ProRodeo Sports News - July 7, 2023

RENO RODEO RENO, NEV.

Statler Wright repeats as Reno Rodeo champ Back-to-Back BY TANNER BARTH S tatler Wright has competed in the ProRodeo ranks for just two seasons and already has a contender for his favorite rodeo on the PRCA trail. It’s hard not to become a fan of a place where TOP MONEY EARNER Hayes Weight ($18,737, bull riding) BAREBACK RIDING TOP SCORES Weight

you’ve won $27,231 the last two years. That’s the case for Wright at the storied Reno (Nev.) Rodeo. Last season, the youngest Wright split the saddle bronc riding win with Sage Newman. In 2023, he holds the title all by himself. Wright drew Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Indian Burn in the finals, a horse he had never been on. All it required was a quick scouting report from his family members and it was gametime. He didn’t back down from the challenge, registering an 88.5-point ride to secure the average title with 252 points on three head, edging out Kade Bruno by a half a point. “It was just an amazing ride, it felt awesome from the get-go,” said Wright, 19. “Toward the end there he kind of got me out of (the) saddle, but I knew I needed to lift and gas it. It ended up working out.” He pocketed $13,308 during his most recent trip to the “Biggest Little City in the World”. He said the rodeo has sort of turned into his personal ATM early in his career. “I told my mom coming in here that I love this rodeo and then I told Rusty (Wright) yesterday that this place is becoming like my money hole,” he said. “There’s no doubt that it’s one of my favorite rodeos that we go to all year long.” Statler is chasing his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification this season. The win in Reno moved him near the top 20 of the PRCA | RAM World Standings. He said traveling with his star-studded family has only made him better and it’s a trend he sees continuing. “You hate to watch those guys lose, but if they’re losing, I hope I’m the one that’s beating them,” Wright said. “It’s amazing to be out here rodeoing with them and I wouldn’t want to be traveling down the road with anyone else.” Now, his focus turns to the back half of the ProRodeo season. His plan is to keep chipping away and let the chips fall where they may. “I have to try to keep riding like I did here in Reno,” he said. “It’s really key to continue sticking to the basics. We have a lot of rodeos left on the calendar. My plan is to just keep chipping away at them. Small stones here and there.”

1. Jayco Roper ................. 253 pts. on 3 2. Cole Reiner ................................ 251 3. Jacek Frost ................................ 249 STEER WRESTLING 1. J.D. Struxness ........... 12.8 sec. on 3 2. Dakota Eldridge ........................ 13.8 (Tie) Olin Hannum........................ 13.8 TEAM ROPING 1. Driggers/Nogueira..... 18.4 sec. on 3 2. C. Francis/C. Passig................... 18.9 3. K. Daniel/T. Graves .................... 19.8 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Statler Wright ............. 252 pts. on 3 2. Kade Bruno ............................. 251.5 3. Layton Green ............................. 251 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shad Mayfield ............ 25.8 sec. on 3 2. Riley Webb ............................... 26.0 3. Lucas Potter ............................. 27.4 BARREL RACING 1. B. Pozzi Tonozzi ....... 51.35 sec. on 3 2. Hailey Kinsel ........................... 51.36 3. Sharin Hall .............................. 51.52 BULL RIDING 1. Colton Kelly ................. 168 pts. on 2 2. Hayes Weight ............................. 166 3. Brady Portenier .......................... 163

Complete results/Page 72

Click Thompson photo

Statler Wright won the saddle bronc riding title at the Reno Rodeo with an 88.5-point ride on Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Indian Burn in the finals.

ProRodeo Sports News 7/7/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 7/7/2023

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

60

61