ProRodeo Sports News - January 5, 2024

GILLETTE, WYO.

NEW YEAR’S EVE BUCK & BALL

Celebration

Saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper starts new year strong BY TRACY RENCK A fter a solid showing at the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper wasn’t seeking rest and relaxation. On the contrary, following the completion of the NFR on Dec. 16 – where he finished 10th in the world standings with $205,662 and earned $63,241 in Las Vegas – the Miami, Texas, cowboy was ready to hit the road. That road led him to the New Year’s Eve Buck & Ball in Gillette, Wyo., Dec. 31 – and the trip paid dividends. Casper won the event with his 88.5-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cat Walk in the four-man shootout. “I had never been on that horse before and Kade Bruno won a round on him out there at the Finals,” said Casper, 27. “That horse had like four big jumps and felt bucky. I was just gassing it and trying to set my feet on him and then he lined out and got a lot better.” Bruno won Round 7 of the 2023 NFR on Cat Walk also with an 88.5-point ride. Casper left town after earning $9,142. His victory performance also included winning the long round with an 85-point trip on Burch Rodeo’s Moose. “That was a good horse,” Casper said of Moose. “I had seen my buddies get on him before and he was good around there to the right, everything you would want one to be. He was the one I wanted, and it is nice when it lines up like that.” Casper, a four-time NFR qualifier – 2020-23 – was honest about his recent NFR outing. “I had a good NFR, I rode nine out of 10 horses, and won some good money,” said Casper, who placed in four rounds. “I stabbed myself in the foot getting bucked off (Calgary Stampede’s) Xplosive Skies in the 10th round, but I’m still pretty happy with how I did.” Although the NFR was only two weeks old, Casper was anxious to get back riding again, so he ventured to Gillette. “I knew some of the top guys were probably going to hide out a little bit after the NFR, and with how tough it is to make the NFR every year, I like getting out and getting a jumpstart,” he said. “I don’t really need any time off after the NFR. It is time off before that matters to me. I try and stay busy and keep plucking at them.” Back in 2020, Casper’s rodeo dreams became a reality when he made his NFR debut and finished second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $320,984. “There’s some truth to time flies when you’re having fun,” said Casper, who got his PRCA card in 2015. “I have learned a lot and I feel like I’m getting toward being one of the veterans out there and I feel like I’m learning the ins and outs of the industry and pretty lucky with the career I have had.” Casper and his wife, Lesley have two children, boy, Cooper, 5 and girl, Cheyenne, 4. “Our kids are busy all day every day, and they keep us busy,” Wyatt said. Other winners at the New Year’s Eve Buck & Ball were 2023 PRCA Bareback Riding World Champion Keenan Hayes (88.5 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Two Buck Chuck) and bull rider Hayes Weight (89 points on Burch Rodeo’s Two Words).

Kristin Schurr photo Saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper won the New Year’s Eve Buck & Ball in Gillette, Wyo., Dec. 31, with his 88.5-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cat Walk in the four-man shootout.

Complete results/Page 51

ProRodeo Sports News 1/5/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 1/5/2024

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