ProRodeo Sports News - Nov. 1, 2024

REDMOND, ORE.

Stuller eyes big 2025 after circuit crown Dream Chasin’ RAM COLUMBIA RIVER CIRCUIT FINALS

BY DAGIN RENCK, Special to ProRodeo Sports News C hasing a dream requires a relentless pursuit. Mason Stuller’s dream is no different as he aims to claim the ultimate cowboy’s prize: a PRCA World Championship. His passion developed at a young age. He began riding horses at 12. He quickly fell in love and chased every opportunity to compete. “For sure. I went to every high school and amateur rodeo I could go to,” Stuller said. “It helped me get on a lot of horses.” Stuller’s success soon followed. The Oregon native brought home titles as an amateur in 2020 before attending Western Texas College for two seasons, winning the National High School Finals Rodeo in the All Around and Bareback Riding. The dream of becoming a professional soon became a reality as he joined the PRCA in 2023. The schedule and money provide endless motivation. “I think some of the aspects of professional rodeo are different. It’s incredible how many rodeos there are out there with big paychecks behind them,” said Stuller. “It’s kind of mind blowing that you could easily go well over 100+ rodeos in a summer with ungodly amounts of money added to them. You’re the only one that’s in charge and you have to do everything that you can.” The 21-year-old ended his campaign finishing 32nd in the PRCA | RAM World Standings and third in the Resistol Rookie of the Year race, earning $52,783. And while rodeo offers little downtime, Stuller was proud of his rookie season. “It was really good. I think I went to 90+ rodeos and stayed pretty healthy while having a good time,” he said. “I’m looking forward to this season and building on it to finish higher in the standings. But overall, it was an outstanding year.” For Stuller, a climb in the ranks would put him within arm’s reach of an NFR berth. Thankfully, he started his 2025 campaign on the right foot, securing a win at the RAM Columbia Rivers Circuit Finals (Redmond, Ore.). The bareback rider collected nearly $9,000 on the weekend in front of a crowd speckled with friends and family, many residing just two and half hours from the arena. “It’s super cool. I feel like I know almost everybody in the stands,” he said. “It’s special to ride in a place like that where everyone comes to support, and you almost know everything that is going on.” After a fourth-place finish in round one, the Oregon cowboy clinched the title with consecutive round wins, topping the leaderboard with 233.5 points on three head. “I had a little bit of a rough go there in the first round and then got back to the game plan. I drew well, rode better, and got the wins in rounds two and three,” said Stuller. “Those final two rounds I was able to extend my lead and bring home the title.” The victory clinches him a spot in the NFR Open in Colorado Springs, Colo., next summer, one of the many stops he plans to make in pursuit of a trip to Las Vegas. “I plan on going to 100 rodeos again next summer, entering some bigger ones and some different ones,” Stuller said. “My biggest goal is to not make any mistakes where I can get on every horse that I draw no matter what.” In rodeo, it means long hours on the road, years of practice and an unconditional love for a sport lacking an ounce of sympathy.

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY EARNER Joe Harper ($9,881, saddle bronc riding) BAREBACK RIDING

Harper

1. Mason Stuller .......... 233.5 pts. on 3 2. Dylan Riggins ............................ 231 3. Colton Clemens ......................... 228 STEER WRESTLING 1. Traver Johnson .......... 15.2 sec. on 3 2. Jacob Stacy .............................. 15.4 3. Ryan Bothum ............................ 18.9 TEAM ROPING 1. G. Rogers/B. Patzke ... 16.9 sec. on 3 2. B. Schmidt/B. Campbell ............ 24.0 3. B. Moriarty/T. Speer .................. 35.9 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Joe Harper ............... 234.5 pts. on 3 2. Tate Owens ............................. 230.5 3. Ryan Verling .............................. 215 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Ty Harris .................... 24.9 sec. on 3 2. Joel Harris ................................ 26.1 3. Bo Pickett ................................. 27.2 STEER ROPING 1. Roger Nonella ............ 45.2 sec. on 3 2. Trent Sorey ............................... 52.7 3. Ivan Bigsby ....................... 28.6 on 2 BULL RIDING 1. Lane Vaughan .......... 163.5 pts. on 2 2. T.J. Gray .................................... 153 3. JC Merriott ................................ 103

Complete results/Page 59

Roseanna Sales photo

Mason Stuller won two out of the three rounds at the RAM Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo. He secured the average title with 233.5 points on three head.

ProRodeo Sports News 11/1/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 11/1/2024

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

42

43