ProRodeo Sports News - March 15, 2024

MANAGER’S MESSAGE TRACY RENCK

Tracy Renck is the Manager of Communications and Media. He previously served three years as the editor of the ProRodeo Sports News, and before that he spent seven years as a media coordinator at the PRCA. He has three decades of experience in sports journalism with the last decade consumed by ProRodeo.

Dan Hubbell photo Saddle bronc riding superstars, left to right, Billy Etbauer, Butch Small, Brad Gjermundson, and Dan Mortensen share a light moment before competing at a rodeo back in 1994.

Looking back on a priceless photo from 1994 T he expression is a picture is worth 1,000 words. The photo above may not be 1,000 words, but this photo from 1994 is definitely cool. It was 30 years ago, saddle bronc riding stars Billy Etbauer, Butch Small, Brad Gjermundson, and Dan Mortensen took a moment to pose for photographer Dan Hubbell. Digest these numbers for a moment – combined the foursome won 15 saddle bronc riding world championships and one all-around title from 1981-2004. They qualified for the NFR a combined 59 times. Etbauer, Mortensen and Gjermundson are all in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Etbauer is the gold standard of saddle bronc riding, qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo an event record – 21 times (1989-2009) and winning an event record 51 rounds at the NFR, third all-time behind Trevor Brazile (74) and Cody Ohl (55). He also captured five PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Championships in 1992, 1996, 1999-2000, and 2004. Then, there’s Mortensen on the far right – all he did in his decorated career is win seven world titles – 1993-95, 1997, 1998, 2003 in saddle bronc and one also in all-around in 1997. Mortensen qualified for the NFR 16 times – 1990, 1992-2006. Mortensen also won 24 rounds at the NFR – second in the saddle bronc record book. It should come as no surprise that Etbauer (1992, 1999 and 2005) and Mortensen (1998) along with Ryder Wright (2016, 2020) share the mark at five for most round wins in one year at the NFR. Gjermundson, meanwhile, won four saddle bronc riding world championships 1981, 1983-85. He qualified nine times – 1981-88 and 1994. Small was no slouch either, qualifying 13 times for the NFR from 1982-94 in saddle bronc riding and finishing a career-best fourth in the world in 1982 and 1987.

There’s no question athletes in the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball have four players who have accomplished feats like Etbauer, Mortensen, Gjermundson and Small. However, having all those legends pose for a photo before competing is rare. That’s what makes finding this photo in the archives so priceless. As good as the saddle bronc riders going right now are it is hard to imagine a foursome putting up the incredible numbers of Etbauer, Mortensen, Gjermundson and Small. Of the saddle bronc riders today – the safest bets to make the ProRodeo Hall of Fame are Zeke Thurtson, he’s won four world championships (2016, 2019 and 2022-23) and of course Stetson Wright. Wright has only one saddle bronc title in 2021, but he has five all-around world championships (2019-23) and two bull riding titles (2020, 2022) to his name. Ryder Wright, a world champion in 2017 and 2020 also is in the Hall of Fame conversation. These numbers all can get dizzying, but the bottom line is this deep dive will make you appreciate the amazing careers of Etbauer, Mortensen, Gjermundson and Small even more.

ProRodeo Sports News 3/15/2024

ProRodeo.com

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