ProRodeo Sports News July 13, 2018

St. Paul Rodeo

LEARNING FROMTHE BEST At 18, Wright could have bought his PRCA card by now. But a football injury suffered in November 2017 derailed those plans. While playing in a state championship football game for Milford (Utah) High, Wright tore his ACL when he was plowed into from the side. That sat him out of rodeo competition (he also missed the high school wrestling season) until the spring. It wasn’t an easy time for him – or his dad, two-time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Cody Wright. Stetson even traveled to San Antonio with his bull riding gear in hopes he could get a ride in. “I think it was super hard on him, but harder on me,” Cody Wright said. “Because I had to be the bad guy that had to say, ‘Nope.’” “It killed me because all my friends and brothers were going to ProRodeos and I was sitting at home doing what I didn’t think I would ever have to do until I was older, and that was work out,” Stetson said. By the time Stetson returned, had he purchased his card he would have been well behind in the bull riding race for PRCA | Resistol Rookie of the Year honors. Instead, he’ll wait until the end of the 2018 season before turning pro. “As soon as this year’s over,” Stetson said. “I’m trying to get my qualifications up so when I buy my card next year I can get into all the big rodeos.” With saddle bronc riding in the family veins, Stetson also rides broncs. And not just because it’s a family tradition, but because he’s incredibly talented. As of July 10, Wright ranked first in the PRCA | RAMRodeo Permit Standings for saddle bronc riding and second for bull riding. He ranked first in the Wilderness Circuit All-Around standings with $17,761, first in the circuit in saddle bronc riding and 10th in bull riding with $2,775. Leading the Wilderness Circuit in

Stetson learned saddle bronc riding from his dad, but he also learned bull riding from him. Cody rode bulls in high school and college, and did it well enough that he competed at a couple of circuit finals in the event. But he turned his focus to broncs, reasoning it would make for a longer career. AIMING HIGH Stetson’s focus is on broncs and bulls, and an even bigger goal in an all- around world title. “All my brothers and I started riding steers,” Stetson said. “As we got older and into ProRodeo, they quit riding bulls and I decided I wanted to win the all-around.” He’s hoping that title can come as soon as the 2019 season. “My goal next year is to make the NFR in bulls and saddle bronc and go win the all-around world title, and hopefully bulls and saddle bronc along with it,” he said. Cody has seen his son’s talent. That all-around title is in no way out of Stetson’s reach. “I think he’s got as good a chance as anybody else,” Cody said. “He’s got to decide how hard he wants to work at it. I think he rides both events really well, I don’t know why he couldn’t (win it).” What does Stetson prefer riding? “Depends on what I’m winning in,” he laughed, adding that he wants to be the first roughstock rider since Ty Murray to win the all-around. These days are quite different from Stetson sitting in the stands as a young boy hoping he’d get to stay and watch the bull riding competition. “When I was little, I’d go to rodeos with them (my family) and I’d have to cry and beg them to stay through the bull riding,” he said. “Now, I don’t even have to ask them. They just stay there and watch me.”

saddle bronc riding might be his most

impressive feat – atop a Top 10 list riddled with seven other Wrights and CoBurn Bradshaw, who married into the family. Not bad for someone who held off riding broncs. “I honestly didn’t want to ride broncs for the longest time,” he said. “My dad never forced me to do it, but he told me that if I wanted to do it he’d be there to support me. He kept me going and taught me everything I know.” No surprise,

Complete results on Page 78

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Chase Brooks..........................87.5 pts. 2. (tie) Tyrel Larsen............................85.5 Rusty Wright..................................85.5 4. Two tied at.........................................83

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Cooper Martin.............18.0 sec. on two 2. Mesquite Mahaffey.........................19.1 3. (tie) Ty Harris.................................19.3 Randall Carlisle...............................19.3

BARREL RACING 1. Tracy Nowling............17.26 sec. on one 2. Tammy Fischer.............................17.29 3. Nellie Miller..................................17.35 4. Carley Richardson........................17.46

BULL RIDING 1. Stetson Wright...........................91 pts. 2. Elliot Jacoby......................................90 3. Roscoe Jarboe................................89.5 4. Four tied at ....................................86.5

ProRodeo Sports News 7/13/2018

ProRodeo.com

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