ProRodeo Sports News - March 8, 2019

XTREME BULLS Benton wins third Xtreme Bulls event

BY MATT NABER T rey Benton III launched from 52nd place to second in the March 6 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings thanks to winning the Xtreme Bulls event in San Antonio, Feb. 23. The Rock Island, Texas, cowboy won $35,250 at the Xtreme Bulls and an additional $2,000 for placing second in Round 2 of the second bracket at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. “I wasn’t even in the top 50 before today, and now I’m where I was supposed to be the whole time,” Benton said. “It’s going to make for a good start to the year.” San Antonio marks Benton’s third Xtreme Bulls win, and this time his success came on a bull that’s been both a blessing and a curse for the cowboy in his neck of the woods in San Antonio. The 27-year-old cowboy tied for first at the 2017 Colorado State Fair & Rodeo in Pueblo with 89.5 points on 4L &Diamond S Rodeo’s Monte Walsh. Then last year, Benton found himself finishing a point behind Josh Frost, who won the 2018 San Antonio Xtreme Bulls event on Monte Walsh. “The good Lord gave him to me this year and I was nervous,” Benton said. “It’s still in my throat because I knew I had the money bull.”

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Benton placed fourth in the first round with 86 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Rank Hank, then returned for the final round for an 88.5-point ride on Monte Walsh. As a five-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2012-14, 2017-18), Benton is no stranger to rodeo success. He ranked 12th in the world standings last season with $141,393. Since joining the PRCA in 2012, Benton has won many of ProRodeo’s biggest competitions, but the one just two hours from home had alluded him until Feb. 23. “I played cowboy before I came here, and now I’m ready for some Mexican food,” Benton laughed after making his victory lap. “This is my part (of the country) and I grew up watching this,” Benton said. “I rode sheep in the Astrodome (in Houston), and this is every kid’s dream. If they want to be a bull rider, I tell them, ‘Don’t stop dreaming about it.’” Benton also won the Xtreme Bulls event in Reno, Nev., in 2017 and the Gladewater (Texas) Round-Up Division 2 Xtreme Bulls in 2014. “Today was a good day,” Benton said, “but we have a long year ahead of us.”

From left, Aaron Williams, Roscoe Jarboe, Dalan Duncan, Garrett Smith and Cole Melancon take part in the San Antonio Xtreme Bulls festivities. Greg Westfall photo

ProRodeo Sports News 3/8/2019

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