said. “I’m just glad they let me win this year, I was excited.” Casper, who finished a career-best second in the 2020 PRCA | RAM

Wyatt Casper nabs first NFR Average title

World Standings, came in third in the 2024 world standings with $439,332. He earned $219,549 at the NFR – second only to Ryder Wright’s $228,695 haul on the way to winning his third world championship. Casper had a strong NFR placing in seven rounds, highlighted by his outright second-place performance in Round 4 with an 87.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Stockyards Babe. Casper also split second in Round 3 (86-point ride on Diamond G Rodeo’s Lindsey’s Thunder Rolz) and Round 7 (87-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Gucci Equine’s Foul Motion). “It’s tough, it’s 10 days of coming out there and trying to ride perfect on every single one of them,” Casper said. “So, it’s a grind, there are no off days out here in Las Vegas. You can draw a bad one and you still have to put your best foot forward on it. It’s a tough deal.” After leaving Las Vegas, Casper has one thing on thing on his mind – a world championship gold buckle in 2025. “Every year it feels like it lights a fire under me after the NFR. So, to come here and not get it done makes you want to chase it even harder next year and hopefully get it done.”

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2024

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