ProRodeo Sports News - Jan. 21, 2022

XTREME BULLS FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Stetson nabs first Division 1 Xtreme Bulls title All’s Wright

BY TRACY RENCK S ince 2019, there’s very little rodeo superstar Stetson Wright hasn’t accomplished. The Milford, Utah, cowboy has five PRCAWorld Championships by his name – three all- around, 2019-21; bull riding in 2020 and saddle bronc riding in 2021. Now, he’s a winner of a PRCA Division 1 Xtreme Bulls event. Wright accomplished that career first with 178.5 points on two head at the SWELS – Division 1 Xtreme Bulls event Wednesday night at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. “I had never won a Division 1 Xtreme Bulls event before and honestly it was making me really mad,” saidWright, 22. “It feels really good to check this off my list because they had some really hard bulls to ride in the short round. My first bull was also hard to ride so to get by both was pretty fun.”

PRCA XTREME BULLS 2022 TOUR STANDINGS (Unofficial as of Jan. 19) 1.Stetson Dell Wright, Milford, Utah........$22,416 2.Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah......................13,072 3.Ruger Piva, Challis, Idaho. .....................12,007 4.Grayson Cole, Fredonia, Pa.. ..................11,910 5.Trey Kimzey, Strong City, Okla................11,093 6.Bubba Greig, Estherville, Iowa................10,575 7.Tyler Taylor, Stephenville, Texas. ............10,348 8.Scottie Knapp, Albuquerque, N.M............ 6,361 9.Brody Yeary, Morgan Mill, Texas.............. 6,338 10.Fletcher Jowers, Waxahachie, Texas. ..... 5,993 11.Hayes Weight, Goshen, Utah. ................ 5,693 12.Riggin Shippy, Colome, S.D................... 5,671 13.Jace Trosclair, Chauvin, La.. .................. 5,538 14.Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, Idaho. .... 5,463 15.Rawley Johnson, Ririe, Idaho. ............... 5,189

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said there were some tense moments.

“When he jumped forward and got me in a bad position I was just going to hold on as tight as I could to make the whistle and luckily I didn’t have to hang on for that long,” he said. “It was dang sure a relief (to get the win) because I’ve never had any luck here in Fort Worth. That place has just chewed me up and spit me out every time I went there. One thing I think that impacted my riding last year was I was starting to get superstitious about certain rodeos. “This year I changed my mindset and decided I was going to win all those rodeos that had beaten me up in the past.” Throughout his short, but decorated career Wright has never won an Xtreme Bulls Tour title and he’s hoping to change that narrative in 2022. “That’s for sure on my list to win,” Wright said. “I didn’t realize how big of a deal that was until last year in Pendleton (Ore.). I rode good at the Xtreme Bulls Finale in Pendleton, but I didn’t do enough to win the Tour. I thought I hated the Xtreme Bulls but that was just another superstition, and this was a good way to start off the 2022 season. I’m going to make a run for that title.” As for season goals, Wright didn’t hesitate with an answer. “I don’t think I will be satisfied until I win that triple crown (in all-around, saddle bronc riding and bull riding) Wright said.

Wright earned $19,654 for his 16 seconds of

work.

He and Josh Frost were the only cowboys to cover two bulls during the two-day event, Jan. 18-19. Frost finished with 172.5 points on two head. Wright put his victory in motion with an 88.5-point ride on 4L &Diamond S Rodeo’s House of Pain. “I have been on that bull like four times and had success on him, so I was happy to have him, but he was harder to ride this time than he’s ever been,” Wright said. Wright was the final rider to compete in the short round and he made the most of the opportunity registering a 90-point trip on Rafter G Rodeo’s Johnny Thunder. “That was my third time I have been on that bull,” Wright said. “The first time was at my first NFR in 2019 (and he had an 86-point ride in Round 6). I had him as re-ride bull (in Round 7 of the 2021 NFR), but he stumbled, and I got another re-ride in that round. So, this was a good rematch for me. “I was trying to stay loose and cool because I felt like the last time, I got on him I clamped down on him and even though he stumbled and fell I felt like when he got up, I still should have ridden him. Today I made sure I stayed in the right spot the whole time.” In his latest battle with JohnnyThunder, Wright

James Phifer photo

Stetson Wright took home his first PRCA Division 1 Xtreme Bulls event win in Fort Worth, Texas with a 90-point ride on Rafter G Rodeo’s Johnny Thunder.

ProRodeo Sports News 1/21/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 1/21/2022

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